Aftermath
It was nine o'clock in the morning and the blackout curtains were still pulled. The other two were downstairs but Casino had come back up, just to check.
"Where's my cut?" Chief spoke from the shadows near the head of his bed. He'd pulled on a pair of pants and a T shirt and was rocked back in the office chair they'd swiped from Sergeant Major Rawlins. His head resting was against the back of the chair and his boots were propped up on the side of the bed. For once he was turned away from the light coming in around the curtains that hung over the window.
Casino ambled over to his own cot and picked up the pack of cigarettes that he'd thrown on the side table. He tapped one from the pack and stuck it between his lips but, because he knew the condition his teammate's stomach was probably in he didn't light up. "What'r you talkin' about.?"
There was a gentle creak as the chair swung around so the scout could see him through half closed eyes. "The bet. Where's my share?"
Casino snorted a laugh. "You remember that, do you?"
"Course I do… Now hand it over"
"Hey, I cooked that deal up. I don't know why you think I owe…"
"Because I'm doin' all the work."
It was true. They'd made some big bucks on that bet but Chief was the one who was paying the price for it. Casino shrugged and pulled the wad of cash out of his pocket and peeled off a little more than a third and handed it over. He and Goniff had already agreed to cut the kid in, he'd take the extra out of the pick pockets share.
"Jeeze! You'd think you never been drunk before."
"Only once." Chief answered and the chair squeaked again as he rotated away.
There was something in the quiet sound of that voice that made Casino's ears prick up. "What happened?"
"Guy died." There was a pause while he decided if he'd tell the rest… "and I ended up in the joint."
They'd all talked about what led to their hard time in stir… all but Chief. "You do it?"
"They said I did."
Which Casino knew could just as easily mean he didn't. "Look… I didn't know, okay. I wouldn't a…"
The chair protested again as Chief swung back around to face the older con. "Just because you stirred that little contest up didn't mean I had to go along with it."
Casino considered the younger man for a moment. "Why did you?"
"…Guess I had somethin' to prove…" His slight smile was visible even in the dim light. "And I knew you guys wouldn't let it get outta hand."
Casino acknowledge the trust with a nod and a promise. "Won't happen again."
"Yeah. I know. … Now give me back the knife."
The safe cracker grinned as he dug down in his pocket, brought out the blade, and tossed it across the room. "Didn't want anything to get out of hand here either."
"Casino," Chief caught the weapon and slipped it back in its harness. "I keep an extra shiv in my boot."
"Jeeze! I know that." Casino said as he pushed off the cot and headed out the door. He turned and took a step back, leaning in. "But I figured if you reached down to get it your head would probably explode."