Dead Heat

Harry Gould went into the game with fifty grand. And came out of it $30,000 light. But that was okay. He'd lost to Blackstone, who promptly keeled over with a coronary attack. It could have been worse-he could've lost to Bender. So when Frank "Stillwater" Bender bought Harry's marker it got worse-fast. "Harry," Bender said. "There's one important lesson I learned from Guido Sarducci, and that is to always have a fall guy to protect...
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Harry Gould went into the game with fifty grand. And came out of it $30,000 light.

But that was okay. He'd lost to Blackstone, who promptly keeled over with a coronary attack. It could have been worse-he could've lost to Bender.

So when Frank "Stillwater" Bender bought Harry's marker it got worse-fast.

"Harry," Bender said. "There's one important lesson I learned from Guido Sarducci, and that is to always have a fall guy to protect yourself. And you, Harry, are going to be our fall guy."

Raymond Obstfeld is a novelist, poet and screenwriter. With more than twenty-five published novels in the mystery, suspense and western genres, he has created and written three successful series as well as having written for two other series.