Free Hero Engine by Alexander Nader Page A

River, so I shoulder my way back to the darker corners of the room. Up ahead is a semi-circle table with only two people present: A dealer and a very blond gentleman. I glance over my shoulder and find Ann taking a place at the farthest craps table with a view of River. She’s got a good eye – I’m impressed. Hopefully, she’s not affecting his powers.
    River stretches in his chair, an empty bottle of Irish whiskey sitting on the felt next to him. He taps the table for a card and then sweeps a lock of hair behind his ear. I dig out my wallet and scrounge up a couple twenties. The chances of that buying me into this game are slim, but I’ll see how it plays out.
    “This seat taken?” I motion to the chair next to River.
    Pale blue eyes take me in. He smiles wide and slaps the seat in question. “Yeah sure,” he says. His accent sounds like a doped-up leprechaun without all that Irish purry bullshit. “It does get so lonely while drinking all by one’s self.”
    “Don’t tell that to George Thorogood.” I take a seat and hold my twenties out to the dealer.
    “I’m sorry, Sir, but you’ll have to exchange for tokens at the money counter.” He points toward the opposite corner of the room. “Nearest one is that way.” His lip curls. He adjusts his vest before dropping his arms to his side.
    “Oh, shit, sorry.” I start to get up, but River stops me.
    “It’s okay, I’ll spot you a few to get started.” He slides a hundred bucks worth of chips my way. “Tony, let’s call this next couple hands at a twenty dollar buy-in. That should give my cop friend here at least five hands to get some information out of me. More if he bets wisely.” River winks at me.
    Tony shrugs and deals out cards to the three of us. River has a queen showing and the dealer has got a nine. I check my hand, king and a six. I tap the table and Tony throws me another six. Fuck.
    “Did you read my mind to know I’m a cop?”
    River takes one card and the dealer stays. River flips his over to reveal a total of twenty. Dealer has a jack to go with his nine. Tony pays out to River and takes twenty from me.
    “I don’t need to read your mind,” River says as Tony passes out another hand. “It’s written all over your body. The way you hold yourself, the way you move. The mannerisms are there for anyone to see if they open their eyes.”
    We play through another hand. Nineteen for dealer, twenty for River, and twenty-one for me. I’m back to even now. A waitress comes by and offers me a drink from a platter. I grab a beer without so much as a glance at the label and take a swig.
    “So how can I help you, Mr…”
    “Quig. Jim Quig. The Mister thing isn’t really necessary.”
    The Swede smiles and brushes the same strand of hair behind his ear. “And how can I help you, Mr. Quig?”
    “Is there somewhere more private we can talk?”
    The dealer passes out another hand, but doesn’t look at me.
    River laughs. “It’s okay, my friend. You can speak openly here. Once I leave this casino, no one will remember my being here.”
    “You can control the minds of that many people at once?”
    He nods, taps the table for another card, cusses in another language when he busts. “I can control as many minds as need be, yes.”
    I hold at eighteen and beat out Tony when he busts. Up one.
    “Do you ever cheat?” I nod toward the dealer.
    River narrows his eyes and nostrils flare, like he’s smelled something bad coming from my general direction. “I hate cheaters. I only use my abilities to keep myself out of the minds of those who see me. It keeps the Initiative from thinking that I have an uncontrollable gambling problem.”
    Three more cards face down, three up.
    “Do you?” I stay at eighteen again.
    River smiles. “Yes, yes I do.” He takes two more cards and swears louder at another bust.
    Dealer shows twenty. Back to even.
    “You still haven’t told me what you’re here for.” As River speaks, another woman in a