Operation Royal Retrieval
The Hotel Lafayette in Paris is one of the city's finest hotels. Also one of the tallest buildings in Paris. The whole building was a tribute practically to the relationship between America and France. Inside the lobby were grand portraits of Lafayette, Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Jefferson. With the 125th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase going on, red, white, and blue crepe was hung everywhere. Adjoining the hotel was the equally impressive Eagle Club, an American style night club, bar, ballroom, and lounge. In addition to the main room, and side dens, there were also private rooms those with membership or money can reserve. It was one these rooms, the Lincoln Room, that about a dozen men were now gathered, waiting for their special guest. Some were at the private bar, drinking and shooting the breeze. Three were playing darts, two were reading, one stood at a window, and the rest were playing poker.
"I'll call," says a British gentleman, placing the matching amount of chips in the pot.
"Reckon you would, so I'll raise you 50," came the slick reply from an American with a ten gallon hat with a thin mustache.
"I fold," said a frenchmen. The other player, a young man with a boyish look about him and looks like he's barely out of high school, sits with his cards, thinking.
"I'll raise you a 100," he says with no emotion.
"I'm out," says the Britain throwing his cards in. The Texan and the young man show their cards.
"Three of a kind," says the Texan.
"Full house," the kid calmly replies. The players gasp, even drawing some from the bar.
"Dang it Oliver, how are you good at this. A youngin' like shouldn't even know how to play this game."
"How do you think the Crosses made their fortune? We gamble."
"Yeah but with investments," said a man from the bar.
"Same thing." Oliver's replay draws a chuckle from the man at the window. Suddenly, the telephone at the bar rings. The room goes quiet. The man at the window walks over as the bartender answers it.
"Hello. .... Yes. .... Yes, we're all waiting. .... Good, we're ready." He hangs up. "Her majesty is here." And with that, all the men in the room start tidying up and try to look presentable. For they were about to come face to face with Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova.