The Gamble

Dedication

For Namanda Gaita.

You make every day worth getting through.

THE GAMBLE

Written by Steve

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission of the copyright holder, except for brief quotations used in reviews or criticism.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. The city of Calder, Mercer Yard, and Mercer Mill do not exist. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

First Edition 2026