The Gambler’s Tale: “Outstanding Debts,” Part 10 of 10
Professional poker player Jimmy Harmon’s time in Las Vegas has been anything but routine. A bomb set by a henchman named Watson — ostensibly in the employ of Las Vegas gangster Wiktoria Sałkiewicz — has apparently led to the death of Harmon’s friend Will Archer. Harmon meets with Las Vegas detective Ben Marshall, but neither come away with any real answers. Soon after, Sałkiewicz herself places doubt on the idea that she instigated the bombing, and hints that a consortium of hotel buyers may truly be behind it. But before Wiktoria can elaborate, they find themselves under attack by mysterious gunmen, identified only by their driving a black Hummer. After evading the attackers, Harmon and fellow gambler Rachael “Peeps” Leblanc head out of town, only to follow another clue leading to the body of a dead prostitute half-buried in the desert. Tracking the unfortunate woman’s path back to the Lyon Majestic Hotel, Harmon and Peeps discover a secret witness, Peter Sokolov, being guarded by what are apparently federal agents, as well as a cache of documents hinting at a major operation. Harmon makes his way to the Remington Hotel, only to discover his role model “Big Mike” Dalton, part owner of online gaming site All-In Poker, has been deeply involved in the past week’s activities — though the veteran player was unprepared for the latest turn. Aided by the Hummer-driving gunmen who earlier attacked Wiktoria, Big Mike hustles Harmon out to the Remington Hotel parking garage, only to run up against both the ominous federal agents and the Las Vegas Police — led by detective Marshall.
Rated AD-PG, so parental guidance is suggested
Contains uses of JC’s name in vain, “son of a Bitch,” gunplay, horrendously unsafe driving, and some deep, deep conspiracies.
