Al turned up for his lunch at an Italian restaurant on 17 North, a couple of miles from Sean Finn’s liquor store. The other two present were Merv Zilberg, who owned a big-men’s outlet store, and Joe Monroe, who owned a building supply company.

Sean was late, and Al was worried, until he showed up. They were given a favored table, since Sean was a regular and the restaurant bought wine and liquor from his wholesale operation. He ordered a good bottle of red, then insisted on ordering for everybody. “I know what’s good here,” he said.

“L’chaim,” Merv said, raising his glass, and so did the others. Sean ordered several plates of food, and when they came it was like a buffet.

“So, Al,” Sean said, when everybody was eating, “how’d you spend your cut?”

Al took a minute to think about that, then he put down his fork, took a sip of the wine, and set down his glass. “Exactly what d’ya mean by that, Sean?”

“Your cut from the poker game robbery,” Sean said pleasantly, winking at the others.

“Oh, I bought a couple Cadillacs, a yacht, and a Herbalife franchise,” Al replied, smiling. “What’s your point?”

“You set it up, didn’t you?” Sean asked, and he wasn’t smiling anymore.

“Fellas,” Al said, addressing the group, “anybody here know who the big loser was in the robbery? Let me refresh your memories: I had a big pot going there, and I was holding three aces. Maybe some of you saw my hand when the guy with the shotgun told us to put our hands on the table?”

A couple of them nodded.

“Now, Sean, let me ask you a question: Who was it who introduced the pro dealer into the game—the one with the pistol under his arm?”

“Yeah, Sean,” Merv said. “Who was it did that?”

Sean had not expected to be on the defensive. “I told you, it was better if we had a dealer, instead of doing it ourselves. That way, nobody wonders about the cards he gets.”

“Yeah, Sean,” Al said, “it was you who introduced the ringer.”

“Ringer?” Sean licked his lips.

“The mechanic. I been in enough poker games to know who’s dealing off the top and who isn’t. I reckon the two of you were setting me up for the kill by letting me win a few hands. And your guy was prepared to back his play with a gun, if the going got tough for him and somebody squawked about the cards he was getting. Of course, I had no squawk, since I was getting aces.”

“Now, wait a minute, guys,” Sean said, “you all know me.”

“Yeah, Sean,” Merv said, “we all know you.” Merv just let that lie there. Everybody had gotten very quiet. “Tell us about the ringer—who was he?”

“Just a good cardplayer I know, used to work the Vegas casinos.”