Earthshaker

Chapter 7

Chapter 7Clusters of high rollers surrounded each of the two dozen women, jockeying for their attention. Duke glided past each group without giving any of those women a second look. He led us straight across the ballroom toward our target without hesitation or delay.

My heart pounded as we passed the familiar faces. Any one of those women could have called me out on the spot, instantly ending our charade. Luckily, they were too preoccupied with their big shot suitors to glance my way.

When we reached the cluster surrounding Phaola, Duke paused, sizing up the situation. There were at least twenty men packed tightly around her, leaving no room for Duke to squeeze through.

But he had it covered, like always. He stood there a moment, smiling and fishing in his pockets. When he brought out his hands, they were filled with gold coins.

Briar's eyes bugged at the sight. He met my gaze, and I just shrugged; I had my talents, and Duke had his. I'd seen him do this before, many times...and I knew the big secret behind the trick.

There were no pockets in his pants.

Duke nudged one of the men nearby with his elbow and held up the fistfuls of gold in front of him. "Friend," said Duke. "Would you say this looks like real gold? Solid gold?"

The silver-haired man frowned at the coins. "I suppose."

"Go ahead, take one," said Duke. "Give it a good, close once-over. Tell me what you think."

The man looked suspicious. Phaola giggled at the heart of the group, and he got distracted...but the coins quickly brought his attention back. "All right." He teased one coin from between Duke's fingers and held it up to his eyes. Turned it around, held it closer, then farther away. Put it in the palm of his hand and judged the weight. Then, he nodded. "Looks authentic to me." He tried to hand it back over to Duke.

But Duke shook his head. "It's yours. Just do me one favor. Tell me again, sir..." Duke raised his voice so the crowd around Phaola could hear him. "Would you say this is genuine solid gold?"

The silver-haired man shrugged and nodded. He looked annoyed but may have felt a little indebted, because he raised his voice, too. "Yes, I'd say this is solid gold."

"Thank you." Duke winked. Then, he spun and hurled both fistfuls of gold coins in the air. "Come and get it, boys! The gold rush is on!"

High rollers they might have been, but Phaola's suitors didn't turn their noses up at the offer of free gold. By the time Duke had pulled out and thrown his third double handful, only two of the men remained with Phaola.

"What the hell?" said Briar. "Some kind of illusion?"

I shook my head and smiled. "All real." It was true. It was also true that the secret of the trick was that there were no pockets in Duke's pants. He reached straight through to the substance of his legs and pulled out the coins. Pulled them through, was more accurate. Pulled them from somewhere far away, from deep in the Earth itself, and pulled them through his own body. His body, which was uniquely attuned to the Earth. Uniquely attuned because it was made from the Earth.

As the men rushed after the coins, Duke sashayed up to Phaola. "Hello, my dear." He elbowed the two remaining suitors aside and reached for Phaola's hand. "Enchanté."

Phaola recognized him instantly. Her honey-gold eyes flecked with green flashed at me, and I could tell she knew me, too...but she didn't blow our cover. "Hello." Her smile wasn't as big as before, she was wondering what the game was, but she gave him her hand.

Duke kissed it. "Sir Reginald Strayhorn, at your service. May I have a few moments of your time?"

Sir Reginald? I would've laughed, if the situation hadn't been so tense.

"That depends, Sir Strayhorn!" Suddenly, the man in the white tux, top hat, and mask leaped between Duke and Phaola. "Lovely Phaola prefers to spend time exclusively with those who support her favorite charity."

"Perhaps you're in luck, then." Duke made it a point to talk over the masked man's shoulder, bypassing him for Phaola. "Maybe I'm already a supporter. What charity is it, pray tell?"

"Groundswell, of course," said the masked man. "And I'm quite certain you're not currently a supporter."

Groundswell. I'd never heard of it, and I guessed Duke hadn't, either...but he covered it well. My hero, as always.

"I've been meaning to make a contribution." Duke nodded with deep sincerity, still directing his words at Phaola. "In fact, I've come prepared." He reached into the opening of what should have been his right pocket and fished around for a moment. When he finally drew out his hand, a gleaming gold ingot came with it. "How's this for a start?"

The masked man accepted the ingot and turned it over in his hands. Held it up for close inspection. Stroked it like a loved one. "You are a shining example of commitment to our cause," he said.

"I expect he'll want to test it," Duke said to Phaola. "In the meantime, might I bend your ear for a few moments, my dear?"

"If, as you say, this is only a downpayment..." The masked man juggled the gold ingot. "Perhaps a brief chat would be in order. Please begin."

Duke pulled out another ingot and held it out. Pulled it away when the masked man reached for it. "Two conditions. One: the conversation must be private. No Divinities chaperone. And two: my bodyguards will accompany us."

The masked man looked at Briar, then me...and stopped there. c****d his head and stared at me with eyes narrowed suspiciously. "She's a bodyguard?"

"The best in the business." Duke waved the ingot in front of the masked man. "Trust me on that one."

"She's quite a specimen." The masked man snatched the ingot from Duke's hand. "You're sure you don't have more than talking in mind? Because a foursome would cost you a good deal more."

"No, no." Duke laughed. "Only a conversation, if you please."

The masked man sniffed loudly. "Well, let me know if you change your mind." He bowed and gestured with a flourish, waving us forward. "Right this way, Sir Strayhorn."