Writ of Execution Read Online Free PDF Page A

commune with her magic. Her eyes hunted back and forth through the crowd.
    Two men materialized beside her, accompanied by Kenny’s waitress. Behind these people, two more men in Prize’s security uniforms. Behind them, pushing and shoving, tourists and change people and locals. The wheelchair girl was back. She studied Joya, the boyfriend’s hand on her shoulder. The suited guys in front were grunting from the effort of getting through the crowd, which was now celebrating like the millennium was happening all over again. The whole casino was trying to jam into their aisle.
    The casino officials stood next to Joya, muttering with each other and scrutinizing the numerical display. The security men in their blue uniforms were busy clearing the aisle now but didn’t bother Kenny, who worked at remaining upright on his stool.
    Finally a very big man with a gray crew cut, who was wiping his forehead with a handkerchief, turned to her and smiled. His smile was notable in itself, Kenny decided, sharky, jealous, staggered. “Let me be the first to congratulate you!” he shouted.
    Joya looked from one side to the other, as if searching for a pathway out. The crew cut lost it. Turning to the crowd, he shouted, “Jackpot!” The crowd screamed back.
    The cocktail waitress was beaming and the other man in the suit continued to look at the machine and shake his head. He couldn’t take it in. None of them could.
    They were all looking at Joya, or whatever her name was, who had in this instant transformed into an uncanny being who could strike them dumb right now with the merest twitch of her finger, that terrifying finger which had pressed the button at the inconceivably right time.
    Joya, a goddess! He half expected her to unfold a set of wings and take off.
    “How much?” came the mighty roar. “How much— how much—how much!”
    A familiar face pushed its way through the crowd. Kenny’s ex-neighbor had returned at last.
    “What the hell!” he screamed, first at Kenny, then at the girl. The gush of harsh obscenities that flew off his tongue blended into the cacophony of the crowd. No one was listening. He got to within two feet of Joya, his big fists balled, his body poised to attack, before a security guard stepped efficiently behind him, pulling his right arm into a half nelson. The guard marched the ranting man away from the girl, while another guard made a way for them through the crowd.
    “You’re dead meat!” he shouted back at them. “Fucking dead!” His eyes roved between Kenny and the girl.
    Then he was gone and the remaining guard, looking very determined, was standing in front of her, his hand on his belt holster.
    Someone from the casino came up and started taking pictures. Joya backed away, hiding her face. Kenny reached for his beer and didn’t find it. He saw the empty glass still on the carpet.
    “Aw, now,” said his waitress to Joya. “Give ’em that winner’s smile, honey. You’re a winner!” A slot mechanic pushed through and started sealing off the machine, and the security guard finished bulling the crowd out of the aisle. They could hear again.
    “Leave her alone,” Kenny said as the photographer angled closer.
    “Hey, this is big news,” said the excited guy with the crew cut.
    Kenny blocked the photographer’s view. He shoved Kenny. Kenny shoved him back.
    “Can’t you people take me out of here?” Joya said.
    “Sure, in just a second we’ll go upstairs to the office,” said the big man. “We just need some photos down here. We can set up the press conference later.”
    “No pictures!”
    “You’re a multimillionaire, honey. It’s our casino and we’re gonna take pictures.” He draped an arm around her and smirked, saying, “Shoot,” to the photographer. “What’s your name, honey?” he said to Joya. She bent her head down until her hair hung down in her eyes. The camera flashed. The photographer danced around trying to get a better angle.
    “She’s not feeling