“Bright lights, big city gonna set my soul, set my soul on fire…”
Petyr the Great moved from one side of the room to the other, a smile plastered on his face, as he picked out the easier marks. An older woman who smelled of Avon and looked like his grandmother smiled up at him, and his thoughts registered, Bullseye. He stopped at her table.
In a heavy Russian accent, he said, “Your sister has a message.”
The woman leaned forward. The man next to her rolled his eyes.
“She said that you really shouldn’t have married Robert, and gone with your heart.”
She sat bolt upright. Petyr looked to the man – obviously Robert, by the glowering look he was getting. He walked away from the table and said, “I’m sorry ladies and gentlemen, the spirits are dispersing.”
A collective “Awwww,” filled the room. He turned to the stage and walked back up it. “I will be back again in three hours, if you wish to speak more to the spirits. Until then…farewell.” He went beyond the curtain and hurried to the wings. Without looking at anyone, he headed for the dressing room and ran inside, slamming the door.
“Hounds of hell after you again?”
He jumped, whirling around. A dark haired man sat at one of the makeup tables, feet up on the vanity, leaning back on the seat.
“Jesus H. Christ, Jim, ya made me jump right outta my skin!”
“Who’d you piss off this time? Anyone I know?”
“Custom is all.” The Texas twang was out and apparent, as the man called Petyr the Great started taking off the caked makeup. “What th’ hell are you doin’ here?”
“I have a proposition for you, Pete. Are you and Angela still looking for a house in the hills?”
“Well, yeah…we were gonna start lookin’ once the market got a little more stable – and Angela’s not getting any younger, you know. She’s been talking kids – ” Pete looked up to see something sailing through the air his way. He reached out and caught it – it was a set of four keys.
“You can have my house. I’ll sell it to you for a song.”
“What’s the catch?”
Jim only smiled. “No catches. I’m serious. I can’t keep the house much longer. I’m running out of money fast, Pete.”
“What trouble are you in?”
“No trouble. I’ve been living elsewhere.”
“Where?”
“Vibora Bay.”
“Oh, you’re makin’ money on the riverboats?”
“Could say that. But not like this.” He waved his hand around the room. “It’s not just the riverboats.”
Peter paused, and then grinned. “You found honey.”
“I don’t think he’d take well to be called ‘honey’.” Jim found himself grinning as well.
“So it’s permanent-like?”
Jim nodded, not trusting himself to say any words. That grin would not leave his face.
Pete jingled the keys. “How much?”
Jim gave him a more than reasonable price. Pete knew he would be a fool if he didn’t take it. “How long are you in town?”
“As long as need be to get this business over with.” He got up from the chair, and headed to the door. “I still have the same cell – call me tomorrow when you go to the bank for the loan.”
“Okay, Jim. Hey, Jim?”
“Yeah?” He turned around.
“Why me?”
Jim only smiled. “Because I always dreamed of having a big Texan like you sleep in my bed.”