V Is for Vengeance

it was empty. Dante crossed to the window and turned to survey the accommodations, taking in the eight-foot cottage-cheese ceiling, the furnishings, the drab wall-to-wall carpeting, the fourth-floor view. He said, “Not bad. Wouldn’t hurt ’em to sink serious money into the place.”
    Phillip said, “It’s nice. I appreciate your putting in a good word for me.”
    “They treating you well?”
    “Great. Couldn’t be better.”
    “Glad to hear that,” Dante said. “I flew in an hour ago. It’s been a while since I was here and I figured as long as I was in the neighborhood, I’d see what you were up to.”
    Phillip couldn’t think of an appropriate response so he said nothing. He watched to see which Dante was in evidence, the kind man or the hidden one with his malicious heart and dead eyes. He thought the good one was in charge, but he knew better than to make assumptions.
    Dante leaned against the chest of drawers. “So how’s it going? You said you’d be coming in to see me. We had a date. What was it, August 11? Day before yesterday.”
    “I know. Sorry I didn’t make it, but something came up.”
    There was a moment’s pause while Dante absorbed the news. He didn’t seem upset. “Happens to all of us. A phone call would have been nice, but here you are.” His manner was casual, as though he couldn’t have cared less. Phillip felt a cautious relief. He’d been aware of the deadline he’d missed and half expected Dante to make a fuss.
    He said, “I appreciate your understanding.”
    “Would you quit with the fucking appreciation? It’s getting on my nerves.”
    “Sorry.”
    Dante moved away from the chest of drawers. He put his hands in his trouser pockets and ambled along the periphery of the room, checking the room-service menu still sitting on top of the television set. “What exactly came up ? You had a social engagement, something you couldn’t tear yourself away from?”
    “I meant to call, but I got sidetracked.”
    “Well, that explains everything,” Dante said. “So how’s it going now that you’re on point? You don’t look happy.”
    “I played well at first, but I’ve had a stretch of bad luck. I didn’t want to short you so I was waiting until I had the full amount.”
    “Fair enough. Which is when?”
    “I was just on my way down to the casino. I was at the table all day and came up to rest, you know, freshen up . . .”
    “Empty your pockets and let’s see what you’ve got.”
    “This is it for now.” He picked up his chips and held them out to Dante, who stared.
    “Four hundred dollars’ worth? Out of the ten grand I trusted you with—you got four hundred left? Are you out of your mind? I made you a loan. I told you how much it was going to cost you. Any ambiguity? I don’t think so. You’re into week two and the vig’s up to five grand. What am I supposed to do with this ?”
    “That’s all I have. I can get the rest of it in a week.”
    “I didn’t offer you a layaway plan. You knew the terms of the deal. I did what I could to help you. Now you help me.”
    “I’m not able to do that, Mr. Dante. I’m sorry, but I can’t. I feel terrible.”
    “As well you should. How do you propose to raise the rest of it? You’ve got no credit left.”
    “I was hoping you’d give me an extension.”
    “I already did that and this is what I get. You told your parents about the money you owe me?”
    “Oh, no, sir. Absolutely not. I promised to give up gambling after they bailed me out last time. I’ll tell ’em if I have to, but I’d prefer not.”
    “What about your girlfriend?”
    “I told her I was going camping with a friend.”
    “You call this camping?” Dante shook his head. “What am I going to do with you? You’re a moron, you know that? Big ego, hot talk, but in the end you’re a putz. You pissed all your money away and now it’s my money you’ve blown. And for what? You think you’re a poker champ? There’s no way. You don’t have the skill, the talent, or the brains. You owe me twenty-six grand.”
    Phillip said, “No, no. That’s not right. Is that right?”
    “You’re on the hook for my expenses getting over here.”
    “Why?”
    “Because I came on your account. How else am I going to talk to you when you don’t show up when you said you would? You missed our appointment so I had to come on short notice, which meant chartering a flight. Plus, I got these two goons to pay.”
    “I can’t do it. You told me