A stark silence settled over the gaming room. Earl saw Monte turn from the twenty-one layout, her eyes round with fear. He stared at the miner with a straight hard look. When he spoke, there was a soft, menacing lilt to his voice.
“I’ll only ask you once. Tell everybody you were mistaken and we’ll let it drop here.”
“Or else?”
“Or else,” Earl said quietly, “back your play.”
The miner glowered across the table a moment. Then his features twisted in a murderous expression. He kicked the chair aside and clawed at the pistol stuck in his waistband. Earl’s hand dipped inside his jacket and reappeared with the derringer. He cocked and fired in a single blurred motion. . . .