Gamers: Gamers, #1

By Judy Lunsford

Travis James found the perfect gamer. Or so he thought. 

His mafia boss thought otherwise. And killed him.

Travis has 24 hours to find a new gamer. One that wins. 

Can Travis find a new gamer in time? And can he live with sacrificing an innocent to save himself?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Judy Lunsford
• Release date: Jun 4, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463157398

Judy Lunsford

Born and raised in California, Judy now lives in Arizona with her husband and Giant Schnoodle. Judy writes with dyslexia and a chronic illness & is a breast cancer survivor. She writes mostly fantasy, but delves into suspense, horror, romance, and poetry. She has written books and short stories for all ages. You can find her books and short stories at your favorite online retailers.

Book preview

For Trent

Special thanks to:

Mary Porter, Dan Freberg,

and Cheryl & Don Williamson

CHAPTER 1

Mr. Russo wants to see you.

Travis James knew Mr. Russo wanted to see him. That’s why he was sweating through his good suit while sitting in Mr. Russo’s library. Travis didn’t look at the man in the doorway.

I know, he kept staring out the window.

Now, Mr. Marino held the door open.

Travis got up from his chair and walked past Marino without looking at him. The last thing Travis needed to see were the dark, expressionless eyes of the large man bearing down on him. Marino followed Travis down a long hallway into a room with double doors. They entered without knocking.

Four men were there waiting for them. Mr. Russo was seated behind his mahogany desk with his hands folded together on top. His graying hair was slicked back and he was wearing an expensive shiny silver suit. But somehow Mr. Russo was able to make that shiny fabric look intimidating. Even with a red rose protruding from the buttonhole in his suit lapel.

Mr. Marino nodded to Mr. Russo and quietly exited the room, shutting the door behind him.

Travis noticed that the drapes were drawn over the windows behind Mr. Russo’s desk. The windows reached from almost floor to ceiling and looked out on a beautiful view of the landscaped yard and the large pool with a waterfall. But today the drapes were drawn. With blackout curtains.

Travis knew that could only mean one thing.

He looked at the floor in front of Mr. Russo’s desk.

There was a large sheet of plastic covering the carpet.

Standing in the middle of the plastic sheet, in front of Mr. Russo’s desk, was a small, weasley looking man in jeans and a dirty shirt. A man who Travis had brought to Mr. Russo’s employ. A man who was now flanked by two very large men in expensive suits of their own.

Ah, Mr. James. How nice of you to join us, Mr. Russo said.

Travis nodded very slightly, Mr. Russo.

We seem to have a situation here.

I know, Travis glared at the short man, barely able to see him between the two mountains of men on either side of him.

It seems that Mr. Sinclair has been moonlighting. Right, Mr. Sinclair? Mr. Russo smiled at the man. But it wasn’t a smile so much as it looked like a hungry shark swimming in for lunch.

No, no, no, sir, Sinclair stammered. I wouldn’t say moonlighting, sir.

So what would you call it? Mr. Russo leaned back in his chair.

I-I wouldn’t call it moonlighting, sir. It was a mistake. Ya know? I didn’t mean to-

Mr. Russo cut him off, It was a mistake? It was a mistake that you were being paid off by one of my competitors? You didn’t mean to take money from him? What? He just slipped the money into your pocket while you weren’t looking? And then you lost the game unintentionally so that I lost money?

No-No, sir. That’s not exactly how it happened.

Mr. Russo’s voice remained unnervingly calm, almost soothing. How exactly did it happen then? How exactly is it that you took money from Mr. Takahashi and then threw my game? Explain to me how that happens?

Mr. Russo, Sinclair was speaking almost too fast. You know I would never do anything to intentionally hurt you. I didn’t mean to throw the game. I’m sorry.

Mr. Russo nodded to one of the men next to Sinclair. Both large men stepped aside and one shot Mr. Sinclair in the head. His body toppled to the ground with a thud.

Apology accepted, Mr. Russo sighed. See that it never happens again.

Travis stared at the body on the floor and how the blood pooled neatly on the plastic.

Mr. James. You were the one who introduced me to Mr. Sinclair, were you not? Mr. Russo asked.

Yes, sir. I was.

Mr. Russo sat forward in his chair and stared at Travis for a moment before speaking. How long have you been with me, Mr. James?

Travis cleared his throat, Almost two years now, sir.

Almost two years, Mr. Russo nodded thoughtfully and started tapping his fingers together. I’ll make you a deal, Mr. James. You bring me a new gamer by tonight’s game. One that wins. One that doesn’t moonlight on me. One I can trust. Or I will send you into retirement alongside of Mr. Sinclair here.

Travis looked back down at the body on the floor and then back at Mr. Russo, Not a problem, sir.

Mr. Russo nodded, indicating that the meeting was over.

Travis turned and walked out the door.

CHAPTER 2

Travis spent the day in the casino district. He watched table after table, trying to find someone that might be smart enough, or trustworthy enough, to save his life. But by the end of the day, he was thinking more about skipping town and his chances of survival than he was about the game.

Travis left the underground casinos, out onto the street. He squinted into the sun as it was setting behind the buildings in the distance. He didn’t have a lot of time left.

He got on the subway and rode for a while, still trying to decide what to do next. He happened to look up at a stop and saw a girl enter the car near the front. She was in her early or mid 20’s and she seemed almost ethereal, like she didn’t belong on a dirty subway. She was dressed a bit bohemian in a colorful flowery skirt and white peasant blouse. She was pretty and had long brown hair that went almost to her waist. Travis watched her as she sat down.

She reached into her messenger bag and pulled out a puzzle book wrapped in cellophane. She pulled the plastic off and started scribbling away in the book. She flipped a page and kept writing. Travis watched her curiously as she flipped page after page, scribbling frantically on each one.

After several stops, Travis got up and found a seat closer to hers. You like puzzles?

Yep, the girl said, without looking up.

Travis tried to peek into her book, What kind of puzzles are those?

She showed him the cover. All kinds. Logic puzzles, codes, number games.

Cool, Travis nodded. I’m Travis.

Amanda, she said, and went back to her book.

How often do you do those?

Every day.

How long does it take you to get through one of those books?

Just until I get to my stop.

How long till we get to your stop? he looked out the window at the platforms whizzing by.

The train slowed down.

This is my stop.

She smiled and stood up, handed him the book, and then exited the train.

Travis flipped through the book and saw that it was completely finished. Wait. Are these right?

He stood up and went after her, getting caught momentarily in the closing doors. He followed her, waving the book at her.

Are all of these right?

Amanda walked down the street without looking back. Yes.

Wait.

Travis caught up to her and got in front of her, blocking her path. You did all of these? On the train? And they’re right?

Yeah, she shrugged, stepped around him and continued walking.

Wait! Travis got in front of her again. Where are you headed?

"Am I going to have to call the