Free Wild Cards 13 : Card Sharks by George R.R. Martin Page B

the clinic.
    Doc was standing in the hall, glaring at me. 
    I swallowed, too scared to speak.
    "Your friend will be fine," Doc said finally. "She has asked to see you, but she should not try to walk for another hour or so. I'll be in my office until then."
    "Yeah, okay."
    Doc showed me into a room where Fleur lay on an examination table under a sheet. Only a small lamp was on. Doc closed the door after me.
    "How are you?" I whispered.
    "It's over," she said quietly, blinking back tears. 
    "He said you'll be okay."
    "Yeah."
    "He said you still have to rest. I'll go back out -"
    "Don't go. Please." Her voice cracked and she started to cry.
    "All right." I sat down on a small wheeled stool.
    She calmed down again. "What's that?"
    "The final edition of today's Mirror ." Unfolding it for the first time, I looked at the front page.
    ARSON PLOT FOILED ran the headline in big, black letters. Under it, the byline added, "By Matt Rainey."
    "He did it!" I started skimming the article. "He took what I found to the cops and they believed him! Yeah! And they hit the other warehouse early this morning - at dawn! Cool!"
    "Really?" Her voice still came in a quiet whisper. 
    "And in time for the final edition - that's fast! Oops ..."
    "What is it?"
    "Well ... I'm sort of in here. He says he got some street directions from 'an alleged Jap joker.'" I winced at the phrase.
    "My father's friends won't care about street directions."
    "Wow - it says a mysterious black Cadillac turned a nearby corner and hit the brakes. It made an illegal U-turn and took off before the cops could get after 'em. I bet that was Lansky!"
    I heard a loud knocking, actually a pounding, on the outside door. Doc's footsteps went from his office to the back door and the knob clicked as he unlocked it. I figured it was his next appointment. Then I heard scuffling out in the hall.
    Fleur gasped and struggled to sit up. "What is it?"
    I ran to the door. When I opened it, Doc was falling to the floor, holding his hands over his beak. Henry van Renssaeler, his fists clenched, strode toward me, wild-eyed.
    "Where is she? Where is she , you joker scum?" 
    "Hey -" I blocked his way, but he smacked me aside. 
    He marched past me into the examining room. "Goddamn filthy joker's whore!"
    I rushed after him, but I didn't know what to do. 
    "Thought you could escape me? You can never get away from me!"
    Fleur was staring at him, speechless.
    I overheard your little hero's question about going to the bank - and your answer! I sent one of the servants to catch up to you there and follow you. He tailed you here, then found a phone to report back to me at home. I was a little slow finding the place; I will not dirty myself asking jokers for directions. But you see, my darling daughter, you can't get away from me."
    "You're too late!" Fleur spat back at him. "You're too late, Daddy . You can see what kind of place this is. You won't have another child - not through me, anyway!" She started sobbing.
    I finally started getting the picture - the whole picture.
    "Quiet! Quiet, you slut!" He started toward her.
    "And he knows!" She pointed to me. "And now Doc has seen you - and the servant knows! Everyone will know, Daddy!" Fleur threw off the sheet and swung her legs over the side of the table. She jumped to the floor, but staggered dizzily.
    Henry leaped forward to grab her.
    I ran forward and hit his legs in a flying tackle. We both crashed to the floor. I grabbed one of his arms with both hands and tried to bite his wrist with my gigantic buck teeth.
    Henry screamed and jerked himself away, falling again. I had hardly had a chance to nip him, but he was acting crazy. He scuttled away from me with a horrified look on his face.
    Behind me, Fleur, who was still stark naked, snatched up her clothes, purse, and shoes in a bundle. She darted behind me. I backed out, still snapping idiotically at Henry.
    When we were out of the room, I slammed the door shut to delay him. Fleur was already