ᴋᴀɪʀᴏꜱ

xxᴠɪɪ.

xxᴠɪɪ. ᴘᴏᴋᴇʀ ꜰᴀᴄᴇ
____________________________________

Some off-duty cops are playing poker together in a circle.

"I'll raise. I've got a good feeling about this hand.", One cockily says.

"Too rich for me. Fold."

"Big surprise, rookie. That's all you ever do, is fold. Call. What do you say to that, big shot?", The third man turns his head to Shawn. He sits cross-legged on the bench they are using as a table.

"I say...", He observes each of the men in turn, catching their tells.

"The last card didn't make Mr. O'Grady's flush. Mr. Duritz was smart to fold, because he missed his straight... And you, Mr. Hastings, your cards just stink. You're bluffing. I call-", Shawn throws his money on the table.

"Two pair, jacks and sevens."

"Oh, damn! Every time.", O'Grady cries out.

"You'd think we'd know better by now.", Hastings says, shaking his head.

"What the hell is going on here?", The men make themselves scarce when Henry shows up. Shawn sits on the bench as his father chastises him.

"Poker, Shawn? Poker? What were you thinking?"

"I don't know. I get bored waiting."

"Bo-Bored? What are you doing down here? Emily's in the conference room. Alone."

Shawn sits up straighter.

"What happened?", He asks, worried now.

"Her father ran off to the casino again."

"And Ms. Lesinski's in San Francisco on a business trip until Saturday. Where's Grady?"

Henry sighs.

"On his way. Now, let's focus on you being bored. Hmm. Because that seems to be so important to you."

"I'm sorry. I was!"

"Why didn't you just say so? I mean, if you're bored, I guess it's okay. What is wrong with you?", Henry straddles the bench.

"How do you even know how to play poker?"

"Mr. Hastings taught me.", Shawn shrugs, slightly chewing his lip as he struggle to focus on his father and not on going to comfort his friend.

"Hastings, huh? I want it to stop. You understand? No more poker. No more gambling. You're too young."

"Dad, I don't gamble. I win."

"You win? And approximately how often do you lose?", Henry scoffs.

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"Well, I haven't lost yet.", Shawn explains.

"How... how... how much did you win?"

Shawn stands and empties his pockets of wrinkled bills.