Hernan Pena is a kind family man, and auto mechanic, whom has left his troubled past far behind him.

Unfortunately, Hernan is about to learn there is more to his past, and himself, than even he realizes.

The past two years, in the island city of De La Plata Podrido, have not been very kind to Pedro Del Soto and Matthew McCormick. And while they, and those they have cared for, have not been seriously harmed. Things have gone downhill for them. And after they both have one bad, stressful night, too many, the both decide to leave the city. The catch is them figuring out how they are going to escape, and not get caught.

Meanwhile, the local mechanic, Hernan Pena, will have to navigate his own problems.

It has been a month and a week since Lee returned to De La Plata Podrido, and things have settle down for Lee.

Chang asks River and Lee for some ideas to help business with his casino. And their ideas are nothing, if not inventive.

Unfortunately, later on, people that Lee knows intend to through a party, which River and Chang intend for Lee to attend.

As one can guess, Lee does not want to attend this party, and hilarity ensues.

And that is only just the beginning.

Lee is now back in Plata Podrido. And in a good situation in her life. Now, she is going to touch base with her friends in town. And see what is going on. And maybe even have some fun, while she does so.

For Lee, it is time to pay the piper, with interest.

Though, River has other ideas to help Lee, and herself.

But, Lee is about to find out some sides of those that are after her, that she did not know about.

Now, River has to get them both out of this mess. And her plan is creative. Unfortunately, River's plan will take time, and so Lee will still suffer. But, River is there to mitigate the situation, until her plans come to the forefront.

It has been a few days for some. And years for others. As those after Lee have lost track of Lee. With the maids eventually returning to Lagoon Island, in defeat, at having lost Lee.

Though, that does not the hunt is over. Not by a long shot.

Ranma realizes there is one group she knows of that are possibly better trackers than even the maids.

Ranma then goes to meet with one of her former teachers, Cologne. In the hopes of enlisting trackers from the Chinese Amazons, to help find the maids.

For, if anyone could find Lee, it would be them.

Though, whom Cologne picks for this hunt, may bring the Badasses Of The Multiverse's prey closer to them, than they realize.

Meanwhile, River is waiting in the wings, waiting to take advantage of the situation, in her search for Lee.

This is final chapter of Volume Two of Book Five of the Gambling Man.

Those after Lee regroup on Lagoon Island, as they figure out what their next move will be, as they plan out how best to capture Lee. While sorting out some more immediate problems.

As this goes on, Revy and Priss will finally have it out, over Priss damaging one of Revy's cutlasses.

Meanwhile, the past finally catches up to several people.

Including Lee. With Lee being forced to face one of his most innocent of victims.

But, though this victim is innocent. That does not mean this person is harmless.

And Garibaldi is becoming increasingly distrustful of Lee. Especially, after the multiverse takes one more swing at both him and Lee.

For this will be Lee's Folly.

After Lee's daring escape from those after him, at the factory complex, Lee finds himself in a police station. With the police asking him questions, and they want Lee to give them answers.

Though, Lee knows he has to convince the police to let him go, as soon as possible, before those after him, catch up to him.

And Lee's idea of escape could land him in the funny farm.

Unfortunately, Lee has finally fallen into the sights of the two maids. This will cause an ensuing, running battle, that will lead Lee to the one man on Mars that could save him, or throw him to the wolves.

Meanwhile, Revy, Rock, and their friends, are having a few beers in a bar. As they have a casual conversation, about their lives, and their future plans. With a few surprises there, as well.

And from within his casino, Chang plots his next moves. With River by Chang's side.

Lee has lead those after him, to a large factory complex.

While those after Lee regroup and head in to capture Lee. They expect Lee to be preparing to make his last stand.

What they do not realize is Lee is instead planning to play a game, the multiverse's most extreme form of hide and go seek.

It is a game of wits and violence, where those after Lee learn what Lee is capable of, when he is forced to stand and fight.

Lee begins his escape into the multiverse, by jumping to another time, place, and reality.

Unfortunately, Lee quickly realizes his foes are onto him. With Lee trapped on a large passenger liner spaceship, with two very cunning adversaries.

And Lee is beginning to regret that he did not take the opportunity to learn Russian, during his experiences in the time loop.

Though, this does not mean that Lee is not going to have a little fun in the situation had has found himself.

Because what lunatic does not laugh in the face danger?

Meanwhile, Pedro has found the deepest, furthermost rock, he knows up, to hide under. Now, he hopes that he can stay hidden.

Just after Lee was revealed to be the writer, Lee was able escape into the multiverse. With all the hard work and planning done by Rock, Revy, and their crew, coming completely undone.

Now, these women must all each have a plate, from a buffet of crow, as they come to terms with their momentary defeat. While they review the information, and plan their next moves, in capturing their elusive foe.

All the while, River will get her chance to present Lee's defense, to their proverbial jury of the damned.

The Rats Nest Bartender has figured out that the person that Revy and the others are after is Lee. And she will have her answers as to why.

And should Lee handle this problem, he will still have a couple of more very serious problems to deal with.

Time has finally grown short. Secrets are revealed. And Lee soon realizes he has stayed one day too late.

Though, Lee is not out for the count. This just means he may have to take it all the way down to the wire. But, for a true gambler, it is all about playing the long odds, for the big payouts.

And Lee is about the place his riskiest bet ever, when a couple of notorious maids come to town.

With Lee' plans in shambles, Lee is forced into a situation, where he has to match wits with a master of the game, and one of the Caribbean's most savvy.

And the clock is ticking downward, with Lee having to fix this problem now, before the situation blows up in his face.

The question is, if Lee is savvy enough to pull off his plan in time?

Now, that the poker game is over, and Lee must face some hard cold facts in the light of day.

To get out of that poker game, with River, in one piece, Lee had to show the world, including Revy and her crew, Pedro, and Chang, almost all the skills he had.

This removed a lot of advantages Lee had slowly built up, during his time in De La Plata Podrido. With his careful planning and preparations now starting to collapse around him.

And those that know him, will have questions for him. From Revy and her crew, to Pedro.

In addition, Chang has taken an interesting, Lee.

The walls are starting to close in on Lee. And he is going to have to figure out what he is going to do, sooner, rather than later. Because time is growing short. And Lee knows this.

Though, at least River has a nice gift for Lee, that he could use, given his situation. And Melvin introduces Lee to a man, whom perks up Lee's day.

With this chapter, this story is literally upping the ante to the insanity.

Revy comes up with a scheme to make a quick buck. Though, given Revy and her family are rich. Her idea of a quick buck, nowadays, is a million dollars. And she has roped Lee into her money making scheme.

To make matters worse, Rock and Revy, drag Lee to the Daiyu Palace Casino, where Lee meets with Chang, and Lee learns that Chang is Revy's mark.

Only, for Revy and Lee, Chang already realized what was going on, and he allows Revy to make her suckers bet with him. And Chang changes the rules a little bit. With Revy only later learning that she is the fool in this bet.

And given Revy foolishness, Lee is really starting to wonder if Revy really did lose her mind.

Now, Lee has been force into a situation, where playing with a full grown tiger would arguably be preferable, with the person he is not forced to play at a private gaming event. That Chang is advertising, and will be streaming videos of, without his new casino.

Also, given that Lee has been forced into the spot light of everyone attention. And that both Revy and Chang, are both known to occasionally be sore losers, with Lee caught in the middle.

If Lee hopes to get out of this mess, with his hide intact, and his cover not blow, he will have to play every angle he can, while he brings out his A game. And even then, Lee realizes, that if he does survive all this, while maintaining his cover, there will be fallout for him, from what happens, during the day, he is forced to play that poker game.

Unfortunately, Chang is stacking the deck against Lee.

But, Lee has a few cards of his own, that he has yet to play.

And it all happens, in Chapter 14: “Gambling With Insanity: Part One: A Stacked Deck.”

First, Pedro finds out that someone wants to buy the beach house his brother Paciano gave him. With Pedro convincing Lee to chauffeur. But, they are going to get more than they bargained for.

Then, Lee has to convince Sam not to worry about the bad news that Lee gave him, the night before.

Along with this, Lee would think. After last night's talent contest. That the girls would be at least satisfied to leave him alone for a few days. Unfortunately, that is not the case. As a few of them decide to come to the Rats Nest. And they want to join in on Lee and Sam's usual poker game.

Also, Lee will have to deal with an unexpected guest, whom may throw him completely off his game, in more ways than one.

Afterward, Melvin has to deal with an unexpected afternoon guest of his own.

That night, Lee has a close encounter with the Amazonian kind. And who he meets then, even surprises himself.

And Lee and Pedro realize that Chang's plan are far grander than they expected, and perhaps beyond their ability to deal with.

Lee finally meets a woman that catches his interest.

Revy and Lee have a very interesting discussion on insults.

And Melvin's past has finally caught up with him. And he knows only one person he can turn to for help, to get him out of this situation. Lee.

Will Melvin and Lee be able to keep their secrets from each other, and everyone else? Or, will this situation blow up in their faces?

After Lee learns all that there is for him to learn, in the time loops.

All that is left is for Lee to party until the end.

And that is exactly what Lee is going to do.

The day after the Day of the Little Angels, is the Day of the Dead.

A fitting name for a day when Lee finds himself in the interesting predicament of being stuck in day that never seems to end.

And this story arc will answer the question of what happens, when a person, whom is still mostly healthy, though is dying, is stuck in a time loop? Where the march of illness and death has come to a complete stop for that person.

Lee is still somewhat healthy. It seems he is not going to die any time soon, due to being given the day repeating itself. A repeating time loop with no consequences, where Lee seems to be the only one that remembers the repeats.

So, what will a mischievous, and imaginative person like Lee do with his time?

And will Lee try to stop the time loops. Or, because Lee is dying of cancer, does he even wants to try to stop the time loops?

Find out the answers in, The First Few Times Around.

While Lee now has a few allies, his troubles keep piling up, as he will have to navigate several obstacles, over the course of the next few days.

First, Lee has heard on the grapevine, in not so many words, that due to not finding the writer, Rock and Revy group are planning on leaving De La Plata Podrido. So, Lee has to figure out how to convince them to stay, without him revealing to them, that he is the writer.

And his solution is going to roll them hard.

Then, some of the Baddass women of the multiverse, whom were after them, findly start taking an interest in him.

The only thing more dangerous than being hunted by a badass woman, is being courted by one.

Eda is on the prowl for a man. And she is not in the mood for latin. So, she has set her sights on Lee. In this case, Lee's manners and tact may have come back to haunt him. Because, one does not say, no, to a blond bombshell, such as Eda, without raising suspicions.

Next, Aeryn and Violin take their shot at questioning Lee, to see if he is the writer. Lee will have to navigate a conversation with two very genre savvy individuals, made even more genre savvy, by Lee's writings.

Though, Lee is not without his own trick, on placating Aeryn and Violin, without them realizing it.

After which, Lotton takes her turn at questioning Lee. With Lee turning Lotton's genre savvy and tastes in fiction, against her.

And finally, Ranma, Natsuru, and Akira have devised a way to see what really makes Lee tick. But, when the three of them find out what is really going on upstairs, in Lee's mind, answers take them completely by surprise.

For these women are Cooking With Insanity.

A person is about to have a very bad day.

Within the same hour of finding out he has six months to live, he learns that a small army of badasses want vengeance against him.

And the only chance he has of surviving his problems, is he has to flee to the east coast of Mexico. To the mysterious city of De La Plata Podrido.

Where he has has to go shark fishing for badasses, while using himself as live bait.

Can the person whom created the Badasses Of the Multiverse, outwit them, or will he be doing the cha-cha in hell?

While some hunt him. Someone is helping him. Though he has few clues, and no idea who it is.

Though, with no other leads, the clues lead him to the east coast of Mexico, and the mysterious island city of De La Plata Podrido. There he learns the lay of the land, and some of those that live in the city.

It is all about proper planning and preparation. And he is going to do both.

And when he is ready, he sets the trap, and waits for a few to take the bait.

For he has come up with such a simple plan.