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I live in a small mining town in the mountains of Colorado. Someone is building a massive casino nearby, Pictures Included
I grew up in a small mountain town named Eureka. It was founded in the late 1800s during the gold rush, but after the mines dried up the town began its slow descent into decay. Half the houses are empty or abandoned now. You can see a picture of the kind of houses here in Eureka: First house Second house When a massive construction project began nearby, it was the talk of the town for weeks. Why would they build something in a sleepy dying town like Eureka? It wasn’t until my sister Selene talked to a few construction workers that we discovered they were building a casino. A casino up in the mountains, over two hours away from Denver. None of us could understand why they’d chosen here of all places. After a few months of work, the casino was done. I took a picture of the town with the completed casino in the background to the right. The ten-story-structure sticks out like a sore thumb off in the distance. Town+Casino After the casino opened, they hired a few dozen members of the town, offering high paying jobs to work as dealers or cleaning staff. I was already employed as a firefighter, but my sister Selene got a job as a blackjack dealer. She’s a widow with two young kids, so the paycheck was a real lifesaver. Still, something about the situation seemed too good to be true. The jobs over there paid far too well, and the management was far too accommodating. The fire station where I work is located high on a hill overlooking the town, so I began watching the casino from a distance each day. I had initially thought that the casino was located in a terrible location, but I was apparently wrong. True, Eureka was hours from any major city, but despite that, a bus full of people arrived every morning and left every evening. One night I was over at my parent’s house and had dinner with Selene and her kids. I asked her about her experience as a dealer. “It’s Ok,” she said. “Just a little boring I guess.” “Boring?” I asked. “I’m surprised you don’t have your hands full.” “Why’s that?” she asked. “It’s like you said, Eureka’s too small. I never have people playing cards. The casino is almost always completely empty.” I wasn’t sure what to make of that. If the place was always empty, what happened to the people who I’d seen arriving on buses? “I’ve been keeping an eye on the building,” I said. “A bus full of people typically arrives around 9 AM every day.” “Really?” she asked, looking confused. “If that’s true, I’ve never seen them. “I can see it from the fire station,” I said. “If you head out for a smoke break at 9 AM, you’ll probably see them arriving.” “Interesting,” she said. “I’ll do that. If they’re being processed for their organs or something, I’ll let you know.” She laughed. “Har har,” I said sarcastically. The next night she sent me a text calling me over. When I arrived, she was nearly breathless with excitement. “Orin, You were right,” she said. “A big group of people did arrive, but they didn’t walk into my part of the casino. Instead, they all walked into an elevator at the back of the building. I’m not sure where that goes.” She looked thoughtful. “It was weird. They looked… How can I say it? Desperate? Something about the whole situation was very off. I’m gonna check out the elevator tomorrow.” I told her to be careful, though, to be honest, I was excited to hear about what she discovered. When I visited my parent’s house the next night, I found her two kids there alone. They told me that Selene had never returned from work. I called all her friends, then all our neighbors, but no one had seen her since she left for work that morning. Our conversations regarding the casino flooded my mind, then a plan began to form. Early the next morning I walked across town in my nicest pair of jeans and a button-up shirt. I pushed through the door to the casino and saw that Selene wasn’t lying. The place was all but deserted. Three dozen slot machines crowded the walls surrounding a few tables interspersed throughout the floor of the casino. The only players in the whole building were Bob and Donald, two locals. I walked up to a nearby table where Bridget, a girl I’d gone to high school with, was shuffling cards. She broke into a grin when she saw me. “Hey Orin, you here for a few rounds of blackjack?” “I wish,” I said. “No, I’m here to ask about Selene. She never made it home last night.” Bridget’s expression darkened. “Really? Have you asked around?” “I already called around. Have you seen her?” She shook her head. “No, our schedules rarely line up. I’ll be sure to let you know if I--” Her eyes focused on something behind me, and she cut herself off. I turned around to see the casino’s pit boss watching us both. He was a tall thin man in an impeccably clean black suit. When I turned back towards Bridget, she was looking down at the table and shuffling cards absent-mindedly. “Well, if you hear anything, let me know,” I said. She nodded, so I turned around and headed for the pit boss. I stuck out my hand. The temperature of his hand was so hot that I had to pull my hand away after a few seconds. “Have… have you seen my sister Selene?” I asked. “She hasn’t been seen since her shift here yesterday.” He smiled. “Sir, this floor is for players. You’re more than welcome to head to the tellers for chips, but barring that I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to leave.” I stared at him for a long second before stalking towards the door. When I looked back, he was talking with Bridget. I checked my watch. 8:55 AM, just as I’d planned. I walked around the back of the building and waited as the morning bus pulled around the building. I waited for the telltale hiss of the opening doors and the sound of people descending before I rounded the corner and joined the crowd. None of them paid any particular attention to me as I walked with them into the casino. The crowd walked through a side door down a hallway to an elevator. Small groups of people entered the elevator as the rest of us waited for our turn. I shot a glance at the casino patrons, surprised at their diversity. There seemed to be people from all different countries and ethnicities. I heard one speaking Japanese and another speaking what sounded like an African language. My turn came along with a few other patrons in the elevator. A sickly woman hobbled into the elevator beside me carrying an IV that was still connected to one of her veins. We piled in and rode up to the top. The elevator rose for a few long seconds. I wasn’t sure what I would find, but I steeled myself for something horrible. The elevator’s speaker let out a TING, then the doors opened. We all walked out onto what looked like a standard casino. Another few dozen slot machines ringed the walls, but on this floor, they were almost all occupied by customers. I took in the scene, confused at why they’d have a ground floor that was almost completely empty when this place was almost-- Selene was dealing cards at a nearby table. I jogged over and sat down at an open seat. None of the players around me paid me much attention. “Selene!” I said. “Are you OK? Did you spend the night here last night?” Her eyes were glassy and confused. She looked up at me with a dumb expression and didn’t respond to my question. “Selene?” I asked. “What’s your bet?” she asked me. “This table is for blackjack players only.” “I…” I trailed off, looking at the players around me. None of them were betting with chips of any kind. “What’s the minimum bet?” I asked. “Three years,” she responded. “Three years then,” I said, not knowing what that referred to. Selene nodded, then began dealing cards. I shot a look down at my hand. King and a 9. Selene dealt out cards for herself, showing a 9. I stood, then leaned forward again. “Should I call the police? Are you--” “Congratulations,” she said tonelessly. An almost impossibly warm hand grabbed my shoulder. I spun to see the pit boss I’d spoken to earlier. He gave an impressed smile. “Orin, was it? I’m impressed, truly. Would you mind if I had a word with you?” I shot a look back at Selene who was dealing the next round of cards. Then I got to my feet, balling my hands into fists. “What did you do to her?” The pit boss clasped his hands behind his back. “Nothing more, and nothing less than what I’m going to do to you. That is, offer you the chance to play.” “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” The pit boss nodded his head towards a nearby slot machine. A woman in a wheelchair pulled a lever and watched the flashing numbers spin. They exploded in a cacophony of sirens and flashing lights. “WINNER WINNER WINNER!” The machine screeched. The woman in the wheelchair put her feet on the ground and stood up on a pair of wobbly legs that had clearly never been used before. “As in any other casino,” the pit boss said, “you must wager for the chance to win.” “She... won the use of her legs?” I asked, feeling light-headed. “Wait,” I said. “I played blackjack just now. ‘Three years,’ Selene told me. What does ‘three years’ mean?” I asked. “Three years of life, of course. Did you win?” My mouth felt dry. “I-- Yes, I won.” He smiled warmly. “Congratulations. I hope you enjoy them. I can tell you from personal experience that watching the decades pass is a bore. Give it some time and you’ll be back to spend them.” I watched the pit boss’s face. He couldn’t have been more than a few years older than me, and I was in my early thirties. I looked around at the casino. No one was playing with chips of any kind. “So what?” I asked. “I won years of life. That woman won the use of her legs. What else can a person win here?” “Oh, almost anything. They can win almost anything you can imagine.” A cold feeling settled in my stomach. “And what do they wager?” His eyes flashed with greed. “Almost anything. They can wager almost anything you can possibly imagine. Anything equal in value to the item they want in return.” He nodded towards a nearby roulette table. A man stood by the table, cradling his hands. “Another finger,” he called out. He only had three fingers remaining on his left hand. As I watched, the ball came to a stop, and another finger disappeared from his left hand. The pit boss extended his hands. “Feel free to try any of our games. Bet and win whatever you’d like.” He reached out and snatched my hand. A feeling of intense warmth passed up my arm to my chest. “There,” he said. “I’ve even given you some house money to get you started. An extra decade of life, on me.” I ripped my hand away, staring at him in horror. Then I looked back at Selene. Something clicked in my mind. “You offered her the chance to play. What did she want?” I asked. “Her husband,” the pit boss said. “Quite the sad story. He died two years ago. She wanted him brought back to her.” “What did she wager?” I asked. “She wanted the chance to win a soul, the most valuable object in existence. I’m sure you can imagine what she needed to wager for the chance to win it. What she wagered is unimportant. The important question is: What do you want, Orin?” I stared at Selene with a flat expression. “I’m sure you can imagine.” His eyes flashed with greed again. “How wonderful. The casino could always make use of another dealer. Feel free to make your wager at any one of our games; I’ll be eagerly awaiting the results of your night. Oh, and do take advantage of our waitresses. We always supply food and drink for ‘high rollers’.” He walked away. I spent the next few hours trying to decide which game to play. I was going to be wagering my soul, so I wanted the highest chance possible. Slots and roulette were out. I’d done some reading online about counting cards, so I figured that blackjack gave me the best odds. I walked up to Selene’s table and sat down. “Bet?” she asked with that same toneless voice. “Three years,” I said. I spent the next hour or so doing my best to remember how to count cards. I knew that low cards added one to my count and high cards decreased it by one, but the casino used three decks. I had read something about how that was supposed to change my calculation, but I couldn’t quite remember how. Every time I won a hand, I cursed myself for not putting everything on the line. Every time I lost, I breathed a prayer of thanks that I’d waited. And all the while, I kept track of the count. I had lost fifteen years of life when the count finally reached +5. “Bet?” Selene asked. “I wager my soul so you can be free,” I said. The table around me fell silent. Selene’s eyes flickered, but she showed no other emotion as she dealt the cards. I watched my first card, punching the air in excitement when I saw a Jack. My excitement turned to ash when my second card was a four. Fourteen. I looked at her hand. One card was facedown, but the faceup card was a King. I swore loudly, staring down at my hands. “Hit?” she asked. The entire table was silently watching me. “Hit,” I said, not looking down. The table erupted in cheers. I looked down to see a 7 atop my two other cards. 21. Blackjack. I looked at Selene who flipped over her facedown card to reveal a 9. 19. I won. The glassy look left her eyes immediately. She looked around in surprise, then her eyes locked on mine. “Orin?” she asked, then almost immediately began to cry. The entire casino broke out in cheers. I grabbed her hand and headed for the elevator. The doors had begun to close when the pit boss reached out with a hand to stop them. “Congratulations,” he said, beaming. He seemed to be honestly excited. “Shouldn’t you be upset?” I asked. “Not at all. Casinos love it when we have big winners. It inspires the other players to make larger bets. I imagine I’ll gain two or three dealers before the night is through from your performance.” “Great,” I said flatly. “Now let us go.” “Not yet,” he said. “You didn’t just win, Orin. You got a blackjack. And blackjack pays out 1.5 times your bet. You won your sister’s soul and more.” I stared, not sure what to say. “What are you saying? I won half a soul extra?” The pit boss grinned wildly. “Just remember what I said. You’ll find living for decades and decades to be a boring experience. After a few centuries, you’ll be back to gamble that half a soul away. Congratulations!” He removed his hand, and the elevator doors slammed shut. I helped Selene back to her house. Her children were relieved. I watched them cry, then moved into the kitchen to start making dinner. It’s been a few days since that experience. The casino is still out there, and buses full of people still arrive. I… I cut my hand pretty bad a few days later. When I checked it an hour later, it had already healed, no scar or anything. I’m not sure exactly what I won at that casino, but there’s no way I’m ever going back. X
I live in a small mining town in the mountains of Colorado. Someone is building a massive casino nearby, Pictures Included
I grew up in a small mountain town named Eureka. It was founded in the late 1800s during the gold rush, but after the mines dried up the town began its slow descent into decay. Half the houses are empty or abandoned now. You can see a picture of the kind of houses here in Eureka: Abandoned House Non-abandoned House When a massive construction project began nearby, it was the talk of the town for weeks. Why would they build something in a sleepy dying town like Eureka? It wasn’t until my sister Selene talked to a few construction workers that we discovered they were building a casino. A casino up in the mountains, over two hours away from Denver. None of us could understand why they’d chosen here of all places. After a few months of work, the casino was done. I took a picture of the town with the completed casino in the background to the right. The ten-story-structure sticks out like a sore thumb off in the distance. Town+Casino After the casino opened, they hired a few dozen members of the town, offering high paying jobs to work as dealers or cleaning staff. I was already employed as a firefighter, but my sister Selene got a job as a blackjack dealer. She’s a widow with two young kids, so the paycheck was a real lifesaver. Still, something about the situation seemed too good to be true. The jobs over there paid far too well, and the management was far too accommodating. The fire station where I work is located high on a hill overlooking the town, so I began watching the casino from a distance each day. I had initially thought that the casino was located in a terrible location, but I was apparently wrong. True, Eureka was hours from any major city, but despite that, a bus full of people arrived every morning and left every evening. One night I was over at my parent’s house and had dinner with Selene and her kids. I asked her about her experience as a dealer. “It’s Ok,” she said. “Just a little boring I guess.” “Boring?” I asked. “I’m surprised you don’t have your hands full.” “Why’s that?” she asked. “It’s like you said, Eureka’s too small. I never have people playing cards. The casino is almost always completely empty.” I wasn’t sure what to make of that. If the place was always empty, what happened to the people who I’d seen arriving on buses? “I’ve been keeping an eye on the building,” I said. “A bus full of people typically arrives around 9 AM every day.” “Really?” she asked, looking confused. “If that’s true, I’ve never seen them. “I can see it from the fire station,” I said. “If you head out for a smoke break at 9 AM, you’ll probably see them arriving.” “Interesting,” she said. “I’ll do that. If they’re being processed for their organs or something, I’ll let you know.” She laughed. “Har har,” I said sarcastically. The next night she sent me a text calling me over. When I arrived, she was nearly breathless with excitement. “Orin, You were right,” she said. “A big group of people did arrive, but they didn’t walk into my part of the casino. Instead, they all walked into an elevator at the back of the building. I’m not sure where that goes.” She looked thoughtful. “It was weird. They looked… How can I say it? Desperate? Something about the whole situation was very off. I’m gonna check out the elevator tomorrow.” I told her to be careful, though, to be honest, I was excited to hear about what she discovered. When I visited my parent’s house the next night, I found her two kids there alone. They told me that Selene had never returned from work. I called all her friends, then all our neighbors, but no one had seen her since she left for work that morning. Our conversations regarding the casino flooded my mind, then a plan began to form. Early the next morning I walked across town in my nicest pair of jeans and a button-up shirt. I pushed through the door to the casino and saw that Selene wasn’t lying. The place was all but deserted. Three dozen slot machines crowded the walls surrounding a few tables interspersed throughout the floor of the casino. The only players in the whole building were Bob and Donald, two locals. I walked up to a nearby table where Bridget, a girl I’d gone to high school with, was shuffling cards. She broke into a grin when she saw me. “Hey Orin, you here for a few rounds of blackjack?” “I wish,” I said. “No, I’m here to ask about Selene. She never made it home last night.” Bridget’s expression darkened. “Really? Have you asked around?” “I already called around. Have you seen her?” She shook her head. “No, our schedules rarely line up. I’ll be sure to let you know if I--” Her eyes focused on something behind me, and she cut herself off. I turned around to see the casino’s pit boss watching us both. He was a tall thin man in an impeccably clean black suit. When I turned back towards Bridget, she was looking down at the table and shuffling cards absent-mindedly. “Well, if you hear anything, let me know,” I said. She nodded, so I turned around and headed for the pit boss. I stuck out my hand. The temperature of his hand was so hot that I had to pull my hand away after a few seconds. “Have… have you seen my sister Selene?” I asked. “She hasn’t been seen since her shift here yesterday.” He smiled. “Sir, this floor is for players. You’re more than welcome to head to the tellers for chips, but barring that I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to leave.” I stared at him for a long second before stalking towards the door. When I looked back, he was talking with Bridget. I checked my watch. 8:55 AM, just as I’d planned. I walked around the back of the building and waited as the morning bus pulled around the building. I waited for the telltale hiss of the opening doors and the sound of people descending before I rounded the corner and joined the crowd. None of them paid any particular attention to me as I walked with them into the casino. The crowd walked through a side door down a hallway to an elevator. Small groups of people entered the elevator as the rest of us waited for our turn. I shot a glance at the casino patrons, surprised at their diversity. There seemed to be people from all different countries and ethnicities. I heard one speaking Japanese and another speaking what sounded like an African language. My turn came along with a few other patrons in the elevator. A sickly woman hobbled into the elevator beside me carrying an IV that was still connected to one of her veins. We piled in and rode up to the top. The elevator rose for a few long seconds. I wasn’t sure what I would find, but I steeled myself for something horrible. The elevator’s speaker let out a TING, then the doors opened. We all walked out onto what looked like a standard casino. Another few dozen slot machines ringed the walls, but on this floor, they were almost all occupied by customers. I took in the scene, confused at why they’d have a ground floor that was almost completely empty when this place was almost-- Selene was dealing cards at a nearby table. I jogged over and sat down at an open seat. None of the players around me paid me much attention. “Selene!” I said. “Are you OK? Did you spend the night here last night?” Her eyes were glassy and confused. She looked up at me with a dumb expression and didn’t respond to my question. “Selene?” I asked. “What’s your bet?” she asked me. “This table is for blackjack players only.” “I…” I trailed off, looking at the players around me. None of them were betting with chips of any kind. “What’s the minimum bet?” I asked. “Three years,” she responded. “Three years then,” I said, not knowing what that referred to. Selene nodded, then began dealing cards. I shot a look down at my hand. King and a 9. Selene dealt out cards for herself, showing a 9. I stood, then leaned forward again. “Should I call the police? Are you--” “Congratulations,” she said tonelessly. An almost impossibly warm hand grabbed my shoulder. I spun to see the pit boss I’d spoken to earlier. He gave an impressed smile. “Orin, was it? I’m impressed, truly. Would you mind if I had a word with you?” I shot a look back at Selene who was dealing the next round of cards. Then I got to my feet, balling my hands into fists. “What did you do to her?” The pit boss clasped his hands behind his back. “Nothing more, and nothing less than what I’m going to do to you. That is, offer you the chance to play.” “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” The pit boss nodded his head towards a nearby slot machine. A woman in a wheelchair pulled a lever and watched the flashing numbers spin. They exploded in a cacophony of sirens and flashing lights. “WINNER WINNER WINNER!” The machine screeched. The woman in the wheelchair put her feet on the ground and stood up on a pair of wobbly legs that had clearly never been used before. “As in any other casino,” the pit boss said, “you must wager for the chance to win.” “She... won the use of her legs?” I asked, feeling light-headed. “Wait,” I said. “I played blackjack just now. ‘Three years,’ Selene told me. What does ‘three years’ mean?” I asked. “Three years of life, of course. Did you win?” My mouth felt dry. “I-- Yes, I won.” He smiled warmly. “Congratulations. I hope you enjoy them. I can tell you from personal experience that watching the decades pass is a bore. Give it some time and you’ll be back to spend them.” I watched the pit boss’s face. He couldn’t have been more than a few years older than me, and I was in my early thirties. I looked around at the casino. No one was playing with chips of any kind. “So what?” I asked. “I won years of life. That woman won the use of her legs. What else can a person win here?” “Oh, almost anything. They can win almost anything you can imagine.” A cold feeling settled in my stomach. “And what do they wager?” His eyes flashed with greed. “Almost anything. They can wager almost anything you can possibly imagine. Anything equal in value to the item they want in return.” He nodded towards a nearby roulette table. A man stood by the table, cradling his hands. “Another finger,” he called out. He only had three fingers remaining on his left hand. As I watched, the ball came to a stop, and another finger disappeared from his left hand. The pit boss extended his hands. “Feel free to try any of our games. Bet and win whatever you’d like.” He reached out and snatched my hand. A feeling of intense warmth passed up my arm to my chest. “There,” he said. “I’ve even given you some house money to get you started. An extra decade of life, on me.” I ripped my hand away, staring at him in horror. Then I looked back at Selene. Something clicked in my mind. “You offered her the chance to play. What did she want?” I asked. “Her husband,” the pit boss said. “Quite the sad story. He died two years ago. She wanted him brought back to her.” “What did she wager?” I asked. “She wanted the chance to win a soul, the most valuable object in existence. I’m sure you can imagine what she needed to wager for the chance to win it. What she wagered is unimportant. The important question is: What do you want, Orin?” I stared at Selene with a flat expression. “I’m sure you can imagine.” His eyes flashed with greed again. “How wonderful. The casino could always make use of another dealer. Feel free to make your wager at any one of our games; I’ll be eagerly awaiting the results of your night. Oh, and do take advantage of our waitresses. We always supply food and drink for ‘high rollers’.” He walked away. I spent the next few hours trying to decide which game to play. I was going to be wagering my soul, so I wanted the highest chance possible. Slots and roulette were out. I’d done some reading online about counting cards, so I figured that blackjack gave me the best odds. I walked up to Selene’s table and sat down. “Bet?” she asked with that same toneless voice. “Three years,” I said. I spent the next hour or so doing my best to remember how to count cards. I knew that low cards added one to my count and high cards decreased it by one, but the casino used three decks. I had read something about how that was supposed to change my calculation, but I couldn’t quite remember how. Every time I won a hand, I cursed myself for not putting everything on the line. Every time I lost, I breathed a prayer of thanks that I’d waited. And all the while, I kept track of the count. I had lost fifteen years of life when the count finally reached +5. “Bet?” Selene asked. “I wager my soul so you can be free,” I said. The table around me fell silent. Selene’s eyes flickered, but she showed no other emotion as she dealt the cards. I watched my first card, punching the air in excitement when I saw a Jack. My excitement turned to ash when my second card was a four. Fourteen. I looked at her hand. One card was facedown, but the faceup card was a King. I swore loudly, staring down at my hands. “Hit?” she asked. The entire table was silently watching me. “Hit,” I said, not looking down. The table erupted in cheers. I looked down to see a 7 atop my two other cards. 21. Blackjack. I looked at Selene who flipped over her facedown card to reveal a 9. 19. I won. The glassy look left her eyes immediately. She looked around in surprise, then her eyes locked on mine. “Orin?” she asked, then almost immediately began to cry. The entire casino broke out in cheers. I grabbed her hand and headed for the elevator. The doors had begun to close when the pit boss reached out with a hand to stop them. “Congratulations,” he said, beaming. He seemed to be honestly excited. “Shouldn’t you be upset?” I asked. “Not at all. Casinos love it when we have big winners. It inspires the other players to make larger bets. I imagine I’ll gain two or three dealers before the night is through from your performance.” “Great,” I said flatly. “Now let us go.” “Not yet,” he said. “You didn’t just win, Orin. You got a blackjack. And blackjack pays out 1.5 times your bet. You won your sister’s soul and more.” I stared, not sure what to say. “What are you saying? I won half a soul extra?” The pit boss grinned wildly. “Just remember what I said. You’ll find living for decades and decades to be a boring experience. After a few centuries, you’ll be back to gamble that half a soul away. Congratulations!” He removed his hand, and the elevator doors slammed shut. I helped Selene back to her house. Her children were relieved. I watched them cry, then moved into the kitchen to start making dinner. It’s been a few days since that experience. The casino is still out there, and buses full of people still arrive. I… I cut my hand pretty bad a few days later. When I checked it an hour later, it had already healed, no scar or anything. I’m not sure exactly what I won at that casino, but there’s no way I’m ever going back. Interested in more? Support me on Patreon at any level! My Patreon backers will get early access to my horror stories, free copies of my horror novels, and an exclusive story each month. 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(With apologies to Uncle Steve) Jay Everett stared up at the towering Twin Pines Hotel, one of the largest buildings this side of the Las Vegas gambling strip. It was a jutting structure built entirely out of steel beams and black glass. The Hotel was surrounded on all sides by the flashing neon lights of Casino Row, which danced across its glossy surface like the ghostly imprints of colored flames. Apparently this place offered some of the swankiest penthouses in the entire city, but Jay wasn’t here for a room. He’d only come here to gamble. He pushed through the front doors and entered the lobby, a spacious room with potted plants crawling up the walls like ivy. The place was packed with men in tuxedos and women in loose evening dresses. Jay felt smothered in his own suit, and he tried easing up the collar with one finger. It didn’t help much. He still felt like he was being throttled by his tie. Most of the crowd was moving toward the check-in desk, but Jay snuck his way through until he could see the flashing lights of the casino. A large metal beam stretched across the entrance. Beneath it was a sign that proclaimed TWIN PINES CASINO in bold, electric blue letters. A bear and a turtle and various other forest animals gamboled across either side. He managed to slip through the bustle without being too pushy, and then he was in. Light background jazz swept across him as he stepped into a world lit up by colored bulbs and strips of eerie black light. The casino actually wasn’t too crowded this early in the night. He almost had the entire place to himself. He stopped before a large, circular game machine emblazoned with the words GOLD KING. The game itself was nothing more than a large spinning disc divided into colored slices. Most of the sections were given small monetary values, but there was one tiny sliver that had been painted a solid gold. The game itself didn’t get too much activity, but the large statue perched above it could be seen from anywhere in the casino. It was a cartoony sculpture of a king wearing red robes and a golden crown. In his hand he held a royal scepter, which would flash brightly and let off a chorus of clanging bells whenever anyone hit the jackpot. Right now he was silent. His blank eyes stared out at the crowd, his mouth open in a creepy cartoon smile. You have until the Gold King goes off to make $19,000. Otherwise… Jay shivered. He couldn’t get Farrow’s threat out of his head; it echoed in his ears like the growl of a distant animal. Farrow himself was nowhere to be found, but Jay knew he’d stationed his cronies in every corner of this place. Some were probably disguised as security guards, others as bartenders or casino patrons. He couldn’t trust anybody. Any one of these people could be waiting to turn him in to Farrow the moment he backed out of this job. So he did what he was told to do. He took a deep breath, let his eyes sweep over the casino, and strode over to the game that stood out to him the most. He had a lot of money to win and not much time to do it. This was a world ruled by chance, where the simple roll of a die could decide a person’s fate, and any ordinary man would have been sweating in his suit by now. But Jay Everett was no ordinary man. Jay had always known how different he was, even as a kid. It wasn’t that he looked or acted stranger than other people. He was just perceptive. He knew the answers in class before his teacher even finished speaking, although he quickly learned to keep this to himself. He could find things too. When little things went missing around the house, Jay always knew just where to look. He couldn’t explain how. He just did. He also had an uncanny skill with numbers. He’d never used a calculator in his entire life and he couldn’t understand why his classmates were so helpless without it. By the time he’d reached 9th grade, he was already taking the highest level math courses his high school could offer. It wasn’t long before he caught the eye of several prestigious business schools, which practically tripped over themselves getting him to apply. He never had to worry about his future. Jay ended up leaving high school early and heading to Stanford, where he started down the fast track to a career in finance. He was snatched up by Tony Salvatore right after graduation. Salvatore was a business tycoon who’d left his footprint in every major city across the country, and he was eager to take Jay on board as his new head of finance. “I’ve been waiting for a kid like you,” he’d said, clapping Jay on the shoulder. “Someone who knows how to crunch the numbers and keep his mouth shut.” It was true that Jay hardly ever talked; it was a habit from his youth that he hadn’t yet outgrown. He just didn’t trust himself to speak. He knew things about Salvatore, things he couldn’t possibly know – like how he came in late on Mondays because he’d spent the night before drinking and hitting his wife, or how he’d gotten bite marks under his collar from a violent fling with his receptionist. Tony would walk into the room and the knowledge would hit Jay in the face like a foul stench. He valued his job, so he kept quiet. He discovered Salvatore’s biggest scandal completely by accident. Jay had stayed late at the office that night to finish up one of his revenue forms, which kept coming up $100 short. It was baffling to him. He’d never had an issue with numbers before, not even a minor issue like this, and he didn’t understand why he kept finding the same inconsistency. So he pulled up some other forms to see if he could trace the cause of the missing hundred. It would have been a cold trail for anyone else, but Jay was good at finding things, and he managed to dig up an encrypted file with a bunch of forms that had never made it into the system. He set up a program to decode the files and discovered that they were all bank deposits – deposits of exactly $100. The missing money was being funneled into an account under the name “Enrico Balazar.” At first Jay didn’t know what to do with the info he’d dug up. This was fraud, fraud of the highest degree, and Salvatore had to be turned in. Jay had no desire to defend the crooked son of a bitch. But he wasn’t stupid – he knew Salvatore had connections in low places, and if Jay made this information public, he’d have a target on his head. He sat in the dark for a while and cycled through his options. When Salvatore showed up for work the next day, Jay intercepted him right outside his office. “Sorry to bother you, sir,” he said. “I was just about to send the tax forms to our Boston division when my computer crashed. Is there any way you could send them out for me?” The bit about the computer was true; he’d just neglected to mention that he’d crashed it himself. Salvatore stared at the papers in Jay’s hand with bleary, reddened eyes. He just had a shot of whiskey in his car. As usual, the thought hit Jay completely out of the blue. Salvatore eventually reached out and took the papers, crumpling them a bit in his fist. “Hold on a sec,” he grunted. He took the papers into his office and set them on the desk, then leaned over to type his password on the computer. Jay’s eyes followed him carefully. Then Salvatore placed the forms in his scanner and began the uploading process. Jay stayed late again, waiting until the last of the workers had left the office before typing a quick command on his keyboard. There was a brief popping sound. The power in his part of the building flickered for a moment, and Jay knew the cameras were disabled. He had a good hour or so before they came back on again. He’d kept a pair of gloves in his briefcase all day, and he slipped them on now as he headed to Salvatore’s office. The tycoon’s personal computer sat in the corner, its screen flashing with an insistent message: PASSWORD? Jay leaned forward and typed it in, his fingers copying the same pattern Salvatore had used this morning. A quiet beep, a loading bar, and he was in. He got to work immediately. When Jay arrived at work the next day, a police car was parked outside the building, lights flashing and everything. He arrived just in time to watch the cops shoving a handcuffed Salvatore into the backseat. Jay made sure to keep his face hidden, just in case, but Salvatore had his eyes turned to the ground. “What happened?” Jay asked one of his coworkers. “You’ll never believe it, man. Some kind of virus got into Salvatore’s computer and made all of his private files go public. It turns he was channeling a big chunk of his clients’ cash to this mob boss in New York. Balthazar or something.” “No kidding,” Jay replied. He watched as the car carrying Tony Salvatore turned the corner and disappeared down 5th Avenue. It was then that he noticed a figure who was standing at the edge of the crowd, his face hidden by the brim of a dark baseball cap. Everyone else was staring down the street, but this man was facing Jay instead. He had his hands tucked into the pockets of a black leather jacket and a thin layer of dark stubble on his face. As soon as Jay noticed him, he lifted a hand from his pocket and gestured for Jay to come over. Jay was hesitant, but it was broad daylight and he was surrounded on all sides by people. It was safe. He circled around the crowd and approached the dark stranger. “Do I know you?” he asked. The man didn’t answer right away. Instead, he reached out and slapped something small and square into the palm of Jay’s hand. Then Jay finally got a glimpse of his eyes beneath the cap. They were shrewd and calculating, a glassy blue that made Jay think of the surface of a frozen pond. “I saw,” he said. “And if you’re interested, I could use your kind of expertise.” Jay glanced at the object in his hand. It was a business card, nothing but a name and a set of digits. He frowned. “I’m sorry, I don’t –” But when he looked up, the man had already disappeared. That was the first time Jay met Rick Farrow. Jay sipped from his wine glass and watched as people tried their luck on the Twin Pines slot machines. In theory, the outcome of these games was completely random. But Jay knew that most of these machines cycled through a random number sequence, and unless it had been rigged to prevent this issue, one could theoretically spot a pattern. The casino owners needed to make sure that some people walked away winners, after all. Not everyone. Just enough to keep people playing. There was a pattern, but it was so subtle that the average person would never have noticed it. 19 pulls got you three cherries and a decent amount of cash. 95 pulls got you a row of three gold coins. And after 171 pulls of the lever, three 7s would plunk into place, bells would go off, and the ring of bulbs around the game would burst into life. Jay watched the colored lights dance across the face of each excited winner. So he sat at the bar, ordered another wine, and waited. He made a mental check mark every time someone new stepped up to play the game. And when the 170th person walked away, he set down his glass, strode over to the machine, and played. The wheels whirled for a good few seconds before settling on the jackpot. The lights flashed, the bells rang, and a flood of coins spilled out of the machine. He collected his winnings without a smile. Now that Tony Salvatore had been removed from his position as CEO, his offices in New York got shuttered. Jay suddenly found himself jobless and in desperate need of cash, as Salvatore had been paying for him to live in a nice apartment on the east side of town. Despite his impressive work history, he seemed to carry with him a kind of stigma for being even somewhat associated with the Salvatore name. So, with no other options, Jay contacted Rick Farrow. The mysterious man arranged to meet with him at once. He conducted Jay’s interview in a rented office space not too far from the old Salvatore building. Farrow asked most of the questions, and he nodded along pleasantly as Jay talked about his passion for numbers and his experiences studying at Stanford. Farrow was a curious character. He never seemed to take off his black leather jacket, which looked slightly too big for his slender frame. His cheeks were sharp and bony and his facial hair was carefully trimmed. It was a fairly imposing look, but when he smiled it completely transformed his character. He was a charismatic individual. One way or another, he seemed capable of winning anybody over. Farrow was impressed by Jay’s experiences, especially by the way he had so cleverly exposed Salvatore, although he refused to tell Jay how he’d seen that particular bit of espionage. In any case, Farrow thought Jay’s skills were perfect for the job, and he told Jay he would take him on immediately. Housing would be provided in one of the apartment complexes near their base of operations. Payment was substantial and would come in on a monthly basis. Jay hardly heard any of this; he was just excited to be welcomed into such a secretive underworld. The weeks passed by quickly as Jay got initiated into his new life. Farrow explained to him that Salvatore had just been the tip of a very large and very dangerous iceberg. CEOs all over the state were funneling illicit cash to various crime bosses in the city, and Farrow had made it his goal to cut off the head of the snake. Multiple snakes, in this case. That was where Jay and the rest of the tech specialists came in. They had an eye for the little details that could bring a corrupt CEO down from the inside. To accomplish this, Farrow and several of his associates went around the city and placed cameras in strategic locations. Sometimes they even hacked into company networks so the tech-heads back at the base could break through any encrypted files. It was tireless work, but Jay loved it. He had never felt more in his element. It gave him a thrill to think that he was doing something with his life, that he was using his knowledge to make the world a slightly better place. Most of the time they operated out of an abandoned warehouse in one of the emptier sections of the city. Farrow had the whole place rigged up with state of the art security systems and a few dozen computers. Jay and the other tech-heads spent most of the time cracking codes and analyzing the footage from Farrow’s secret cameras. If they found any incriminating evidence, they were to report it right away. Then Farrow would take some of his cronies and disappear into the city for a few days. In very rare cases, Farrow would ask one of the tech-heads to come with him on an assignment. This only ever happened if the job required hacking skills that Farrow himself didn’t possess. Jay was fairly new to the whole game, so Farrow usually passed him up for one of the more experienced techies. He didn’t mind; in fact, he was nervous about returning the field. The Salvatore affair seemed like it had happened ages ago. He wasn’t quite sure he was ready to sneak around in gloves and a ski-mask again. Jay was busy scanning footage one evening when he heard the slam of a door and the sound of muffled shouting from below. He frowned and took off his headphones. It was definitely Farrow shouting – Jay would have recognized that gravelly voice anywhere. He just couldn’t make out any of the words. Placing the headphones gingerly on the monitor, he got out of his seat and tiptoed over to the door. The main operations room was on the second floor, so Jay peered over the railing on the catwalk to see what was happening below. Farrow and a few of his masked associates were gathered around one of the other tech-heads. Jay thought it looked like Bruno, the guy who worked with him on Tuesdays. He had his back against a drainage pipe and was holding his hands up helplessly. “You took off your fucking mask! Do you know how serious this is?” Farrow was yelling. Even from this high up, Jay could see the angry crease in his eyebrows. “They’ve got your face now. It’ll be all over their security cameras. Your stupid slip-up could have put our entire operation at risk!” “I-I-I’m sorry,” Bruno stammered. “It won’t happen again, I promise!” “You’re damn right it won’t,” Farrow growled. Then he drew a gun from inside his jacket and shot Bruno in the head. Jay clapped a hand to his mouth to stifle a scream. Half of the techie’s face was missing, bits of his skin and brain tissue spraying out onto the warehouse floor. His blood splattered across the drainage pipe and trickled to the ground. Jay could hear the steady drip all the way from the catwalk. He ducked back inside the operations room before Farrow could look up and see him there. His heart was pounding out an erratic beat on his ribcage. As quickly as he could, he slid into his seat and stuck the headphones back over his ears. He hummed a senseless little tune under his breath, trying to make himself look as carefree and oblivious as possible. If Farrow knew what he had just seen… he held back a shudder. Farrow appeared in the doorway a few minutes later, the specks of blood completely wiped from his face. He’d changed into a cleaner jacket too. As Farrow walked past the row of flashing computer screens, Jay tried to calm his racing pulse. “Any good news?” Farrow asked. He placed a hand on Jay’s shoulder, peering down at the monitor. They shoved his body in the wood chipper. The knowledge hit him like a jolt of lightning, clear and strong. It took every ounce of his willpower to force a smile. “Nothing so far,” he said. “It’s pretty quiet tonight.” He was amazed he could keep his voice from trembling. Farrow stared at the screen for a few painfully long moments, then coughed. “Keep up the good work,” he said. He let go of Jay’s shoulder and drifted toward the exit. The masked associates followed him like obedient dogs. When Jay was finally sure he could breathe easy again, he wiped a line of sweat from his brow. He was badly shaken, and not just because he’d seen his coworker shot in cold blood. He was questioning himself now, questioning the whole purpose of this assignment. If Farrow could do something so cruel and violent in the walls of his own compound, what was he doing out in the real world? After making sure the coast was clear, Jay opened up a web browser and began searching for names. He’d been so busy working this job that he’d never bothered to check the papers, to see what was really going on outside the compound. All the news about the crooks they’d toppled had come through Farrow himself. But the search results Jay found online painted a very different story. Farrow had said that the elderly Mitch Cullum had been arrested for siphoning funds to a New York crime syndicate, but Jay managed to dig up the old man’s obituary. Cause of death: gunshot wound. Nancy Deepneau, a leading member of a dental corporation in New York City, had gone missing three months ago. And David Tassenbaum, a prominent figure in the computer business, had been mugged to death in an alley, his body so beaten it had been almost impossible to identify. Jay found a dozen more examples of the “corrupt CEOs” Farrow had supposedly brought to justice. The only thing they had in common was that they’d all been very rich, and there had been discrepancies in their corporate funding following each death or disappearance. The police were unable to track down any leads. His fingers trembling, Jay shut down the browser. For a moment he could only stare at the screen in front of him. What the hell could he do? It wasn’t like he could play dumb forever. He was an expert at staying strategically silent, but a secret this huge would find its way out eventually. His body language would betray him first. The moment he started fidgeting too much, Farrow would know the truth. So he did the only thing he could think of. He disappeared. Erasing yourself from existence is next to impossible. You would have to delete every record of your birth, your social security, your education, your medical insurance, your credit card accounts – any and all places where your name could be found in writing. But Jay was persistent, and he knew things. He accessed every database he possibly could and systematically wiped himself off the map. There were some records he knew he could never touch, but if they were out of his reach, the chances of Farrow finding them were slim to none. He was an invisible man now. Once he was done, he put down the headphones, shut off the monitor, and strode out the front door of the warehouse. It was only a matter of time until Farrow noticed his absence, but he planned to put a few thousand miles between them before that happened. He was free. He’d been shaken to his core, but he was free, and that was all that mattered. He’d have plenty of time later to think about the horrors he’d seen. And who knows? Maybe this was it. Maybe this whole affair was behind him, and one day it would just become a ghastly dream, a nightmare from someone else’s reality. But deep down, he knew it wouldn’t be that easy. “Red 38,” Jay stated. He handed his chips to the croupier, who stacked them on the side of the table with the bets from the other players. Then he gave the roulette wheel a spin. Jay watched as the colors bled together, streaking in an ugly smear of crimson gray. After a few seconds, the croupier tossed the ball down the spinning track. It bounced and rolled every which way before coming to rest in one of the 38 slots. Red 38 exactly. “Damn, you’re on a roll,” the croupier said. He handed Jay his original chips plus the payout. “Sure you want to keep going? This luck of yours can’t last forever.” “I’m sure,” Jay answered. He took a deep breath, waiting for the answer to wash over him like it always did. Then he placed his chips back down on the table and stated, “Black 13. Last bet.” The croupier shrugged and took the chips. They went through the same routine. The roulette wheel spun in its blurry circle, and the ball bounced around for a while before plunking into its final slot. Black 13. Jay ignored the astonished remarks of the croupier and accepted his winnings silently. He couldn’t stay at this table forever, so he turned away from the Rose Bowl Roulette and cast his eyes across the casino. The night was lengthening and the room was filling up with players, most of them clutching thin glasses of cognac and laughing with their friends. He searched for any sign of Farrow’s men, but it was useless – he’d never find them in this crowd. He didn’t want to look, but he couldn’t help glancing at the Gold King’s looming statue. It was still dark and silent. Now that the place was getting busy, though, the chances of someone winning the jackpot had risen significantly. Time was running out. Jay hated using what he knew to win games. It was one thing to find the pattern of outcomes for a slot machine; anyone with half a brain and enough time on their hands could do the same. But what he could do was cheating. No one could ever catch him at it, which somehow made it worse. He’d decided a long time ago that he’d never do exactly what he was doing now. But he didn’t have a choice. He was over halfway to his goal, closer to three-fourths, really, and he couldn’t afford to waste time now. If he had to cheat, then so be it. Too much was at stake tonight. The years following Jay’s escape passed in a dreamlike sort of blur. He moved out west, hopping briefly from town to town and spending his nights in cheap hotel rooms. He had to pay in cash, of course, since his credit card account had recently ceased to exist. Luckily he had plenty to go around. He had a natural talent for hustling, and he won most of his money by playing pool games or dealing hands of poker in the back of shady bars. He never stayed with the same car for too long. He always knew when some idiot driver had left their keys in the ignition, and he took every opportunity to hop in a new vehicle and continue the journey west. He felt a little guilty about hijacking so many rides, but it never bothered him for long. He was far more afraid of Farrow catching up to him. Occasionally he would seek out some underground sources who had a reputation for forging documents. He needed a new identity, which meant a new birth certificate and social security card and everything. He eventually settled on the name Jay Everett – “Jay” after the first letter of his old name, and “Everett” after a small saloon he’d passed through in Denver. He didn’t get all his documents forged in one location. He staggered them, picking up a new one every few stops to try and throw Farrow off his trail. By the time he reached Nevada, he figured he’d placed enough distance between himself and Farrow to finally settle down. He got a low-level office job and rented out a tiny apartment at the edge of Boulder City. As the years passed and his stint with Farrow faded from his memory, he finally began to live a normal life again. He fell in love. He married a beautiful girl named Marcia Thorne who knew nothing about his past, and they had a son together. Trace Everett. He grew up like any ordinary boy, kicking soccer balls around the yard and playing hide-and-seek with the other kids in the neighborhood. When he turned seven they even bought him a small black-and-white dachshund that he affectionately dubbed “Billy.” From that point on the boy and the dog were inseparable; they often went on walks together before his parents called them in for dinner. Jay was happy. He’d gotten away from his past; he’d moved on from a life he thought would haunt him forever. He made love to his beautiful wife and watched cartoons with Trace on Saturdays. It was a perfect routine, and he never wanted it to end. Then one night, ten years after Jay had made his escape from Farrow’s compound, a power surge went through their entire house. The Everetts had been enjoying their Sunday dinner when it happened. The bulb above the kitchen table gave a loud sputter before dying out completely. Billy gave a loud bark and began running in circles around the table. “Calm down boy, it’s just a blackout,” Trace said. He got out of his chair and restrained the dog before he could knock into any of the table legs. “That’s funny,” Marcy said, peering out the window. “The neighbors’ houses still have power.” Jay joined her by the window, frowning. “Hmm. Must be something wrong with our circuit breaker,” he said. “You two go look for some flashlights. I’ll see if I can fix the problem.” The three of them wandered off, stumbling their way through the dark. Jay found the door to the basement and began climbing downward, clinging carefully to the railing. He knew the breaker was located at the bottom of the steps, right next to the garage. He reached the end of the stairs and fumbled in the gloom for the circuit box. To his surprise, the door to the box was already wide open. As Jay’s eyes adjusted somewhat to the darkness, he saw that every single wire in the box had been snipped cleanly in half. Shit, he thought, oh shit, I should have known. But it was too late now. He felt the muzzle of a gun dig into his shoulder blades. “I’ve been looking a long time for you,” Farrow said. His voice floated through the darkness in a soft, amused sort of growl. “You’re the one that got away. Isn’t that cute? You wouldn’t believe how many goddamn hoops I had to jump through just to track you down. But now I’ve got you.” “It’s been ten years,” Jay hissed. “Ten fucking years. What could you possibly want?” Farrow made a disapproving sound with his tongue. “We’ll get to that in a moment,” he said. “First, we have some introductions to make.” Right on cue, Billy began barking furiously in the kitchen. Jay could hear Trace’s high-pitched voice trying to shout over him. “No, no, what are you doing, stop, he’s just a dog HE’S JUST A DOG STOP IT –” Then a gunshot, a muffled whimper, and a shriek that could only have been Marcy. “Jay!” she screamed. “Oh god, oh god, there’s men in the house, they’ve got guns! They shot Billy!” “Time for our big entrance,” Farrow laughed. He shoved Jay in the back with his pistol, forcing him up the basement steps. Jay plodded forward, hardly able to feel his feet. This must be a nightmare, he thought. I’m going to wake up any second now. But he knew that wasn’t true, the same way he knew so many other impossible things. When Farrow pushed him into the kitchen, four dark shapes were waiting for him there. Two of them were Trace and Marcy, their hands behind their heads, their entire upper bodies trembling. The other two were some of Farrow’s masked associates. Each one held a pistol to the head of the prisoner beside them. Marcy let out a sob when she saw Jay climbing up the steps. “Oh god, Jay, not you too?” “Quiet,” one of the masked figures ordered. His voice sounded strangely distorted, like he was speaking through a filter. Marcy drew in a shuddery breath but stayed quiet. “So, the gang’s all here!” Farrow exclaimed. “Wonderful.” He performed an exaggerated bow, his gun still nestled in the small of Jay’s back. “I’m Rick Farrow, a man of many trades. Right now I’m a man with a gun. Funny how that gives you so much power, doesn’t it?” Jay said nothing. In his mind’s eye he could see the gun Farrow was holding, a thin barreled pistol that looked like something out of a Western. A Colt Paterson revolver, his brain spat out uselessly. As if it mattered. It would put a large hole in his chest no matter what type of gun it was. “It appears you folks have already met my men,” Farrow went on. “They’re pretty low on the corporate ladder, but they do what they’re told, and what more could a man ask for?” He lifted the gun from Jay’s back to do a mock sort of clap with both hands. Jay wasn’t fooled; he didn’t move an inch. He was still Farrow’s prisoner, even if he was no longer at gunpoint. “What do you want with us?” Marcy asked. Her face was damp with tears, but she’d managed to steady her breathing. Trace leaned against his mother’s legs with a scrunched up expression of anger in his eyes. He was trying so hard not to cry. Jay did his best to look away from the furry mass on the floor that used to be Trace’s beloved dog. “What do I want?” Farrow said. “Ah, therein lies the question.” He turned his attention back to Jay, his eyes still bright and glassy blue in the darkness. “So, you go by ‘Jay’ now, do you?” He said it again, slowly this time, as if to savor its taste. “Jay. I like it. Nice and low-key. It suits you well.” He gave Jay a casual tap on the shoulder with his pistol. A toothless smile appeared on his face when he saw Jay wince. “You were good, Jay,” Farrow said quietly. “You were one of my best, actually. When you took off like that, I knew it wouldn’t be easy to find you. But I kept trying. The other tech-heads made stupid mistakes, botched their missions; they were disposable. But you. You were the grand prize, the golden fleece. I needed you back. You did stuff with numbers that could make a fella’s heart sing.” Here Farrow paused. His glassy eyes were staring more intently at Jay this time, a careful sort of scrutiny that made his skin grow cold. “But it’s not just numbers, is it? You see things. Patterns, clues, tiny details other people would miss. That’s what makes you so special. That’s why I need you.” “Just tell me,” Jay spat through clenched teeth. “Tell me what you want to do. I’ll do anything.” This time the smile that creased Farrow’s bony cheeks was wide and toothy. “Now that’s more like it,” he said. “Have I got a job for you, big boy. This one’ll be right up your alley.” Jay said nothing, waiting for Farrow to break the silence first. “Here’s the thing,” Farrow said at last. “There’s a man out in Las Vegas by the name of Jonas Carver. He runs a big casino in the heart of the city called Twin Pines. My men and I have been eyeing the place for years and we’re just about ready to strike him where it hurts.” He pointed an enthusiastic finger at Jay. “What I want you to do is take a hefty chunk out of this man’s wallet. Let’s say… $19,000. Enough to make him question the security in his casino. Afterwards, when he’s checking for cracks, we’ll sneak in and do our part.” “Are you going to kill him?” Jay said. His voice came out hoarse and weak. Farrow grinned. “Don’t worry about Mr. Jonas Carver. He’ll be in good hands. You just focus on playing the right games and making the most moolah.” Jay’s neck felt stiff as a board, but he nodded. “I’ll do it,” he insisted. “Just let them go.” “Ah,” Farrow said. “We’ve reached that little snag.” He began pacing the kitchen floor in front of Jay, swinging his revolver like a baseball bat. “See, the thing is, I can’t do that. I need a little insurance here. If I let them go, what’s stopping you from running off to the West Indies for another ten years or so?” “I won’t,” Jay managed to choke out. “Listen to me, goddammit. I won’t run. Just let them go.” Farrow pretended to think about it for a second. “Nah,” he decided. “Tell you what. Let’s play a game instead. Inside the Twin Pines Casino, there’s a wheel-of-fortune type game called Gold King. You can’t miss it. It’s got this ugly fucking statue of a cartoon king on top. Every night, without fail, someone wins the jackpot and bells go off and that statue waves its flashing staff at everyone. But only once. For the rest of the night it’s just a statue.” When Farrow turned to Jay again, his eyes were icy. “Tomorrow night,” he said. “You have until the Gold King goes off to make $19,000. Otherwise your family gets it.” He made a careless gesture at them with his pistol. “One shot each, right in the head. Boom. Boom. And you have to watch.” “I’ll do it,” Jay repeated. “I’ll play your goddamn game the way you want. But unless I fail, you’d better not lay a finger on them.” Farrow was examining something under one of his fingernails. “Done,” he stated. He waved his hand absently toward the door. “Take them away, men. You know where to go.” The two masked men dragged Marcy and Trace out the back door, both of them crying out and struggling to get free. “Be quiet,” the first masked figure said in his distorted voice. “If you don’t shut up, we’ll make you shut up.” Both of them immediately quieted down, but they couldn’t hide the expressions of pure fear that were plastered across their faces. Jay felt blood pumping furiously through his veins as he watched his family getting dragged away. Farrow lifted his hand and gave them a pleasant wave as they disappeared out the back door. In the side window of the kitchen, Jay managed to catch a glimpse of Marcy’s face for what he hoped wasn’t the last time ever. He blew her a kiss with trembling lips, but the masked men shoved her and Trace into a waiting van before she could see it. Then the two of them were gone. Jay was in the middle of a poker game when the Gold King bells went off. He’d managed to keep his cool throughout the entire night, but the blood drained from his face when he heard the loud clanging noise echoing through the casino. He turned to see the cartoon statue gamboling in place, flashing its toothy smile at the surrounding players. The scepter in its hand was dancing with flecks of neon light. No, he thought in disbelief. No, not yet! I was almost there! He’d been so close to the $19,000 mark that this poker game would probably have pushed him over the edge. The Gold King had gone off just as he was about to play his final hand. Now he watched the statue spin in lazy circles, its hideous bells still ringing in his eardrums. “Hey,” a voice said suddenly. It was the dealer, trying to get Jay’s attention. “Hey buddy, this is the last hand. Are you calling or folding?” Jay looked at him in surprise, then down at the cards in his shaky fingers. He hadn’t even bothered to look at them yet. What was even stranger, his usual powers of perception were failing him. He knew what all the other hands looked like, he knew who was bluffing through their teeth and who posed a legitimate threat, but he didn’t even know what cards he was holding. He wondered how long it would take for Farrow’s men to cut through the crowd and take him away. He figured he had about thirty seconds, a minute at most. Was it possible? Could he make enough off this hand to complete Farrow’s sick challenge? The Gold King hadn’t finished its death knoll yet when the final hand was dealt. It was a technicality, but he was banking on it. It might just save Marcy and Trace’s lives. Now it was up to these last five cards to decide if they saw the light of another day. He offered a quick prayer to a God he never believed in. Then he turned the cards over and stared down at the hand he’d been dealt.
What's happening around town (Wed, Oct 18th - Tue, Oct 24th)
Oklahoma City's event list.
Wednesday, Oct 18th
1/2 Price Game Day(Dave & Buster's of OKC - Oklahoma City) Start Time: 11:00am Need a little midweek pick me up? Come to Dave and Buster's for 1/2 Price Game Day, ALL DAY LONG. Come for the games, stay for the amazing food and…
🎨 Annual Spring Show artwork by Lu Beard, Beth Hammack, Dodge Hill, Phebe Kallstrom, Margot Holaday, Amy Maguire, John & Marylou M(The Studio Gallery - Oklahoma City) Day 2 of 2 The Studio Gallery, 2646 W. Britton Rd., OKC, is pleased to announce its 2017 Spring Show Thursday, April 20, 5:30 - 7:30pm. The show will…
♪ Anthem Drown Night!(HiLo Club - Oklahoma City) Our local friends at Anthem Brewing Co. have some great beers! Every Wednesday night from 9pm to close enjoy $8 Drown Night! Their Power Pils will be…
🎨 Beyond ART: Lunch with an Artist - Michael Duncan(JRB Art at the Elms - Oklahoma City) Start Time: 11:30am Bring your lunch and join us for our BEYOND ART: Lunch with an Artist Series. Eat, converse, and make connections to our art and artists.…
Bi-Weekly Meetup(51st st. Speakeasy - Oklahoma City) Start Time: 5:00pm
🎨 Cartoons & Comics: The Early Art of Tom Ryan(Western Heritage Museum - Oklahoma City) 1 day left Start Time: 10:00am Acclaimed Western artist Tom Ryan (1922-2011) spoke often about those who inspired him: N.C. Wyeth, Howard Pyle, Frank Reilly, even Rembrandt. Yet…
Children's Garden(Myriad Botanical Gardens - Oklahoma City) Day 2 of 2 Start Time: 10:00am
🎓 Clouds Above(Guthrie Library - Guthrie) Start Time: 4:00pm Children will observe Earth clouds and discover various clouds at the upper, middle, and lower levels of our atmosphere. Happy Earth Science Week! A…
Chickasha Fall Auto Swap Meet(Chickasha) Thru Sat, Oct 21st The Chickasha Fall Auto Swap Meet is held on 40 acres just east of the Grady County Fairgrounds. Over 1,500 vendors will…
Fall Break for Kids: Trailblazers Trek Hunt & Find(Western Heritage Museum - Oklahoma City) Start Time: 10:00am October 16 – 20 Fall Break Drop-In Activities It is Fall Break for Oklahoma City Metro area schools! Drop by and participate in family friendly…
Help Crush Hunger With Red Gold(Wal-Mart - Oklahoma City) Day 2 of 2 This October, Red Gold and Feeding America are encouraging families to share a family meal and help crush hunger in the process. For each Red Gold and…
🎓 Heritage Hall Early Childhood/Lower School Parent Preview Days(Heritage Hall Middle School - Oklahoma City) Start Time: 9:00am An exceptional education opens many doors...so we're opening ours! We would like to invite you to witness "a day in the life" of our young Chargers…
♪ KATT's/Wicked Haunted Forest(Lost Lakes Amphitheater - Oklahoma City) Day 2 of 2 Start Time: 7:30pm TICKETS VALID ANY NIGHT WE ARE OPEN! Sept 29th-30th, Oct 6th-7th, Oct 13th-14th, Oct 20th-21st & Oct 26th-31st
♪ Live Music-Hosty(Oklahoma City) Start Time: 7:30pm
Mattress Firm Shoe Drive for Foster Kids(Mattress Firm - Oklahoma City) 1 day left Start Time: 10:00am All Mattress Firm stores in the Oklahoma City-area are hosting a shoe drive to benefit local foster youth and families. Now through Tuesday, Oct. 31,…
♪ Not For Sale: Graffiti Culture in Oklahoma Opening(Oklahoma Contemporary - Oklahoma City) 1 day left Start Time: 9:00am Celebrating Hip Hop Month, Not For Sale: Graffiti Culture in Oklahoma will feature 10 artists who will make the walls of Oklahoma Contemporary’s…
Passport to Germany(University of Central Oklahoma - Edmond) Last Day Get ready for a cultural immersion experience you won't forget at Passport to Germany, presented by the…
The Power of Children: Making a Difference(Edmond Historical Society - Edmond) Thru Fri, Oct 20th Come to the Edmond Historical Society & Museum and experience a stirring exhibit that will move and inspire you. The…
Pumpkinville(Myriad Botanical Gardens - Oklahoma City) Thru Sun, Oct 22nd Make your way to Pumpkinville at the Myriad Botanical Gardens in Oklahoma City to celebrate the fall season.…
Quirky to Modern Art Quilt Exhibit(Inasmuch Foundation Gallery at OCCC - Oklahoma City) Thru Fri, Oct 20th Tour through the Inasmuch Gallery to feast your eyes on the Quirky to Modern Art Quilt Exhibit. This display features…
Reading Wednesdays(Western Heritage Museum - Oklahoma City) Start Time: 10:00am Free admission at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, courtesy of the Oklahoma Ford Dealers.
Reclaiming My Humanity, ew Works by Brett McDanel(Kasum Contemporary Fine Art - Oklahoma City) Start Time: 9:30pm Reclaiming My Humanity New Works by Brett McDanel Exhibiting: September 30 – November 10, 2017 A little over seven years ago, Brett McDanel…
Run The Jewels et al.(Diamond Ballroom - Oklahoma City) Rap duo Run the Jewels makes a special appearance at Diamond Ballroom in Oklahoma City, joining the roster of…
♪ Western Movie Matinee(Western Heritage Museum - Oklahoma City) Start Time: 1:00pm Join us for these curated selections. Popcorn provided. Museum is admission-free to all on Wide Open Wednesdays courtesy of the Oklahoma Ford Dealers.…
🎭 Why Not Wednesday(Rockford Cocktail Den - Oklahoma City) Start Time: 8:00pm We all need a little something to get over The Hump, right? Why Not Wednesdays with us on Uptown23rd? Every week we'll be throwing a little party…
Wolves In The Throne Room(89th Street Collective - Oklahoma City) with Pillorian $17/$20 Tickets on sale July 21st, 2017
🎭 31st Annual Oklahoma Commerce & Industry Hall of Honor(Oklahoma City University - Oklahoma City) Start Time: 11:30am Oklahoma City University established the Oklahoma Commerce and Industry Hall of Honor to recognize business and community leaders who have made…
♪ Art After 5 Roof Terrace(Oklahoma City Museum of Art - Oklahoma City) Start Time: 5:00pm OKCMOA’s Roof Terrace gives visitors the ultimate downtown experience every Thursday evening from April through October with live local music, the…
Boo on Bell Fall Festival(Main Street - Shawnee) Thru Sat, Oct 21st The annual Boo on Bell Fall Festival in Shawnee celebrates the autumn season with family-friendly activities galore.…
🎨 Cartoons & Comics: The Early Art of Tom Ryan(Western Heritage Museum - Oklahoma City) Last Day Start Time: 10:00am Acclaimed Western artist Tom Ryan (1922-2011) spoke often about those who inspired him: N.C. Wyeth, Howard Pyle, Frank Reilly, even Rembrandt. Yet…
♪ CMGT Thursdays Happy Hour!(The Deli - Norman) Start Time: 7:00pm Join us for Country Music Group Therapy every Thursday from 7-9pm with your host Kierston White. You can expect a rotating cast of great…
Chickasha Fall Auto Swap Meet(Chickasha) Thru Sat, Oct 21st The Chickasha Fall Auto Swap Meet is held on 40 acres just east of the Grady County Fairgrounds. Over 1,500 vendors will…
Fall Break for Kids: Bandanna Bash(Western Heritage Museum - Oklahoma City) Start Time: 10:00am October 16 – 20 Fall Break Drop-In Activities It is Fall Break for Oklahoma City Metro area schools! Drop by and participate in family friendly…
♪ Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers(The Cube - Bethany) Start Time: 6:30pm Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers - USA is a national non-profit organization dedicated to ministering to the spiritual and emotional needs of…
Guthrie Ghost Walk (Teens)(Guthrie Library - Guthrie) Start Time: 7:00pm Attendees will meet at the library and then walk to the Apothecary Garden. While at the garden, we will attend the Haunted Historic Guthrie Tour.…
Halloween Biker Bash(Sparks America Campground - Sparks) Thru Sun, Oct 22nd Take advantage of cooler weather and take a motorcycle ride over to the Halloween Biker Bash in Sparks. This annual four…
Mattress Firm Shoe Drive for Foster Kids(Mattress Firm - Oklahoma City) Last Day Start Time: 10:00am All Mattress Firm stores in the Oklahoma City-area are hosting a shoe drive to benefit local foster youth and families. Now through Tuesday, Oct. 31,…
♪ Not For Sale: Graffiti Culture in Oklahoma Opening(Oklahoma Contemporary - Oklahoma City) Last Day Start Time: 9:00am Celebrating Hip Hop Month, Not For Sale: Graffiti Culture in Oklahoma will feature 10 artists who will make the walls of Oklahoma Contemporary’s…
OSBee(Othello's of Norman - Norman) Start Time: 6:00pm OSBee Adult Spelling Bee Fiesta Style, Thursday, October 19, 2017 at 6:00 PM at The Railhouse, Norman All Proceeds to benefit Operation School Bell.…
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Management Support Group(Mental Health Association Oklahoma main office - Oklahoma City) Start Time: 6:00pm PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience of witnessing of life-threatening events such as military combat, natural…
The Power of Children: Making a Difference(Edmond Historical Society - Edmond) 1 day left Come to the Edmond Historical Society & Museum and experience a stirring exhibit that will move and inspire you. The…
Pumpkinville(Myriad Botanical Gardens - Oklahoma City) Thru Sun, Oct 22nd Make your way to Pumpkinville at the Myriad Botanical Gardens in Oklahoma City to celebrate the fall season.…
Quirky to Modern Art Quilt Exhibit(Inasmuch Foundation Gallery at OCCC - Oklahoma City) 1 day left Tour through the Inasmuch Gallery to feast your eyes on the Quirky to Modern Art Quilt Exhibit. This display features…
Scary Tales(Overholser Mansion - Oklahoma City) Day 1 of 2 Visit the Henry Overholser Mansion in Oklahoma City for a spooky tour around Halloween. Scary Stories invites visitors…
Survivors of Suicide Support Group(Mental Health Association Oklahoma main office - Oklahoma City) Start Time: 6:00pm Nearly 31,000 people take their own lives each year. As a survivor – a family member or friend of the victim – you may need help coming to terms…
Taste of Western(Oklahoma City) Taste of Western unites the restaurants that make the Western Avenue district delectable as they converge on the Will…
🎭 Teddy Roosevelt Presentation(Touchmark at Coffee Creek - Edmond) Start Time: 6:30pm Come and hear the great stories of Teddy Roosevelt told by Joe Wiegand. Joe has performed in all fifty states and has been awe-inspiring every time!…
🏆 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. New York Knicks(Chesapeake Energy Arena - Oklahoma City) Start Time: 7:00pm Experience the thrill of fast-paced pro basketball as the Oklahoma City Thunder take on the New York Knicks. Wear your…
🏃 ‘Walk with Ease’ Class(University of Central Oklahoma - Edmond) Start Time: 11:00am 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Wellness Center: The Center for Active Living and Learning (CALL), in partnership with the Areawide Aging Agency of Oklahoma,…
🎭 Willson Lectures: Nadia Bolz-Weber(Bishop W. Angie Smith Chapel - Oklahoma City) Start Time: 7:00pm Nadia Bolz-Weber is the founding pastor of House for All Sinners and Saints in Denver, Colorado. She is the author of The New York Times bestseller…
Friday, Oct 20th
3rd Friday Block pARTy(Downtown - Shawnee) During the 3rd Friday Block pARTy in Shawnee, local restaurants, art galleries and merchants are open late in the…
An Affair of the Heart(Oklahoma State Fair Park - Oklahoma City) Thru Sun, Oct 22nd An Affair of the Heart, one of the largest arts and craft shows in the United States, is known for its quality and…
Boo on Bell Fall Festival(Main Street - Shawnee) 1 day left The annual Boo on Bell Fall Festival in Shawnee celebrates the autumn season with family-friendly activities galore.…
Chickasha Fall Auto Swap Meet(Chickasha) 1 day left The Chickasha Fall Auto Swap Meet is held on 40 acres just east of the Grady County Fairgrounds. Over 1,500 vendors will…
Fall Fling Craft Show(Grady County Fairgrounds - Chickasha) Day 1 of 2 Head to the annual Fall Fling Craft Show, held at the Grady County Fairgrounds in Chickasha, for a wide variety of arts…
Gene Watson(Riverwind Casino - Norman) Put on your best boots and enjoy an evening at Riverwind Casino in Norman with Gene Watson and Moe Bandy,…
Halloween Biker Bash(Sparks America Campground - Sparks) Thru Sun, Oct 22nd Take advantage of cooler weather and take a motorcycle ride over to the Halloween Biker Bash in Sparks. This annual four…
Haunted Barn & Forest Trail(El Reno) Thru Tue, Oct 31st El Reno's Trail of Terror & Haunted Barn challenges you to survive the frightening fun they have planned this…
The Power of Children: Making a Difference(Edmond Historical Society - Edmond) Last Day Come to the Edmond Historical Society & Museum and experience a stirring exhibit that will move and inspire you. The…
Pumpkinville(Myriad Botanical Gardens - Oklahoma City) Thru Sun, Oct 22nd Make your way to Pumpkinville at the Myriad Botanical Gardens in Oklahoma City to celebrate the fall season.…
Quirky to Modern Art Quilt Exhibit(Inasmuch Foundation Gallery at OCCC - Oklahoma City) Last Day Tour through the Inasmuch Gallery to feast your eyes on the Quirky to Modern Art Quilt Exhibit. This display features…
SaucedFest(Paseo - Oklahoma City) Thru Sun, Oct 22nd Grab a slice and settle in for a long weekend of live music during SaucedFest. Held in front of the pizza…
Scary Tales(Overholser Mansion - Oklahoma City) Day 2 of 2 Visit the Henry Overholser Mansion in Oklahoma City for a spooky tour around Halloween. Scary Stories invites visitors…
Swan Lake(Oklahoma City Ballet - Oklahoma City) Thru Sun, Oct 22nd For three very special days this October, Oklahoma City Ballet brings the timeless classic Swan Lake to life. Set…
Turnpike Troubadours(The Criterion - Oklahoma City) Head to Bricktown for an amazing night of Red Dirt country when the Turnpike Troubadours bring down the house at The…
USTRC Guthrie Shoot Out Championships(Lazy E Arena - Guthrie) Thru Sun, Oct 29th The USTRC Guthrie Shoot Out Championships welcomes some of the best cowboys and team roping groups to the Lazy E Arena…
Saturday, Oct 21st
🏃 24 The Hard Way(Bluff Creek Trails - Oklahoma City) The event is a timed event race on a certified road course. The athlete can sign up for 6, 12, or 24 hour races. We also have a 1 Hour race.…
Adaptive Sports Camp(Sarkeys Fitness Center - Norman) Sport Forward brings kids living with physical and cognitive disabilities together for a fun-filled afternoon of games…
An Affair of the Heart(Oklahoma State Fair Park - Oklahoma City) 1 day left An Affair of the Heart, one of the largest arts and craft shows in the United States, is known for its quality and…
The Beach Boys(Riverwind Casino - Norman) Experience the classic sounds of summer from what is often considered America's most iconic and significant rock…
Boo on Bell Fall Festival(Main Street - Shawnee) Last Day The annual Boo on Bell Fall Festival in Shawnee celebrates the autumn season with family-friendly activities galore.…
Cars for a Cause Car Show(Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark - Oklahoma City) Start Time: 8:00am WHO: MDA of OKC & NIE WHAT: Car Show WHEN: Oct 21st WHERE: Bricktown Ballpark WHY: For MDA of OKC & Newspapers for Education DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE FOR…
McLoud Chili Cook-Off & Car Show(McLoud) The McLoud Chili Cook-Off features top cooks from Oklahoma and Texas competing for prize money. Stick around for…
🏃 Chisholm Trail Triathlon(Lake El Reno - El Reno) The Chisholm Trail Triathlon was started with the idea in mind of having a late season race for Tri-OKC members, open participants, and the college…
Downtown Edmond Historic Tours(Downtown - Edmond) Join experts with the Edmond Historic Preservation Trust to learn something new with a downtown tour of historic Edmond.…
Eat's on 8th & Harvey(Oklahoma City) Eat's on 8th & Harvey is a free, monthly family-friendly food truck festival that offers some of the finest…
Chickasha Fall Auto Swap Meet(Chickasha) Last Day The Chickasha Fall Auto Swap Meet is held on 40 acres just east of the Grady County Fairgrounds. Over 1,500 vendors will…
Fall Fling Craft Show(Grady County Fairgrounds - Chickasha) Day 2 of 2 Head to the annual Fall Fling Craft Show, held at the Grady County Fairgrounds in Chickasha, for a wide variety of arts…
Fall Into Art(Martin Nature Park - Oklahoma City) Come to Martin Park Nature Center in Oklahoma City for a free seasonal art event you won't want to miss. Bring the…
Fall Y'all Show(Hudson Place - McLoud) As summer starts to become a distant memory, gather up the whole crew and head to downtown McLoud for the Fall Y'all…
FCF 54(Grand Casino Hotel & Resort - Shawnee) Watch an intense night of MMA as top fighters take to the ring, demonstrating their skilled dodges, punches and kicks in…
Funniest Person in OKC Competition - FINALS(ACM@UCO Performance Lab - Oklahoma City) Start Time: 8:00pm We started with 48 comics. Now we have 8. FINALS: Anthony Cavazos James Nghiem Mack O. Steven Patchin Alex Sanchez Amanda Stonebarger…
Ghosts of Fort Reno Tour(Historic Fort Reno - El Reno) Come along on an exciting and spooky ghost tour at El Reno's historic Fort Reno. This ghost tour includes…
Halloween Biker Bash(Sparks America Campground - Sparks) 1 day left Take advantage of cooler weather and take a motorcycle ride over to the Halloween Biker Bash in Sparks. This annual four…
Haunted Barn & Forest Trail(El Reno) Thru Tue, Oct 31st El Reno's Trail of Terror & Haunted Barn challenges you to survive the frightening fun they have planned this…
Haunt the Zoo for Halloween(Oklahoma City Zoo - Oklahoma City) Thru Sun, Oct 29th This unique trick-or-treat tradition is one of Oklahoma City's most "spooktacular" events and provides a…
Heard on Hurd(Edmond) On the third Saturday of each month, downtown Edmond hosts a pop-up community celebration called Heard on Hurd. Walk…
🏃 Like A Boss Mud Run(Central Oklahoma Camp - Guthrie) Whether you are a Mud Run addict or just want something fun to do, here's your chance to test your stamina and agility as you make your way through…
National Weather Festival(National Weather Center - Norman) The annual National Weather Festival in Norman highlights the many weather related organizations and activities in…
OKC Gun Show(Heritage Place Inc - Oklahoma City) Day 1 of 2 For a high quality gun show with great prices and selection, visit the OKC Gun Show in Oklahoma City. Held at Heritage…
Oklahoma Fall Bridal Show(Nigh University Center - Edmond) Meet Oklahoma's best wedding professionals at the Oklahoma Fall Bridal Show in Edmond. See spectacular fashions,…
Oklahoma Wine Walk(Brookhaven Village - Norman) Held at the beautiful Brookhaven Village in Norman, the Oklahoma Wine Walk invites visitors to enjoy delicious…
Pumpkinville(Myriad Botanical Gardens - Oklahoma City) 1 day left Make your way to Pumpkinville at the Myriad Botanical Gardens in Oklahoma City to celebrate the fall season.…
SaucedFest(Paseo - Oklahoma City) 1 day left Grab a slice and settle in for a long weekend of live music during SaucedFest. Held in front of the pizza…
Spirit, Mind & Body Expo(Biltmore Hotel - Oklahoma City) Day 1 of 2 If you're interested in metaphysical subjects, you'll want to check out the Spirit, Mind & Body Expo held at…
Swan Lake(Oklahoma City Ballet - Oklahoma City) 1 day left For three very special days this October, Oklahoma City Ballet brings the timeless classic Swan Lake to life. Set…
USTRC National Finals of Team Roping(Oklahoma State Fair Park - Oklahoma City) Thru Sun, Oct 29th Come and watch the best team roping from the U.S. and Canada as team ropers converge on the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds…
USTRC Guthrie Shoot Out Championships(Lazy E Arena - Guthrie) Thru Sun, Oct 29th The USTRC Guthrie Shoot Out Championships welcomes some of the best cowboys and team roping groups to the Lazy E Arena…
Sunday, Oct 22nd
An Affair of the Heart(Oklahoma State Fair Park - Oklahoma City) Last Day An Affair of the Heart, one of the largest arts and craft shows in the United States, is known for its quality and…
Halloween Biker Bash(Sparks America Campground - Sparks) Last Day Take advantage of cooler weather and take a motorcycle ride over to the Halloween Biker Bash in Sparks. This annual four…
Haunted Barn & Forest Trail(El Reno) Thru Tue, Oct 31st El Reno's Trail of Terror & Haunted Barn challenges you to survive the frightening fun they have planned this…
Haunt the Zoo for Halloween(Oklahoma City Zoo - Oklahoma City) Thru Sun, Oct 29th This unique trick-or-treat tradition is one of Oklahoma City's most "spooktacular" events and provides a…
OKC Gun Show(Heritage Place Inc - Oklahoma City) Day 2 of 2 For a high quality gun show with great prices and selection, visit the OKC Gun Show in Oklahoma City. Held at Heritage…
Pumpkinville(Myriad Botanical Gardens - Oklahoma City) Last Day Make your way to Pumpkinville at the Myriad Botanical Gardens in Oklahoma City to celebrate the fall season.…
🏃 Red Coyote Runtoberfest 5K(Red Coyote Running & Fitness - Oklahoma City) Red Coyote's RUNTOBERFEST 5K is the most fun event in Oklahoma City brought to you by Red Coyote and COOP Aleworks! Runtoberfest will be a 5K/3.1 mile…
SaucedFest(Paseo - Oklahoma City) Last Day Grab a slice and settle in for a long weekend of live music during SaucedFest. Held in front of the pizza…
Spirit, Mind & Body Expo(Biltmore Hotel - Oklahoma City) Day 2 of 2 If you're interested in metaphysical subjects, you'll want to check out the Spirit, Mind & Body Expo held at…
Swan Lake(Oklahoma City Ballet - Oklahoma City) Last Day For three very special days this October, Oklahoma City Ballet brings the timeless classic Swan Lake to life. Set…
🏆 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Minnesota Timberwolves(Chesapeake Energy Arena - Oklahoma City) Start Time: 6:00pm Experience the thrill of fast-paced pro basketball as the Oklahoma City Thunder take on the Minnesota Timberwolves. Wear…
USTRC National Finals of Team Roping(Oklahoma State Fair Park - Oklahoma City) Thru Sun, Oct 29th Come and watch the best team roping from the U.S. and Canada as team ropers converge on the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds…
USTRC Guthrie Shoot Out Championships(Lazy E Arena - Guthrie) Thru Sun, Oct 29th The USTRC Guthrie Shoot Out Championships welcomes some of the best cowboys and team roping groups to the Lazy E Arena…
Haunted Barn & Forest Trail(El Reno) Thru Tue, Oct 31st El Reno's Trail of Terror & Haunted Barn challenges you to survive the frightening fun they have planned this…
Haunt the Zoo for Halloween(Oklahoma City Zoo - Oklahoma City) Thru Sun, Oct 29th This unique trick-or-treat tradition is one of Oklahoma City's most "spooktacular" events and provides a…
OKC Painting Palooza(Reed Conference Center - Midwest City) Thru Sat, Oct 28th Celebrate all forms of creative arts with OKC Painting Palooza. During this week-long event, learn art techniques from…
Surf Curse(89th Street Collective - Oklahoma City)
USTRC National Finals of Team Roping(Oklahoma State Fair Park - Oklahoma City) Thru Sun, Oct 29th Come and watch the best team roping from the U.S. and Canada as team ropers converge on the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds…
USTRC Guthrie Shoot Out Championships(Lazy E Arena - Guthrie) Thru Sun, Oct 29th The USTRC Guthrie Shoot Out Championships welcomes some of the best cowboys and team roping groups to the Lazy E Arena…
Tuesday, Oct 24th
Food Truck Tuesdays(Jackson - Blanchard) Every week, treat your taste buds to new flavors. During Food Truck Tuesdays, a different food truck will park in…
Haunted Barn & Forest Trail(El Reno) Thru Tue, Oct 31st El Reno's Trail of Terror & Haunted Barn challenges you to survive the frightening fun they have planned this…
Haunt the Zoo for Halloween(Oklahoma City Zoo - Oklahoma City) Thru Sun, Oct 29th This unique trick-or-treat tradition is one of Oklahoma City's most "spooktacular" events and provides a…
OKC Painting Palooza(Reed Conference Center - Midwest City) Thru Sat, Oct 28th Celebrate all forms of creative arts with OKC Painting Palooza. During this week-long event, learn art techniques from…
USTRC National Finals of Team Roping(Oklahoma State Fair Park - Oklahoma City) Thru Sun, Oct 29th Come and watch the best team roping from the U.S. and Canada as team ropers converge on the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds…
USTRC Guthrie Shoot Out Championships(Lazy E Arena - Guthrie) Thru Sun, Oct 29th The USTRC Guthrie Shoot Out Championships welcomes some of the best cowboys and team roping groups to the Lazy E Arena…
🎨 Walking Tall: a "Kinky Boots"-inspired Exhibit(Tulsa Performing Art Center) Thru Fri, Feb 19th Start Time: 10:00am Feb. 2-29, M-F 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and during Chapman Music Hall events :: PAC Gallery Inspired by the musical "Kinky Boots," the…
🍴 Cookies & Cocktails(Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma) Start Time: 5:30pm Benefitting Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma GSEOK invites you to Cookies and Cocktails to learn about the many ways we make an impact…
Every Thing is Awesome: An Evening of Lego(Philbrook Museum of Art) Start Time: 5:30pm Trace the design, development, and history of LEGO with John Baichtal (The Cult of Lego). Explore the creative possibilities and…
♪ Joan Jett And The Blackhearts(Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa - Catoosa) Joan Jett & The Blackhearts are headed to Tulsa's Hard Rock Casino for a high energy performance of their legendary songs. Joan Jett…
🎨 Walking Tall: a "Kinky Boots"-inspired Exhibit(Tulsa Performing Art Center) 1 day left Start Time: 10:00am Feb. 2-29, M-F 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and during Chapman Music Hall events :: PAC Gallery Inspired by the musical "Kinky Boots," the…
♪ CHRIS YOUNG(Brady Theater) Start Time: 7:30pm Chris Young Special Guest Cassadee Pope Doors Open 6:30PM February 19 - 7:30PM - All Ages Welcome Tickets: Reasor's, Starship, Buy For…
🎓 Darryl Starbird's National Rod & Custom Car Show(Expo Square) Thru Sun, Feb 21st The Darryl Starbird's National Rod & Custom Car Show at the Tulsa Expo Square is a can't miss for automobile lovers. With over 1,000…
⚾ Tulsa Oilers vs Evansville Icemen(Mabee Center) The Tulsa Oilers take on the Evansville Icemen at the BOK Center in downtown Tulsa. Watch the fast-paced hockey action…
♪ Sovereign Dame(The Vanguard) Start Time: 8:00pm The Capital Why's, The Raven Charter, Jankins
♪ The Temptations(River Spirit Casino) Start Time: 7:00pm For a feel-good time full of great music, head to Tulsa's River Spirit Casino for an evening with legendary Motown…
♪ Uncle Lucius in Concert(Cain's Ballroom) Start Time: 7:30pm Fresh off the release of their fan funded new record, The Light, Texas music veterans Uncle Lucius bring their road honed sound to…
♪ Uncle Luciusand The Dirtboxwailers(Cain's Ballroom) Start Time: 8:30pm Doc Roc PresentsUncle LuciusThe DirtboxwailersFri Feb 19Doors: 7:30 pm / Show: 8:30 pm This event is all ages
🎓 Vintage Tulsa Show(Expo Square) Day 1 of 2 Some of the finest vintage and antique dealers in the nation are headed to Tulsa to present their wares at the Vintage…
🎨 Walking Tall: a "Kinky Boots"-inspired Exhibit(Tulsa Performing Art Center) Last Day Start Time: 10:00am Feb. 2-29, M-F 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and during Chapman Music Hall events :: PAC Gallery Inspired by the musical "Kinky Boots," the…
🎓 1/2 Day Self Defense Survival Training(COBRA Self Defense Tulsa - Sand Springs) Start Time: 1:00pm Make plans now to attend our next Half Day Self-Defense Survival Training on Saturday February 20th. Hours are from 9am to 1pm. Your…
🏃 BA5K +3 / -3 (2K, 5K, 8K)(NSU Broken Arrow Chisolm Trail Park - Broken Arrow) Sign up by going to barunnerstore.com or ba5k.eventbrite.com. Inaugural Race for BA5K - race on a flat trail at NSU Broken Arrow.
♪ Darrin Kobetich(Mercury Lounge) Start Time: 9:00pm Sat Feb 20 09:00 PM
Darrin Kobetich
🎓 Darryl Starbird's National Rod & Custom Car Show(Expo Square) 1 day left The Darryl Starbird's National Rod & Custom Car Show at the Tulsa Expo Square is a can't miss for automobile lovers. With over 1,000…
🎭 O’Brien Family Dance(O'Brien Park) Start Time: 6:00pm All Ages $2/person A night of dancing and fun with the family. Music and light refreshments. 16 and under must be accompanied by an…
⚾ Tulsa Oilers vs Allen Americans(Mabee Center) Day 1 of 2 The Tulsa Oilers take on the Allen Americans at the BOK Center in downtown Tulsa. Watch the fast-paced hockey action on…
⚾ Rogers Country Spring Horse Show(Claremore Expo Center - Claremore) Day 1 of 2 The Rogers County Spring Horse Show brings horse enthusiasts, riders and a wide variety of breeds to the Claremore Expo Center in…
🏃 Striders 3K Walk(Owasso High School - Owasso) 3000 meter indoor race walk. timed and judged event for open and masters walkers. race day entry only starting at 8:15. beginners…
♪ Tulsa Symphony(Tulsa Performing Art Center) Start Time: 7:30pm
♪ TSO Classics: Spirit and Awakenings(Tulsa Performing Art Center) Start Time: 7:30pm Feb. 20 at 7:30 p.m. :: Chapman Music Hall From Respighi's majestic setting of Bach's "Wachet Auf" (Sleepers Wake) and Mendelssohn's…
🎓 Vintage Tulsa Show(Expo Square) Day 2 of 2 Some of the finest vintage and antique dealers in the nation are headed to Tulsa to present their wares at the Vintage…
🎓 Darryl Starbird's National Rod & Custom Car Show(Expo Square) Last Day The Darryl Starbird's National Rod & Custom Car Show at the Tulsa Expo Square is a can't miss for automobile lovers. With over 1,000…
⚾ Tulsa Oilers vs Allen Americans(Mabee Center) Day 2 of 2 The Tulsa Oilers take on the Allen Americans at the BOK Center in downtown Tulsa. Watch the fast-paced hockey action on…
🎨 Opera & Film: A Streetcar Named Desire(Circle Cinema) Start Time: 6:00pm In conjunction with the Oklahoma premiere of Academy Award-winning composer André Previn’s musical adaptation of A Streetcar Named…
⚾ Rogers Country Spring Horse Show(Claremore Expo Center - Claremore) Day 2 of 2 The Rogers County Spring Horse Show brings horse enthusiasts, riders and a wide variety of breeds to the Claremore Expo Center in…
🎭 To Kill a Mockingbird(Tulsa Performing Art Center) Start Time: 2:00pm Feb. 12-13, 18-20 at 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 14 and 21 at 2 p.m. :: John H. Williams Theatre "To Kill a Mockingbird" is a compelling and…
🎨 Walking Tall: a "Kinky Boots"-inspired Exhibit(Tulsa Performing Art Center) Start Time: 10:00am Feb. 2-29, M-F 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and during Chapman Music Hall events :: PAC Gallery Inspired by the musical "Kinky Boots," the…
⚾ Tulsa Oilers vs Idaho Steelheads(Mabee Center) The Tulsa Oilers take on the Idaho Steelheads at the BOK Center in downtown Tulsa. Watch the fast-paced hockey action on…
Crescent's Casino Dealer Training programs provide up-to-the-minute, relevant instruction on all the latest gaming trends and techniques. What you learn is based on the primary skills employers want to see in the dealers they hire AND what players like to see in the dealers they interact with and tip on the casino floor. With our “hands on” teaching methods, Crescent School graduates learn Notes: Many locations, including Phoenix, Fresno, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles. See website for more information. Casino Dealers Academy Phone: (619) 502-1878 Website: www.casinodealeracademy.com. Casino Gaming Institute Phone: (609) 646-5122 Website: www.casinogaminginst.com. Jack Black Casino Dealer Schools Phone: (626) 968-3121 and (909) 877-5678 Website: www.jackblackonline.com. Mt. View The Monarch Casino in Black Hawk is expanding and needs more than 100 new dealers, so they’re starting a free dealer school to train and hire people. The casino is offering a free dealer school. Classes will be held at Community College of Allegheny County beginning March 1. RELATED: Man Sentenced To Life In Prison In Brutal Killing Of Ohio Woman At Casino In Nevada. Those who pass and get their gaming license will be offered a job as a part-time dealer. You must register for classes by Feb. 22 . MORE: Pittsburgh Artist Creates Blackout Casino Dealers School has been operating in Colorado for over 18 years and will provide job placement assistance for all of it's graduates. Casino Dealers School has a prestine repretation in Colorado and will provide lifetime practice privledges for all graduating students. Tuition can be paid over the length of the classes and all credit cards are accepted. Casino Dealers are well paid and Casino Dealers Academy | 17 followers on LinkedIn. Casino Dealers Academy is a gambling & casinos company based out of 732 E Vista Way # D, Vista, California, United States. The Casino Institute is San Diego's #1 Casino Dealer School. [email protected]. 619-741-2200. Home. About Us. Course Info. F.A.Q. Photos. Consulting . Meet the Team. Testimonials. ENROLL. Contact Us. More. CASINO DEALER SCHOOL and CASINO CONSULTING. Day and Evening Classes Available. Payment Plans Available. Job Placement Assistance. NO CREDIT CHECK REQUIRED. ABOUT US. San Diego's #1 How to Become a Casino Dealer – Training School Prices & Cost. Ballpark Estimate: $400 to $2,000+ Casino gambling has never been more popular or accessible. New casinos seem to be opening on a weekly basis. The growth of casino construction is not limited to the United States, but is a worldwide phenomenon. As the demand for gaming continues, so too does the demand for dealers to manage the Specialties: We specialize in casino training on all table games. We offer fair pricing for training that will help get placement in a very well paid industry. We have been in business since 1991 and have very experienced former casino… Casino Dealer: Job Description, Requirements & Careers. Casino dealers not only deal cards but also offer customer service and keep an eye out for cheaters.