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(i should mention I am using these with his permission)
"So, Dell tells me nothing happens in this city without you hearing about it."
"What's it to you, kid?" Old Man Ratchet crushed his cigarette against the ashtray, hissing as the cinders burnt out. "Something ya wanna know?"
"You know why I'm here, Ratchet." Detective Clarence took a seat at the poker table. "You're the one who arranged this meeting, after all."
"I'm a broker, not a psychic, kid." Ratchet took out a deck of cards, and began to shuffle. "You know the rules, Clarence. You sit, you play."
"Ugh, fine." Clarence acquiesced, waiting to be dealt. He spoke with a smirk, "I warn you, though, I've never lost before."
"First time for everything," Ratchet laughed, swinging back on his chair.
While he shuffled, Detective Clarence surveyed the casino hall, noting any potential enemies and escape routes. While he had agreed to speak with Ratchet here, he was well under the impression that the whole thing was a trap to get him killed. But the information that the Old Man could possibly have was vital to the case.
There were the two bouncers from the front that had first let Clarence in. They were still eyeing him, understandably. Law enforcement generally meant trouble. While he couldn't see their eyes through the dark, abysmal sunglasses, he could tell they were glaring at him. Up the central stairs were the way out to balconies, though Clarence wasn't sure if he could make that sort of jump. The other tables had not taken notice of him, all of them engrossed in their own worlds of risk and loss.
Old man Ratchet had finished shuffling the cards, and was ready to deal. His suit was wrinkled and creased in random spots, it was obvious that he had not taken it off in days. His tie was sloppily strewn on him, and his graying hair was ruffled. Clarence could see the bags under his eyes, his fatigue blaring in his appearance. His facial hair was unkempt, and was unevenly shaved.
"So... What would you like to hear?" Ratchet grinned, like a wolf baring his teeth.
"The Maylow incident. The one about a week ago." Clarence put it in two chips, picked up his cards, then silently cursed himself. Pair of 2s. "Fold. Hear anything... Interesting about it?"
"What a coincidence. A little birdy told me something real interesting the other day." Ratchet revealed his cards, a Three of a Kind. He took his chips. "Unlucky. Now, where were we?
"The Maylow incident."
"Right, right. Well, you heard of Ricky, yeah?" Ratchet fumbled the cards, then straightened them back up. "Words out that he met with the killer after the massacre. Said he's all banged up from the affair. Never seen a man like him so scared. Whoever this mystery murderer is, he's a helluva guy."
"Please, reshuffle the cards. I can tell you're trying to cheat." Clarence called his bluff, and Ratched chortled, and reshuffled. "Where can I find this Ricky? Is he one of the Snakes?"
"Lone wolf, that Ricky is. The walls say that he doesn't wanna be found right now, though." Ratched dealt the cards, and placed a couple chips in the pot. "I could tell you where you might be, but it'll cost you"
"How much do you want?" Clarence looked at his cards, a King and Queen, drew, and placed 4 chips into the pot. "Raise."
"Oh, no, not actual money of course! Just win the next round." Ratchet looked at his own cards, and smiled. "Interesting. Raise."
Clarence drew another card. "Raise."
"Feisty, eh?" Ratchet drew another card, and a smug grew. "I'll call your bluff. Raise."
When it came time to reveal hands, Ratchet slid his cards face up onto the table. It was 4,5,6,7 and 8, a Straight. His eyes challenged Clarences, and awaited his response. Clarence watched Ratchet's eyes turn into disbelief as he began to reveal his own hand. An Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10. Ratchet stuttered out, "I-impossible.."
"What, did you try to rig the deck?" Clarence collected his chips, meeting his gaze. "I told you, I never lose. Now, I believe there's some certain whereabouts you owe me."
"Alright, alright, I know when I've lost." Ratchet leaned back into his chair, a little deflated from his defeat. "You wanna know where to find Ricky? I'll tell ya. Back at the Salty Lews, there's an apartment up on the second floor. There you can find his brother, Hugo. If anyone knows, he does."
"Thanks, Ratchet. I'll be on my way now." Clarence got up, ready to leave
"Going so soon? We've barely played." Ratchet signaled to someone out of Clarence's sight, and Clarence felt that he wouldn't be leaving just yet. "You really think I'd just let you go like that after beating me so badly?"
"Take a seat, Detective." A new, familiar voice entered the scene, and the sound of a gun clicking could be heard just behind Clarence. "We've still got things to sort out."
