No Exit by Taylor Adams 2

At the table, Ashley fanned out the cards in a smooth
rainbow, all facedown except a single, upturned ace of hearts.
“And, here’s your card.”
Lars gasped, like a caveman discovering fire.
Ed shrugged. “Not bad.”
From the bench, Darby assessed her potential allies. Ed
was pushing sixty and carried a belly. His cousin Sandi might
as well be made of balsa wood and hairspray. Ashley, though
— as gratingly chatty as he was, he was also broad, muscular,
and quick on his feet. The way he moved to pick up dropped
cards, the way he confidently shimmied around chairs — he
had the swooping, ducking grace of a basketball player. Or a
stage magician.
A silver-medal stage magician.
“Do another one,” said Lars.
“That’s the only authentic trick I remember,” Ashley said.
“Everything else was kiddie stuff. Fake sleeves, trapdoors in
cups, that sort of thing.”
“You missed your calling,” Ed said.
“Yeah?” He smiled, and for a split-second, Darby
glimpsed pain in his eyes. “Well, accounting is pretty badass,
too.”
Lars moped by the door, disappointed that the show was
over.
Darby decided that her next step had to be Ashley. He was
strong enough to fight, at least. She’d catch him alone, in the
restroom maybe, and tell him about the girl. She’d make sure
he understood the gravity of the situation; that right now, a
child’s life was at stake outside. Then she’d have backup,
when she chose her moment to attack and detain Lars—
“Oh!” Ashley clapped his hands together, startling
everyone. “I know how we can pass the time. We can play
circle time.”