Blackjack

76

A tiny light whistled up high into the dark night, followed by an astounding kaleidoscope of bright red, white, and blue light that exploded in the night sky.

“Oh, my,” Allie said.

An enormous boom immediately followed.

“Oh!” Allie said, placing her hand to her chest. “That was loud.”

“Sure was,” Valentine said.

“So interesting how the boom happens after,” she said.

“Happens at the same time, Allie,” Valentine said. “Just sound travels a hell of a lot slower than light.”

Virgil, Allie, Valentine, and I were sitting on the front porch of Virgil and Allie’s house, watching the fireworks display that was being put on by Pritchard’s grand opening of his casino.

Earlier in the day, after Daphne had rested from her confrontation with me, and her subsequent mental lapse, she came to, not really remembering everything that had happened really clearly, but remembering enough.

Black and Pritchard remained with her throughout the afternoon as we made arrangements with the Denver contingent to take her back to Denver, where she would be charged with the murder of Ruth Ann Messenger.

Another tiny light whistled up high in the sky, followed by an exploding circle of bright sizzling white light and a boom.

“A dandelion,” Allie said.

“Big one,” Virgil said.

“That is so beautiful,” she said.

“It is,” Valentine said.

Another big one exploded, sending red twinkling streamers falling from the sky.

“Oh... look at that,” Allie said.

The fireworks kept coming.

“And that,” she said. “Would you look at that?”

“Another good one,” Virgil said.

“That one had some spread,” Valentine said, “and some kick.”

“Did,” Virgil said.

We watched as the fireworks continued. A huge exploding blue one lit up the evening expanse very brightly, followed by an enormous loud boom.

“Oh, my,” Allie said. “Gosh... that one was really loud.”

I looked to Allie as she stared up at the sky. She was beaming like a little girl... and it made me smile some. Though none of us, particularly me, were in the mood for celebration, we were doing our best.

We watched for a while before anyone said anything else. The fireworks were, as Pritchard promised, a spectacular display. He was not wrong. It was outstanding.

Allie grinned as she looked up. Her eyes were fixed and childlike.

I thought sadly of Daphne earlier in the day and how she, too, was so childlike, but the tragic circumstances were very different.

Allie, I thought, was not at all without her own disappointments and tragedies in life. She had been through a hell of a lot.

“Look at that one,” Valentine said.

Hell, in hindsight, we all had been through a lot. I looked to Virgil and Valentine and thought we all have lived somewhat desperate lives and, in some ways, many lives. The person we were before was not necessarily who we were today. But then again, it’s circumstances that pretty much make us who we are.

But what Daphne had endured as a child was horrific. Pritchard was the least astonished to learn of what had happened to Ruth Ann Messenger.

Turned out he knew Daphne’s father and knew he was not the mathematician she said he was. In fact, he was a drunk that Daphne had taken care of since the day her mother walked out. According to Pritchard, her father abused her in ways that were unimaginable, and before Pritchard had him arrested and sent away, Daphne attempted to beat him to death with a shovel as he slept. Since that time, Pritchard had treated and raised her like his own daughter. He loved her, and though he was dreadfully deflated to learn the news about the killing of Ruth Ann Messenger, he understood it. He said there was a rage that remained inside her that he could never help suppress, relieve, or alleviate. He also knew she was brilliant, and the scheme of how she wanted to persecute Black for breaking off their engagement was also no surprise to him.

“Look at that one,” Allie said. “Who would have thought?”

“The Chinese,” Valentine said. “Hell, all the way back to the Tang dynasty.”

“Well, it’s remarkable,” she said. “Don’t know how on earth they do it.”

“Gunpowder,” Virgil said.

“Yep... Some Chinaman mixed charcoal, sulfur, and saltpeter together and... boom,” Valentine said. “Gunpowder. First invented to scare off evil spirits... now it is more commonly used in one form or another to kill people.”

I glanced over at Virgil, and he was staring at Valentine as he watched the fireworks. He remained looking at his big brother for a moment, then Virgil looked over to me as I looked back up. I could feel Virgil looking at me, but I continued to watch the dazzling display that was taking place for the grand opening of the Maison de Daphne.