Kalico laid a scarred hand on the butt of her pistol, laser-blue eyes thoughtful. “I heard they had a meeting. Not that it was like singing ‘Coming Together Under the Bower,’ but the family agreed to let Kylee run it for them.”

“There’s still Leaper and Diamond,” Talina reminded.

“My money’s on Kylee and Flute,” Kalico told them. “Time for beer.”

As they turned onto the main avenue, Dek said, “Inga’s got quetzal steaks on tonight. She’s been keeping them off the menu while Flute was in town. Thought it would be more politic, not that Flute was likely to be a customer.”

“I’d hope not,” Shig mused, as his dreamy gaze fixed on the high puffs of cloud. “I don’t think the stairs would support his weight.”

“So,” Kalico asked. “Dek? You ever tell Falise about that last hand of cards?”

“Yep.”

“How’d she take it?” Talina asked.

“All in stride. Was such a good sport about it that I gave her the plunder. All of it. And threw in a whole ton of the rhodium.”

“Thought there was more than a ton,” Shig said.

Dek shot Shig a knowing wink. “Gotta keep something so I can pay for steaks and beer.”