Illusion of Luck 15

As Larry made notes on his laptop, he kept one eye on the front desk. Hours earlier he had stopped at a flower shop a few miles from the hotel and paid $50 for a lovely bouquet of red roses in a red vase. Hopefully they had already been delivered to Greg and Cynthia’s room.

He had slipped the clerk an extra $50 and made it very clear that it must be delivered that evening. The clerk had assured him it would be done as he requested.

A couple walked through the entrance toward the front desk.

She hasn’t changed at all, thought Larry. She is so beauti­ful. And she’s finally going to be mine.

He closed his laptop, put it in the leather bag, and picked up the newspaper he had purchased earlier. Then he got up and walked toward the elevators. When Greg and Cyn­thia passed, he was standing there with his laptop bag hanging at his side, reading the Dallas Morning News. As soon as they entered the elevator, he followed them in, never lowering the newspaper from his face.

Greg pushed the fourth floor button and turned to Larry. “What floor would you like?”

Larry peeked around the side of the paper and saw the fourth floor button glowing. “The same—fourth. Thanks.”

Cynthia was totally oblivious of Larry. All she could think about was Greg and what she was about to do with him. They had waited until they were married to have sex. All those months of pent-up desire were about to be released in a single night. She looked into his eyes and thought, how could he pos­sibly want me as bad as I want him?

Larry was glad he had the laptop bag to hold in front of himself. He thought of a nice simile: just being in her presence had shot him up, like an elevator, to the top floor. He knew he would go through the roof the first time he touched her.

When the doors opened, Larry nodded for Greg and Cyn­thia to go first. He followed them at a distance to their room, and then casually glanced at the room number as he passed by.

Greg slid in the key card and opened the door. Cynthia was about to walk in.

“Wait. Let’s get it right,” said Greg.

“You want to carry me over the threshold?”

“Yes, Ma’am.” He grinned.

She spoke more softly. “You sure it won’t hurt your back? ‘Cause you’re going to need a strong back.” She smiled seduc­tively.

“Oh, really? So, you’re gonna work me hard, huh?”

“You bet I am, Mister.”

“Don’t worry. Nothing can slow me down tonight.”

He scooped her up and carried her into the room. “I love you, Mrs. Tenorly.”

“Not as much as I love you, Mr. Tenorly.”

He kissed her set her down and went back out to the hall­way to get their two overnight bags. Their Disney World lug­gage was in the truck of the car. They wouldn’t need it until tomorrow. He dropped the bags and rushed back to her arms.

“Nice room,” she said.

He rubbed up against her. “What room?”

“Oh, my.” She reached down felt it. “That’s quite a hand­ful, Mr. Tenorly.”

“Let’s get out of these clothes.” He began to unbutton her blouse.

“Hang on there, Buddy.”

“No, please don’t make me wait any longer.”

“I want to take a shower first.”

“Okay. And then I’ll take mine. But please hurry.”

She snatched up her bag and hurried into the bathroom. Then she stuck her head out the door and said in a singsong voice, “Don’t start without me.”

I’ll try not to, he thought. Maybe he would jump in the shower with her. But she might not like that. At least not before their first time. And he sure didn’t want to do anything to spoil it.

He imagined for the thousandth time being in bed with her…against her naked body…her arms wrapped around him…her legs. But tonight he didn’t need imagination. This was the real thing. Settle down, Greg! You’ve got to hold on just a little longer…

The phone on the nightstand rang and startled him. He felt embarrassed—as though the caller could see the big lump in his pants.

But who would be calling at this hour? It was after mid­night. What was the caller thinking? It’s probably Sandy, he thought. That turkey. He decided not to answer it.

But what if it was Beverly? She might be checking to make sure her daughter and new son-in-law arrived safely.

“Hello?”

“Hello, is this Mr. Tenorly?” The man had a very strong Texas accent. He sounded like an older gentleman.

“Yes, it is.”

“Mr. Tenorly, I am so sorry to bother tonight, but I’m afraid I have bumped into your car in the parking lot.”

“Are you sure it’s mine?”

“Yes, sir, I’m pretty sure. I gave the license number to the front desk clerk and she looked it up on her computer. It’s a big red Pontiac convertible.”

“Yeah, that’s mine.”

“So, like I said, I’m really sorry. But I thought you would want to come down and take a look at the damage. And let me give you my insurance information.”

Greg looked at the bathroom door, and pictured Cynthia in the shower. Why did this have to happen tonight?

“So, do you want to come down and meet me in the lobby?”

“Sure. I’ll be down in a second. What’s your name?”

“Merle Steeler.”

Greg hung up and went to the bathroom door.

“Sweetie?”

“I’m hurrying—I promise.”

“That’s okay, Honey. Take your time. I’ve got to go down to the lobby.”

“What’s the matter?”

“Some old guy ran into my car.”

“Oh, no. I’m sorry.”

“I’ll be back as fast as I can.”

“Okay, Baby.”

**********

After Larry had hung up the phone, he walked across the lobby and took the door to the stairs. In his earpiece, he had heard Greg talking to Cynthia through the bathroom door. And he had heard the door close when Greg walked out of the room.

The money he had spent on the flowers and the bribe had been well worth it. And the little bug he had attached just inside the vase was working as advertised. If he strained, he could even hear the shower. What a brilliant man he was.

The only weakness in his plan was the possibility he might not have enough time to get away with Cynthia before Greg returned.

He walked out of the stairwell into the fourth floor hallway. He could still hear the shower.

A young couple came out their door.

Larry walked to the nearby vending machines and pre­tended to be checking out the beverages options.

The couple stepped into the elevator.

Come on, thought Larry. Hurry up, Cynthia.

Then he heard the TV come on. He rushed to the door and knocked. He heard Cynthia hook the privacy latch.

She opened the door just a crack.

“Yes?”

“Cynthia? Cynthia Blockerman?”

“Yes?”

“I knew it was you when I saw you walk through the lobby. I heard you were getting married.”

“And who are you?”

“Larry. Larry Luzor from high school. Remember me?”

“Uh…”

“You know—‘Lucky Larry.’”

“Oh, yeah. Well, Larry it’s great to see you, but it’s very late, and I am on my honeymoon, so—“

“I understand. And I hated to bother you, but I have a wed­ding present for you.”

“A wedding present?”

“Yeah. It’s just something I bought downstairs in the gift shop.”

Cynthia closed the door, unhooked the latch, and opened the door.

Larry handed her a small gift box.

“You shouldn’t have. But thank you so much.” She started to close the door.

“Would you mind opening it? I want to make sure you like it.”

“Uh, okay.” She removed the lid. “Oh, it’s a watch.” A very ugly, bulky watch, she thought.

“It’s kinda big—but it’s got tons of cool features.”

“I see. Yes, it’s very nice. Thank you.”

“Would you mind trying it on?”

“Well, I—“

“—let me hold the box for you.”

Cynthia was losing her patience. “Okay, but then—“

“—then I’ll go. I’m sorry for being a pest. I just want to make sure it fits.”

She fastened the metal band and held out her wrist. “It fits just fine.”

Larry reached into his pocket and took out a small black plastic object. He pushed the button on the side of it.

A tiny red LED on the face of the watch lit up.

“What’s that? What did you just do?”

Larry whispered, “Don’t take off the watch.”

“What?” Cynthia was frightened and confused.

Larry pushed her back, stepped inside, and closed the door.

“The watch is now armed. There’s a small amount of plas­tic explosive in it.” He flipped open the lid of the remote, exposing a red button, “And if I push this button—“

“—don’t!”

He flipped the cover back to closed position. “It’s not enough to kill you, but it would probably blow your hand off.”

“Why are you doing this to me?”

“No time for talk right now. We’re leaving. Throw on some clothes, grab your things and let’s go. If we can get out of here before Greg comes back I won’t have to kill him. And, by the way, if you try to take the watch off, it will automati­cally deto­nate.”

Cynthia put on shorts, a shirt, and running shoes.

“Take all of your stuff.”

She put everything in her bag, and he rushed her out the door and down the hallway to the stairs. Just as they were entering the stairwell, they heard the elevator ding.

“Hurry,” said Larry.