Chapter 23: Nighttime
They grabbed their bags from the storage room off the lobby. Then, took the elevator to their floor. The rooms are adjoining so they entered their own and opened the locked doors between the rooms. They order room service dinner in Rob's room.
Rob was from the Bow pack and in charge of this mission. Jeff was from the Bethlehem pack. Rob was in charge due to his pack size and alpha seniority. They met this morning for the first time. Single adult males travel, once a year, to the other state packs looking to see, if their mate is there, so they know members of each others pack. But, they have never been in the same place at the same time.
Both had plenty of missions experience and each tied for first in the ten mile run to qualify. They ran a quarter mile circle, within the complex, forty times beating the other contenders at six this morning. Each pack had their best runner compete. The loser was within spitting distance so it was a real close race.
While there were still bus loads of wolves, still waiting in the parking lot during the race, the alphas and runners were in their rooms by midnight. The last bus load arrived by ten in the morning, just before Chris left for the city. Most stayed on their buses to sleep, until it was their turn to travel to the condos.
They quietly compared their lives and missions, while eating. Listening to the noise from the hallway. Neither had seen their mates in the last three years they searched. They both killed cougars in the White Mountains to become an adult. They both patrolled their pack lands chasing dangerous animals to infants out of the area. Jeff had a few bears to chase. Rob worst was small pack of coyote.
They played cards, after the meal. Loser stays up eight hours, while the winner sleeps. The winner watches for the next eight hours, as the loser sleeps. Best five hands out of nine in pitch.
Rob dealt three cards to each player twice. He had all four aces so figured two points were likely high and game or low. Jeff bid two on King, Queen, Jack. Rob let him have the bid. Jeff lead the Queen to Rob's Ace. He came back with another Ace to get a low card of the same suit. His third Ace got another low card of the same suit. His four Ace was taken by the Jack. Jeff leads the King to find out the Jack was both low and jack so he makes his bid. Rob also got two, but does not matter as Jeff wins.
Jeff deals the next hand and bids three over Rob's two. He makes four with it.
Rob deals the next hand and can not bid three. Therefore, Jeff leads three to zero.
Jeff deals and lets Rob make a two bid. Now, its three to one.
Rob deals and gets stuck with a two bid he can not make. Four to one in Jeff's favor.
Jeff deals and gets stuck with two. He leads the Ten and Rob discards. Jeff wins as it was high, low, and game. It was the only point card dealt.
Jeff goes to bed setting an alarm for five in the morning. Rob plays solitaire all night cursing his luck.