“Fair enough. Which is when?”
“I was just on my way down to the casino. I was at the table all day and came up to rest, you know, freshen up…”
“Empty your pockets and let’s see what you’ve got.”
“This is it for now.” He picked up his chips and held them out to Dante, who stared.
“Four hundred dollars’ worth? Out of the ten grand I trusted you with-you got four hundred left? Are you out of your mind? I made you a loan. I told you how much it was going to cost you. Any ambiguity? I don’t think so. You’re into week two and the vig’s up to five grand. What am I supposed to do with this?”
“That’s all I have. I can get the rest of it in a week.”
“I didn’t offer you a layaway plan. You knew the terms of the deal. I did what I could to help you. Now you help me.”
“I’m not able to do that, Mr. Dante. I’m sorry, but I can’t. I feel terrible.”
“As well you should. How do you propose to raise the rest of it? You’ve got no credit left.”
“I was hoping you’d give me an extension.”
“I already did that and this is what I get. You told your parents about the money you owe me?”
“Oh, no, sir. Absolutely not. I promised to give up gambling after they bailed me out last time. I’ll tell ’em if I have to, but I’d prefer not.”
“What about your girlfriend?”
“I told her I was going camping with a friend.”
“You call this camping?” Dante shook his head. “What am I going to do with you? You’re a moron, you know that? Big ego, hot talk, but in the end you’re a putz. You pissed all your money away and now it’s my money you’ve blown. And for what? You think you’re a poker champ? There’s no way. You don’t have the skill, the talent, or the brains. You owe me twenty-six grand.”
Phillip said, “No, no. That’s not right. Is that right?”
“You’re on the hook for my expenses getting over here.”
“Why?”
“Because I came on your account. How else am I going to talk to you when you don’t show up when you said you would? You missed our appointment so I had to come on short notice, which meant chartering a flight. Plus, I got these two goons to pay.”