Free Shell Game by Chris Keniston

took a detour by the slots. He loves those nickel machines.”
    The Gender Game wasn’t set to start for fifteen more minutes. Luke took in another fast survey of the room and decided he had time to make a quick run to the casino to check on Herbie. Not that the older man could get himself into very much trouble playing nickel slots, but Luke’s gut was rumbling, and he’d learned long ago never to disregard his gut when it chose to speak up. “I’ll be right back.”
    Already engrossed in conversation with the two couples to their left, Sharla merely nodded, but Sophia shot him an impish grin. “Go get him, tiger.”
    “Aye, aye, captain.” With a casual salute, Luke did a military spin and, keeping a lookout for Herbie, headed for the casino.
    As Sophia had predicted, Herbie was in the casino but not playing the slots. More like hiding behind them. It only took a few seconds for Luke to see why. Herbie was watching George at the bar with another man. Being too far away to hear what was said, Luke was sure Herbie most likely could. Every so often Herbie would scribble something on a small spiral notepad that fit in his breast pocket.
    Sliding behind a slot machine himself, Luke watched Herbie watching George talking up the guy beside him. When the two men finally separated, Herbie stood and, rather than follow George, followed the man George had been talking with to the Leeward Lounge.
    Having settled in a dark corner, continuing to watch Herbie and his target, Luke would have been more entertained watching paint dry. Not much seemed to be happening. Until the wife of the man under surveillance joined him. A waiter took the couple’s order, and, at the same moment when the waiter had reached the bar, Herbie sidled up beside him and handed the bartender an empty glass. While the waiter and barman were busy behind the counter, Herbie slipped his hand over the keycard still resting on the round tray, flipped his palm to read the card, then returned it and pulled out the notebook from his pocket. When the bartender handed him a replenished drink, he smiled, uttering what was most likely a thank-you, slipped him a bill and walked away.
    At the elevator banks Luke caught up with Herbie on his way to rendezvous with Sophia. “Hey.”
    Startled out of his thoughts, Herbie glanced over his shoulder at Luke. “Oh, hi. Just going to meet the girls.”
    Luke didn’t have to look at his watch. He knew what time it was. The game would probably be almost over by the time they got there. “Same here.”
    Herbie patted his breast pocket, as though nervous his notes might be gone, and then waited without a word for the elevator to stop on the Gender Game floor.
    Inside the spacious lounge Luke directed Herbie to Sophia’s table, except Sophia wasn’t there. Neither was Sharla. After too many years fighting bad guys in ugly places, Luke’s instincts set him on high alert before his eyes caught sight of grandmother and granddaughter on stage. Each holding a big cardboard number in front of them and running in circles around four other women.
    On the other side of the stage, six men did the same thing, but the women came to a stop first. From left to right they displayed the number the game host had been repeating over the loud speaker: 164,532. The women won the point.
    Next came the ship’s rendition of a human phone booth. Each group stood locked in a wide-armed circle while as many same-gender passengers crammed inside the circle. The ladies were the first to realize that raising their arms in the air allowed for more people to fit. In the end the women were ahead three to two and crowned the Better Gender. At least for tonight.
    Luke had to admit it had been a long while since he’d smiled and laughed as much as he had in the last few hours in the company of Sharla and her grandmother. Though when he looked at Sharla, laughing was the last thing he felt like doing. The need to touch and hold her came fast and hard and