Chapter 14 Hen Party Without a Cock

At precisely 5:30 p.m., as planned, the ladies gathered near the building entrance. The nine of us made an impressive sight, in our matching neon-green tee shirts emblazoned with NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH in bold black letters— courtesy of Officer Wilfred Martin.

Kaulana, who sat on a heavy-duty red scooter, had pulled her tee shirt over a voluminous flowered mu‘umu‘u. The rest of us wore them with comfortable shorts and walking shoes. Violet and Mae pushed fancy walkers of the type with hand brakes and a seat for rest stops. Francesca looked like she was heading out for a trek through the Alps, with a sturdy walking stick gripped in each hand. The rest of us were outfitted with canes—except Coralee who proudly stated that she could walk miles without any aid.

“Everyone got their cell phones charged up?” I asked.

There were nods and yeses all around.

“Okay, let’s hit it, ladies!”

We trooped past Arnie, who eyed us from a chair near the mailboxes.

Esther said, “Hey Arnie, why don’t you come along with us?”

“Where are you ladies off to?”

“We’re going out on our first Neighborhood Watch patrol.”

He looked us up and down. “Guess I didn’t get the memo.

“You’re welcome to join us,” I said.

Sylvie said, “C’mon, Arnie. It’ll be fun.”

“We’d be a whole lot safer if we had a man with us,” Violet said her syrupy voice faux southern accent.

Mae tittered girlishly.

Francesca let out a disgusted snort. “Vee do not need a man to be formidable.”

“Who would dare bother you ladies?” Arnie said. “You’d beat them to death with your canes.” He grinned.

“The walk will do you good, Arnie,” Coralee said. “Get that blood flowing.”

He waved a dismissive hand. “My blood flows just fine. You girls go on and enjoy your hen party.”

“What’s a hen party without a cock?” Sylvie said.

There were a few snickers as Arnie’s smile faltered.

“Okay, let’s get going,” I said. “We want to be back before dark.” With a killer on the loose, I didn’t add.

The glass exit door slid open with a soft grinding noise, then hissed shut behind us. Outside, the late afternoon sun beat down. Intense heat rose from the grimy sidewalk. A slight breeze kicked up scraps of litter in the street but wasn’t enough to cool us.

“Officer martin’s on the ball,” I said, pointing to the new sign right outside our building.

Warning

This Neighborhood Protected by

 Neighborhood Watch

All suspicious activities will be reported.

I held up my clipboard. “I’ve mapped out a route that will take us around several blocks—about a mile and a half. We’ll see how it goes tonight, then make changes for the next time if needed.”

The sidewalk was only wide enough for two. I adjusted my visor and sunglasses, and headed west into the setting sun with Esther at my side. Behind us, the others trooped two-by-two, with Kaulana on her scooter taking up the rear.

“Keep your eyes peeled,” I called over my shoulder. “If you see anything suspicious, give a shout so I can fill out the form.”

“I walk along here almost every day,” Coralee said. “It looks the same as always.”

“Yes. Me too,” said Francesca.

“That’s great,” I said. “Today we’ll familiarize ourselves with the area we’ll be covering, and make our presence known. Those of you who walk here frequently will be the ones who’ll notice if there’s anything out of the ordinary.”

Heads turned as we made our way down Housten Street, past small businesses, convenience stores, and a Buddhist temple. At a corner gas station I stopped to let the stragglers catch up “Let’s cross here. We’ll walk through a few blocks of the single family homes, and come out across from Kon-Tiki Sands.”

I pressed the big silver crossing button. It beeped and within seconds the traffic light changed. The walk symbol appeared and we stepped into the street, making slow progress across the busy five-lane road. A red hand flashed on the sign and I stepped up my pace. The traffic light had changed back to red before Kaulana’s scooter made it up the ramp.

We entered a tree-lined residential street. The tightly-spaced clapboard houses must’ve dated back to the thirties. The paint on many of them was peeling, exposing dull grayish wood underneath.

“You’d think people would take better care of their homes,”  Violet said, wrinkling her nose. “They could certainly use a few coats of paint.”

Francesca came to a halt, gripping her walking sticks. “You zeenk everybody can afford painter? Zees old houses surely have asbestos in zem. Eez very expensive to remove asbestos paint.”

“What do you know about paint, Francesca?” asked Tiare.

“My brozer and I, vee are owning some old houses in California. Vee must hire asbestos removal company before vee can repaint. Eez against zee law to remove asbestos paint by yourself.” She pounded one of her sticks against the sidewalk. “Proper procedures must be followed!”

“Oh, pshaw! Procedures, smocedures!,” Violet said. “Let’s just try to enjoy the walk.”

I needed to refocus these ladies and keep them moving along, or we’d never make it home before dark. “Procedure is exactly what we need for our Neighborhood Watch,” I said. “Come on now, let’s keep our eyes peeled. Pay attention to your surroundings and watch for anything suspicious.”

After we’d gone another block, Coralee said, “I’m getting hungry. There’s a Zippy’s near here. They have a great Senior Special.”

I was hungry too, but said, “I really don’t think we should be out after dark.”

Mae leaned hard on her walker. “I’m so tired. I want to go home.”

Sylvie pouted. “I wanna stop at Zippy’s and get me a Napple!”

“That sounds ono,” Kaulana said.

Esther said, “I think I’ll have the pumpkin crunch pie.”

“We need to focus!” Tiare said. “This is not a leisurely stroll through town. We’re here to patrol the area as a deterrent against crime. Do you want somebody else to get killed in the hot tub?”

I sensed an air of gloom descending over the silenced women.

“You know what your problem is, Tiare?” Sylvie said. “You need to get laid!”

Tiare went still. Her chin lifted. She pinned Sylvie with an icy glare and spoke slowly, enunciating each word. “Shut up, Sylvie. I get laid a hell of a lot more than you do.”

The others gaped at Tiare. I shoved aside an image of her being bedded by Arnie.

Sylvie gripped her cane and raised it threateningly. “Just who do you think you are, Tiare?”

Tiare raised her own cane higher than Sylvie’s.

Fearing I was about to become collateral damage, I backed up out of range.

Sylvie lowered her cane, gave Tiare a one-handed shove, and shot past her. She hurried ahead, faster than I’d ever seen her move.

“How about we go to Zippy’s another time?” I suggested in an effort to lighten the mood.

“They got a good breakfast,” Esther said.

I led the women through several more turns. By now the residents had returned from their days at work or school. Parked cars lined the curbs. Lamplight and TV’s glowed from inside homes.

Only when the streetlamps flickered on did I realize it was nearly dark. Nothing looked familiar. I pushed my sunglasses to the top of my head and peered at the nearest street sign. The white lettering on green was too small to read in the dimming light. Where, exactly, were we?

“Do you know where we are?” Esther asked, seeming to read my mind.

I consulted the map on my clipboard while the ladies huddled, waiting for my direction.

I looked around to orient myself, then gestured to a gap between the houses. “It’s getting dark. I think we’re ready to call it a night. This alley runs for a couple of blocks and should come out on Housten. We can cut through.”

“It’s even darker in the alley,” said Mae.

It was. Buildings on either side of the narrow lane blocked out any light from the streetlamps. “Anyone bring a flashlight?” I asked.

Headshakes, and a chorus of no’s.

It hadn’t occurred to me to bring one. I hadn’t expected to be out after dark. I was tempted to continue around the block, but tempers were wearing thin. The troops were clearly exhausted, and getting hungry. And I probably wasn’t the only one with throbbing knees. We needed to take the shortest way home.

“Okay,” I said. “Let’s stick close together. The ground is full of potholes. Everyone take off your sunglasses so you can see, and please be careful not to trip.” All we needed was an injury on our first night out.

Sunglasses removed, we headed into the darkened alley.

Chapter 13 The Ringleader

“How’d you do at last night’s game?” Esther asked as I let her into my apartment.

“I won. A lot. And probably made some enemies.”

“Naw. It’s just a game.”

“I’m not so sure,” I said, thinking of the piles of drugs that changed hands. “They seemed quite serious. I wish you hadn’t left me alone there.”

“Jesus doesn’t allow me to gamble.”

“Jesus is probably right on that count.”

 She studied me for a moment. “It was that bad, huh?”

I sighed and gave a little shrug. “I guess it isn’t really my thing. Especially the drugs. But it was definitely an interesting look at the personalities here. Are they all on drugs all the time?”

“Pretty much.” She turned around and took in the living room. “Looks like you’re pretty well settled in.”

“I got the last of my boxes unpacked this morning. Romy was nice enough to hang a few paintings for me.”

“You’ve got some interesting things here. Are they all from when you lived in Africa?”

 “Yes. I couldn’t bring much here. I donated most of what I brought from Africa a museum.”

“I just love this painting over your couch.”

“I painted that from an old photo I took in Ghana, back in the fifties.”

“Get outta here. You did this?”

“It’s a hobby I took up after I retired.”

“Mmmm.” She stepped closer to the painting and peered at it. “Yup, I see your signature right here. L. Reuben. Lady, you got some talent.”

The chardonnay in my fridge was calling to me, but it could wait. I didn’t want to offend Esther’s Baptist sensibilities. “Would you like some tea?”

“You got any peppermint?”

“Sure.”

I put the kettle on and got out the mugs and tea bags. When I looked at Esther again she was in the living room, holding a framed photo she’d picked up from the side table.

“That’s my daughter and grandson.”

Ester gave it a closer look. “I knew your daughter was born and raised in Africa, but I never … Somehow  every time you mentioned her I pictured her as a blonde.”

“My husband was Ghanaian.”

“She’s as black as I am.”

“Her name’s Kamili.”

“Pretty name.”

“She was such a chatterbox when she was little, her nanny called her Chiku. The name stuck and I still call her Chiku today.”

“Her little boy is lighter skinned.”

“Kameron. His father’s white, so he’s just one-fourth African.

“Good looking boy.”

“That’s an old photo. He’s in his twenties now.”

“Your daughter’s beautiful too.”

“Thank you.”

“You see them often?”

I shook my head. “They live in London.”

“They ever come visit?”

“They came together to New York only once. It isn’t such a long flight, really, but Chiku has a very demanding job. She’s head nurse at a large hospital. She let Kameron visit us a few times on his school breaks, but as he got older he had more activities at home and friends he didn’t want to leave.”

Esther set the photo down back on the table, but continued to look at it. “You are a very lucky woman.” She moved to the kitchen and settled her bulk onto a dining chair.

“Do you have kids?” I asked.

“The Lord never blessed me in that way.” She slid the Neighborhood Watch Participation Agreement across the table and studied it. “I can’t believe they all signed up. And every one of them gave you their e-mail and cell number.”

“Everyone but Arnie and Romy.”

Esther barked a humorless laugh. “Arnie probably don’t wanna admit he can’t remember his own contact information. I bet he doesn’t even own a computer. He’d never remember how to use it. And Romy, he’s just too darned lazy to walk more than ten steps.”

“He could use the exercise,” I said, setting two mugs and the sugar bowl on the table. “I noticed the women all waited to see what Tiare would do. It was only after she signed up, the rest of them followed.”

“Tiare’s the ringleader, that’s for sure. No one’s gonna do anything unless she gives it her blessing.”

I filed that bit of information away for future reference. I wanted to tread carefully around my new neighbors.

Esther said, “I’m surprised Tiare picked you for team captain. Usually she wants to be in control of everything.”

“What’s up with that?”

She sipped her tea, pondering. “I don’t know. But I think everyone, including Tiare, is real glad you suggested the Neighborhood Watch.”

“Pearl’s death was a shock. To have someone you know, someone you see every day, murdered … it’s just way too close to home. And to think the killer is still running around out there—we’re all scared.”

“You got that right, sister. But do you really think a bunch of old ladies are gonna find the killer?”

“Probably not. But anything’s better than sitting around waiting to see who’se next.”

 

Chapter 12 Arnie joins the game

Fifteen minutes into the game every one of the women had swallowed a pill and downed at least one glass of wine. Not to mention Sylvie’s magic brownies. It didn’t have a noticeable effect on any of them.

“I see your one and raise you two,” Mae said.

Sylvie called Mae’s bet.

“Kaulana,” Francesca said. “It eez your bet.”

“I fold,” Kaulana said.

“Why are you folding before you take any cards?” Tiare asked her.

“Because I know I’m gonna lose this hand,” Kaulana said with a glance at Sylvie. “Why should I give away more of my pills on a losing hand?”

“You don’t know that,” Coralee said. “Sylvie could be bluffing.”

Kaulana shook her head and lay down her cards. Everyone else called Sylvie’s bet.

“How many cards, Tiare?” Francesca asked.

“Two.”

“Vee-oh-lette?”

“Give me three.”

Coralee took three cards.

I took three and ended up with a pair of sevens.

Mae took one, Sylvie took two, and Francesca took three.

It was Tiare’s bet. She pushed a white caplet into the center. “One Ambien.”

Violet and Coralee called. I folded. Sylvie saw the bet and raised her two more. Violet and Coralee folded. Francesca and Tiare saw the bet. They showed their cards. Tiare had three Jacks. Francesca had a pair of sixes and a pair of queens.

Sylvie revealed a pair of aces. “I win!”

“No, Sylvie,” Tiare said, scraping the pile of pills to her side of the table. “Three of a kind beats a pair.”

“But—no fair!”

Tiare was already dealing the next hand.

“Deal me in,” came a man’s voice behind me.

The women all smiled at Arnie as he settled across from me in the only empty chair—presumably Pearl’s place at the table.

His gaze locked on me as he scooted the chair in and set a cut crystal glass of amber liquid on the table. “You girls’ve been holding out on me. Who’s the new hottie?”

Smiles dropped. The women stabbed me with lethal stares.

Kaulana finally spoke. “Arnie, you remember Lillian.”

Arnie shook his head. “Can’t say I do. I’d never forget a face like this.” He winked at me, leaned back in his chair, took a swig of his drink.

Violet was the first to recover, plastering a fake smile across her face. “Arnie, let me fill a plate for you,” she drawled in a syrupy southern accent. She scurried to the bar, drawing glares from the other women.

“What’s the ante?” Arnie asked.

Tiare said, “One regular strength pill.”

“Sorry, no pills for me.” He tapped his forehead. “Gotta keep the ol’ mind sharp.” He took out his wallet and threw a ten dollar bill into the center of the table.

Violet returned with a plate of food for Arnie while Sylvie dealt.

“What are those little red pills?” Arnie asked.

“Lillian brought stool softeners,” Mae volunteered.

Arnie gave me a grin, then picked up his cards and studied them. He kept up a good poker face. He played conservatively, winning some hands, folding on others.

Between hands, Francesca stood. “I go bazzroom.”

By the time she returned, we’d built up a good-sized pot. Instead of taking her seat, she moved in behind Arnie, leaning over him to study his cards. With one deft move, her hands were on his shoulders, kneading them with strong fingers.

Arnie froze, his eyes growing wide.

A minute passed, maybe two, while Francesca massaged Arnie’s muscles, ignoring seething glares from Violet, Tiare, Kaulana, and Sylvie. I sensed Coralee and Mae bristling on either side of me.

Arnie snapped out of his shock and lay down his cards. “I’m out.” He ducked under Francesca’s arm, out of her grip. He pocked his cash, left the pills he’d won on the table. Glass in hand, he hurried out the door and disappeared into the night.

Francesca took her seat.

“What’d you do that for, Francesca?” Coralee demanded.

“We were enjoying his company,” Violet said, her southern accent gone.

““Belief me what I say. He like it,” Francesca said with a knowing smile.

“C’mon, everybody ante,” Tiare said. “Deal the cards, Coralee.”

While Coralee dealt, I covered a big yawn. I was down to my last four stool softeners, but had a collection of drugs that would fetch a decent price on the street if I ever decided to sell them. “After this hand I’m gonna to have to call it a night,” I said.

“You can’t leave now,” Violet said. “You need to give us a chance to win back what we lost.”

That was precisely my plan. Hopefully I could lose the whole lot of pills in the next hand. I checked the time on my phone. A little after ten. “Okay, ladies. This is your chance. It’s way past my bedtime.” I had a pair of eights, a pair of aces, and a three. “I bet three,” I said, selecting a brown thirty milligram Oxycontin and adding it to the pot.

“She’s bluffing,” Mae said. “I see your three and raise you one.”

Tiare, Kaulana, and Sylvie folded. Francesca, Mae, Violet, Coralee, and I saw Mae’s bet.

I lay my three face-down. “I’ll take one card.”

I took a peek at the card Coralee dealt me. An eight. My competitive side—the part of me that loves to win—kicked in. I held back a grin and tried not to yell hoo boy!

“Give me three cards,” Mae said.

Francesca knuckled the table. She was standing pat. Either she had a made hand or she was bluffing.

It was my bet. I pushed four random pills into the pot. “Four.”

“I vill see your four und raise you one Adderall,” Francesca said, adding her pills to the pile. Her pale blue eyes bored into me.

Violet saw the bet, but looked worried.

Coralee lay her cards down. “Too rich for my blood.”

“I’ll see your Ambien and raise you three stool softeners.” I said.

Francesca and I eyed each other. What she didn’t know was that I planned to lose as many pills to her as I could. “I see your stool softeners und raise you four.”

I was falling asleep. It was time to end this. “I call.”

Francesca had a pair of jacks and a pair of sixes. 

Oops. “Full house,” I whispered.

The others watched me rake the pile of drugs across the table and plunk them into my pill bottle. I shoved the rest into my pocket and stood. “I’m sorry but I really have to leave.”

“Next time,” Tiare warned, “we’re going to win those back from you.”

I was barely out the door when I heard Tiare hiss, “Follow her. See where she goes.”

Footsteps echoed behind me. I pivoted. Kaulana stood on the walkway, holding the remaining half of her Bundt cake. “Lillian,” she said. “Please take this with you. We won’t finish it.”

“Oh, thank you. Mahalo. That’s sweet of you.” I took the cake from her and headed home on wobbly legs.

After unlocking the door, I chanced a look back at the clubhouse. Kaulana stood at the entrance, watching me. I gave her a nod, went into my condo, and closed the door behind me.

Why had Tiare sent Kaulana after me? Where did she think I be headed to?

 

 

 

Chapter 11 Poker for Pills

Officer Martin had barely cleared the door when Tiare said, “Okay, ladies. We’re behind schedule. Let’s get this show on the road.”

She hurried behind the bar and opened the fridge. The other women moved in to help bring out the food and set it on the bar, buffet-style.

“Can I do something?” I asked the room in general.

“Here.” Violet handed me a bag of potato chips and a bowl of creamy-looking dip. “Set these out.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t bring anything,” I said. “I didn’t know—”

“That’s okay,” Tiare said. “Tonight, you’re our guest.”

Romy made his way toward the door. “Enjoy the game, ladies.”

“Good night, everybody,” Esther waved, following right behind Romy.

“Esther?” I said with a touch of desperation in my voice. “Aren’t you staying?”

She stopped and turned around. “Gamblin’s against my religion. I’m gonna call it a early night. But you all have fun.”

Gambling is technically against my religion, too. But we weren’t playing for money, so that probably made it less of a sin. I could hardly back out now after I’d promised Tiare and Violet. I stifled a resigned sigh. “Okay. Goodnight, Esther.”

“I’ll be up till ten,” Romy called from the doorway. “Let me know if you ladies need anything.”

“Thanks, Romy. Goodnight,” a few of the women called to his retreating back.

Francesca deftly uncorked two bottles of white wine while the other women finished setting up the buffet. Everyone lined up and started filling paper plates. Tonight’s fare was finger food: chips and dip, edamame, sushi, chicken wings, carrot and celery sticks, slices of Kaulana’s Bundt cake, and more of Sylvie’s brownies.

I grabbed a brownie and bit into it while I worked my way down the food line. I had a feeling I was going to need it.

The women settled around the large oval poker table. Tiare pointed to an empty chair “Lillian, you can sit in Imogene’s place.”

“No,” said Coralee. “I want Lillian next to me so I can show her how to play.”

“But that’s my seat,” Sylvie said.

“Go sit in Imogene’s seat,” Coralee ordered.

Sylvie said, “But I don’t want—”

“Quit your whining, Sylvie,” Tiare barked. “Maybe a different place at the table will change your luck.”

“Come, Lillian,” Coralee said, patting the chair beside her. “I’ll explain the rules as we go.”

Pouting, Sylvie lowered herself onto a chair at one end of the table. I sat between Coralee on my left and Mae on my right. One chair, presumably Pearl’s, remained empty. Friendly banter flew back and forth as wine bottles were passed and glasses filled.

Mae leaned to me and said, “Did you try the teriyaki wings, Lillian?”

“Oh—I’m a vegetarian.”

“Seriously?” Violet asked. “You don’t eat any meat?”

Coralee said, “I don’t know how you can do that. I’d starve without protein.”

There was no used pointing out that all plant material is protein.

“In Germany vee eat meat three times a day,” Francesca said, making fast work of a chicken wing and leaving the bones on the side of her plate.

Violet passed a wine bottle to Coralee.

“Chardonnay, Lillian?” Coralee asked.

“Thank you.”

She filled a glass for me and passed the bottle on.

Tiare extracted a well-used deck of cards from her purse. “Let’s play.” She plunked an orange plastic prescription bottle onto the table.

Coralee got out two similar bottles. I tried to peer at the labels, but couldn’t make out the small print.

Kaulana, Tiare, and Mae set out prescription bottles. Francesca and Sylvie must’ve been the big winners in previous games. They each had quart-size Ziplocs filled with dozens of multi-colored tablets and capsules.

Eying the quantity of drugs that had appeared on the table made me recall what the detective said about Pearl. She’d had a significant amount of Valium in her system when she died—and she’d been drinking. Had she won the drug at a poker game?

“What’ve you got, Lillian?” Coralee asked.

“Huh?”

“What kind of pills did you bring?”

“Oh—let me get them.”

The women fell silent, all eyes on me as I rummaged through my purse. “The only prescription I have is for stool softeners,” I said with an embarrassed shrug, producing a small white bottle. “Left over from a small surgery—”

Everyone chimed in at once: Oh wow … Wonderful … That’s perfect … Fantastic … Exactly what we need …

Above the chatter, Coralee said, “I’m gonna win me some of those.”

“Me too,” said Sylvie, patting her Ziploc. “All these benzos have me backed up something awful.”

“You’re not kidding,” said Violet.

“Ante up,” Tiare said, pushing a white caplet to the center of the table. “Percocet.”

Francesca said, “Zanax,” around the chicken wing she was gnawing and added another pill to the kitty.

Kaulana put in a small yellow tablet. “I’m not sure what this one is.”

Sylvie selected a small white pill from her Ziploc and added it to the others. “Oxycontin.” She popped a pill into her mouth and swallowed it with a slug of wine. I hoped it was just an aspirin. Mixing marijuana edibles, prescription drugs, and alcohol couldn’t be a good idea. No one else took notice.

Before I could say anything to Sylvie, Coralee turned to me. “This is how it works. Regular strength pills count as one. Double and triple strength count as two and three, and so on.”

Between the magic brownie and the glass of wine, my concentration wasn’t all it could’ve been. I nodded as if I understood, figuring I’d catch on as the game progressed. Or not.

“For example,” she explained, “blue Adderals are double the dosage so they’re worth two. White Oxycontin are three, the yellow Oxycontin four, and so on.” She stuck a pill in her mouth and washed it down, draining her wineglass. She poured herself a refill and topped off my glass.

“How am I supposed to remember all that?” I muttered.

“Don’t worry about it,” Violet said, swallowing one of her pills with a hefty slug of wine. “After a few games you’ll start to recognize all the pills.”

“Suzie Q,” said Mae, pushing a small white tablet to the center of the table.

“What’s a Suzie Q?” I asked.

“Seroquel,” Tiare answered.

Seroquel, I  knew, was for schizophrenia. If the Suzie Q’s had been prescribed for Mae, she should probably be taking them and not passing them around in a poker game. I glanced at her prescription bottle, which held an assortment of different colored and shaped pills. All I could make out on the label was the name Masako Ita.

Coralee reached for the pill Mae had anteed and showed it to me. “See, these are easy. It says right on the pill what it is, along with the dosage. Not all of them are all like that, but you’ll learn.”

I realized they were all waiting for me to ante. I opened my bottle and tipped a blood-red gel cap into my hand. “Stool softener,” I said as I added it to the colorful assortment of pills on the green felt tabletop.

Coralee and Violet anteed.

Tiare handed the cards to Coralee. “Shuffle.”

Coralee shuffled them with practiced moves and pushed the stack back to Tiare. Tiare passed them to Kaulana, on her left. “Cut.”.

 Kaulana cut the deck four times.

“First ace deals,” Tiare said. She dealt a card face up to each player until Francesca got an ace.

The deck was passed to Francesca. She allowed Kaulana on her left to shuffle the cards, and Tiare on her right to cut them.

“Zee game eez fife card draw,” Francesca said. She dealt five cards face-down to each player. I picked up each card as it was dealt to me, arranging them in order. My hand was scattered—four, six, seven, queen, ace.

No matter what anyone says, I don’t believe there’s any such thing as a ‘friendly’ game of poker. The game is based on deception. While there’s an element of random fate involved, over the course of an evening it’s usually the most cunning liar who walks away with the pot of gold—or in this case, the pile of pills.

Tiare added a pill to the kitty. “I bet one Klonopin.”

Violet called the bet with a Xanax.

“One Lexapro,” Coralee said, adding a white pill to the kitty.

I pushed a stool softener to the pile. “I call.”

I’m not the world’s best poker player, but I can hold my own. Which, I suppose, says something about my ability to lie when necessary. I subtly observed the women’s demeanors. Kaulana’s normally cheerful face fell as she studied her cards. Violet’s bright red bottom lip protruded in a pout. Sylvie squirmed with the giddiness of a five-year-old trying to keep a juicy secret. Tiare ran her tongue over her teeth. Coralee and Mae, on either side of me, were too close for me to see their faces but I sensed their still concentration. Francesca, directly across the table, caught me looking at her. She locked eyes with me and raised an eyebrow. Her face gave away nothing.

Any one of them could be acting. By the end of the night I’d have a better handle on their playing style, and a better idea which of them were the most practiced liars.