Poker among Thieves
"Got any fours?"
"Murray, were playing poker not Go Fish," corrected Bentley.
"Wish we were. Go Fish is a lot easier. Give me two."
Bentley gave him two.
"Fold," he surrendered.
"Now are twos wild or threes?" asked Penelope.
"Lady Cracker box, trips are off the chains, and deuces are on the down low. You can either tattoo that to your brain or moonwalk out of here," complained Dimitri.
"What?"
"Threes are wild, and remember that," Sly translated.
"Speaking of wild," said Bentley, "I'm just thinking of how Carmelita would react if she knew you were doing this."
"Hey what she doesn't know won't hurt me."
"I didn't think that even Inspector fox could whip you."
"Hey, I'm not whipped."
"He just has great respect for his partner," Panda King said, "for she is the one who wears the pants in their relationship."
"No respect for the master thief. Alright, let's back to poker."
They all mumbled in agreement. A microwave went off somewhere in the warehouse.
"Popcorns done," exclaimed Murray. He rushed over to the microwave.
"Alright, I'll meet Murray's twenty and raise it five more," squeaked Penelope.
"We've got ourselves a big spender," joke Sly, "I'll meet that and raise you fifteen."
Penelope looked hesitantly at the growing pile of cash, but decided to keep playing.
"Big Cheese Cooper is throwing down some serious bling-bling. I think cracker box is just trying to pull the curtains over us. I meet Trickmaster's."
"I can't believe I'm saying this but, I agree with Dimitri. I'm staying in."
Panda King watched Cooper's face closely. There was no sign of deception in his face. "Though Cooper might come from a long, long line of thieves I believe he's going to beat us all. I will retreat with honor and money in my wallet."
"Okay guys I've got the popcorn."
Murray set the bowl down in the middle of the table. There were only whole cornels rolling along the bottom. Everyone turned toward him.
"I got hungry."
"Okay, Shaman your turn," announced Sly.
Without hesitation the little koala laid down a hundred dollar bill. Penelope, Bentley, and Dimitri all folded. Sly met his raise.
"This is your last chance to fold."
He just met Sly's gaze. Sly laid down four aces. The tension in the air built to an almost unbearable high. Time to have slowed down as Shaman slowly turned his cards over. Five aces.
"You little cheat," laughed Sly. "Okay redo. Everyone take your money back, but first shake down the little purple dude for anything else up his sleeves."