It was dim inside—no air-conditioning. Shelves cluttered with silver dragons, cards, dice, engraved boxes, fetishes, crystal balls and fat little Buddhas lined the walls.This was obviously the Lucky Lady’s game—peddling fortune, fate, magic. Selling a chance to beat the odds, win the dream. Parting cash from those who believed they could control such things. Lex’s eyes adjusted to the light, his gaze settling on a faded old poster that hung on the far wall. It promoted a topless, psychic act at the old Frontline Casino circa 1970s, the same casino his mother worked at. The “psychic” on the poster was a busty, leggy redhead in a belly-dancer costume, shown seductively stripping copious veils.“Hello!” Lex called out. “Is there anyone here?”A parrot squawked somewhere in the back. Lex tensed. “Hello?”Suddenly, from behind a heavy curtain sewn with a myriad of tiny silver stars, the old gypsy woman he’d seen on the street materialized. Lex’s pulse quickened. She came slowly forward, huge false eyelashes making her unblinking eyes seem surreal.
