CHAPTER 49
Steadman lowered himself into the familiar chair, listening to the creak, feeling it wobble a little to the left as it always did. He was back in Garth’s basement, back at the poker table, but this time he was here to prepare for a different game.
And this time, he thought he knew how to play.
He looked across the table at this friend, Garth. Before the volcano blew, Rafferty hadn’t wanted to get involved. He was willing enough to mentor Steadman, put him through the paces of poker at the big boy’s table, but then he drew the line, preferring to steer clear of the details.
Now, the situation was different.
Rafferty’s brother lived in Puyallup with a wife and three teenage daughters. They, along with their faithful German Shepherd, a bowl full of goldfish, and the whole damn
