The Dead Man's Bluff
Part One
Friday nights were like a little slice of heaven in the Big Easy. Bourbon Street was hot with the thick summer air and crowds of sweaty people; girls in short skirts and too much eye makeup hanging off of tall, muscled up guys. Bright neon lights flashed in every direction against the inky night sky and dirty jazz music floated out the doors of more than two dozen bars, clubs, and strip joints. Drunks and prostitutes littered the alleyways while the stray cats strolled the rooftops overhead, leering down with their big yellow eyes. Remy LeBeau certainly loved his Friday nights.
Dressed sharp in black pants and a stunning indigo dress shirt, the lean man who had come to be known as 'Le Diable Blanc', passed the long line of underage kids waiting to get into his favourite hangout, Johnny's Blues. Not that they had any chance. Johnny only catered to mature crowd. He tipped his hat to the bouncer, gaining immediate entry into the thriving bar. He was no more than three steps inside before a blonde goddess approached him.
"Evenin' Remy," she greeted him with a teasing kiss on each cheek, "Your usual table?"
"Of course, Chére," he smirked, placing a twenty dollar bill in the waistline of her deliciously low-rise denim shorts.
"Mister Rodrigo is already waitin' for ya," she smiled, "And Johnny sends his love. He ain't here tonight, out visitin' his sister in Texas." She took Remy's arm and led him to the back corner of the bar, a more private place reserved for regulars. Remy felt dozens of eyes on him as he passed. He could hear whispers of his name as people turned their heads to watch him. Remy had a reputation around these parts as a bit of a ladies man, a bit of a gambler, and a bit of a thief. Not that Remy minded this reputation at all. It wasn't as if these people were saying anything that wasn't true.
"LeBeau, you old charmer," a deep voice with a thick Spanish accent greeted him over a wailing saxophone, "How the hell are you?"
"Alejandro," Remy tipped his hat once more, "Life is great. What'll you be havin' to drink mon ami?"
"Whiskey sour over ice," Alejandro directed his request towards the tall blonde, now pulling out a chair for Remy. She nodded, her blue eyes sparkling.
"And for you, Remy?" she ran her fingers along his shoulders as he sat down.
"I'll have de same, Chére," he grinned at her, "And treat yourself as well, everyt'ing is on Remy tonight."
"Thank you kindly," she giggled and walked away, swinging her hips towards the bar as her brown cowboy boots tapped almost in time to the music. Smugly, Remy leaned back in his chair, his eyes still downcast under the brim of his hat. Alejandro gave a barking laugh.
"That is one fine Chiquita," he whistled.
"Gabrielle is a delight," Remy nodded, reaching into his coat pocket and pulling out a deck of cards, "'Ow about a quick round, Al?"
"You and those damn cards LeBeau," the Spanish man laughed, "Deal 'em up."
"Texas style, mon ami?"
"Works for me," Alejandro nodded, placing a hundred dollar bill on the table as Remy shuffled his cards expertly. The Cajun man chuckled slightly at the sight of the money on the table.
"Getting cautious, are we?" he teased. Alejandro shot his friend a dirty glare and proceeded to pull another two hundred from his pocket. Remy placed his deck of cards down on the table and matched the three hundred, placing the amount down in fifty dollar bills. As he picked the deck up and began to deal once more, Gabrielle returned with their drinks, a knowing smile on her face. There wasn't one night Remy came into the bar and didn't win back more than what he spent. The man was more than a card shark. He was a genius.
"Merci, petite," Remy grinned, "Care to stay an' watch our little game?"
"'Fraid I can't, boys," Gabrielle pushed out her ruby lips in a fake pout, "I've got me a job to do. You don't cause too much trouble, ya' hear LeBeau?"
"Trouble jus' follows me," Remy began to sharply deal the cards across the table, "I don' have nothing to do wit' it." Gabrielle rolled her eyes playfully and glided off across the floor, the blue and green lights of the room bouncing off her body as she moved. Remy watched her go with narrowed eyes. She was quite the lady.
"I know you didn't bring me here just to play cards, LeBeau," Alejandro pulled Remy's thoughts away from Gabrielle, "What's the real deal?"
"What?" Remy stuck his arms up in mock defence, "I can not jus' ask an old friend to come and have a drink wit' me?"
"It's never that simple with you, Cajun."
"You got me," Remy chuckled, "I need some information for a job I'm doing."
"What kind of job?" Alejandro asked.
"I'm stealin' somet'ing."
"No shit," was the deadpan reply, "What is it this time? Priceless jewels? Da Vinci painting?"
"I'll tell you 'dat when you can beat me, homme," Remy laughed, pulling the six hundred dollar pot towards his end of the table.
Author's Note:
Okay, so this is basically a prequel to a prequel. What is Remy doing before he gets taken to the island by Stryker and Creed? I don't own anything at all, save for my extensive collection of books and my dogs. Gabrielle and Alejandro are mine too, but that's about it. Please note, I am terrible at writing accents. If anyone wishes to help me, it would be greatly appreciated. Please review and constructive criticism is always welcome. Thanks very much. Hope you enjoyed this.