Illusion of Luck 27

Cynthia changed clothes in the car while Larry stood a few yards away. She was surprised he hadn’t insisted on watching.

He pointed one of the heavy duty flashlights toward her as she got out of the Jaguar.

“Very nice,” he said.

“What are we doing here, Larry?”

“We’re going to relive the night of the game.”

Yes, the game, she thought. It was the only memorable foot­ball game for Larry.

He led her down the running track to the ten-yard line.

“Okay, you’ll be right here doing your cheers.” Larry dug the back end of the heavy duty flashlight into the ground until the beam was directed at her.

“It’s been 12 years since high school. I don’t remember any of the cheers.”

“I don’t believe you, but I figured you’d say that. So, I brought this.”

He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and unfolded it. “Here you go.”

She read over the two cheers.

Cheer No. 1:

Okay, let’s go. (clap hands & stomp feet)
Okay, let’s go. (clap hands & stomp feet)
We are the Mavericks
We’re in control. (clap hands & stomp feet)
Okay, let’s go. (clap hands & stomp feet)
Okay, let’s go. (clap hands & stomp feet)
The mighty Marshall Mavericks
Will put on a show. (clap hands & stomp feet)
Gooooooooooooo Mavs! (stomp feet like crazy)

Cheer No. 2

We’re gonna crank you,
We’re gonna spank you.
Look out now, (clap, clap)
Look out now. (clap, clap)
We’re gonna flip you,
We’re gonna rip you.
Look out now, (clap, clap)
Look out now. (clap, clap)
(clap, clap, clap, clap, clap)
When your head is getting’ starry
You’ll be thinkin’ that you’re sorry
That you e- (clap) ven (clap) came. (clap, clap, clap)
You’ll be runnin’ home to mommie,
Go to bed in your pajamies to forget (clap) this (clap) game.
(clap, clap, clap)

“We never did this second one,” she said.

“I wrote that one myself. So, I’ll be on the field, and after you’ve done the two cheers I will reenact the famous catch that won the game.”

He’s completely lost it, thought Cynthia.

“Then my fans will go crazy in the stands. And you’ll run out on the field and jump into my arms and kiss me. Then you’ll get down on the ground and invite me to have sex with you.”

“What? No, I won’t.”

“And we’ll do it over and over again—until I’m worn out.”

“I’m not doing that.”

Larry reached into his pocket and pulled out the watch bomb remote. “When the time comes, I’m sure you’ll do the right thing.”

Cynthia started doing the first cheer. Greg, where are you? Please come save me. But nobody could possibly figure out that Larry would bring her to Marshall, to Mav Stadium at 4:30 in the morning. There would be no one to save her. She was on her own.

She could either keep her left hand intact by having sex with him or she could try to escape and probably lose her hand. Could she run fast enough to get away from him? She was a very good runner, so she doubted he could catch her. But if he pushed that little red button and blew off her hand she might bleed to death.

What would she do when the moment of truth would arrived? She decided she’d rather give up her body to the angel of death than to let Larry have it.

**********

Greg and company had stopped by the LaQuinta in The Woodlands to pick up Sandy’s car. They had traveled to Mar­shall at high speed, making only one quick pit stop.

When Greg turned north onto Maverick Drive, he got the jitters. What if they had been wrong, and Larry and Cynthia were still back in The Woodlands? But then he turned into the stadium parking lot and saw the Jaguar.

He killed his headlights and Sandy followed suit. Greg prayed Larry wouldn’t hear their cars—they needed to make a surprise attack. There was almost no moonlight, but Greg fig­ured the street lights would allow them to see well enough to slip up on Larry.

Greg walked to Sandy’s door and whispered as he pointed, “Why don’t y’all go around that way and I’ll go this way.”

They nodded in agreement.

When Greg turned the corner and saw Cynthia, his heart began to pound. She was near his end of the field, standing in the beam of a propped up flashlight. But why was she wearing that outfit? He saw Larry striding toward her, carrying a flash­light. Greg tiptoed toward them, confident he was hidden in the darkness.

“I told you what you were supposed to do,” said Larry. “This is the part where you run out and kiss me!”

“And I told you—I’m not going to do it,” she said.

Larry pulled out the remote and held it up. “I believe you are.” He dropped his flashlight and grabbed her.

She pushed him away.

“You’re ruining everything,” said Larry.

He lunged at her.

She swiped at the remote, and it flew into the air.

“Oh, you’re gonna regret that.”

Larry turned around, picked up the flashlight and began to search the grass for the remote. Then he thought he heard an animal and raised his flashlight. But it was no animal—it was a man—running straight at him.

Before he could react, Greg tackled him.

“Greg.” Cynthia could not believe her prayers had been answered. “Be careful—he’s dangerous.”

Greg hopped on top of him. He knew nothing about fight­ing, but that didn’t stop him from delivering three quick punches. But then Larry popped him in the jaw, pushed him off, and jumped to his feet.

Greg hopped up and ran at Larry again.

Larry turned and ran away from him. But then he saw Sandy coming from the other direction. He considered running across the field, but then he saw Rebecca coming toward him. And she looked like she wanted to rip his head off. He was cornered.

So, he ran to the stands, jumped up on the ledge, and climbed over the railing. Greg and Sandy were close behind. He started to go for the exit, but Sandy had it blocked. So, he ran up the stands.

Rebecca stayed with Cynthia. They held the two flash­lights, pointing them at Larry.

“You might as well give up,” said Sandy. “There’s nowhere to go.”

Larry ran to the very top and climbed up on the railing.

“That’s gotta be at least a thirty foot drop,” said Sandy.

“Yeah,” said Greg, “don’t be stupid.” Although, Greg kinda wished Larry would be stupid.

Larry climbed over to the back side of the railing. “See you around, Chumps.” He jumped off.

Greg and Sandy ran to the top and looked down.

“Can you see anything?” said Greg.

“Nope. But he’s got to be dead. Or at least have a lot of bro­ken bones.”

Greg yelled down to him. “Hey, are you alive?”

No reply.

They hurried down the stands.

“Did he jump?” said Rebecca.

“Yeah,” said Sandy. “Throw me your flashlight.”

Greg and Sandy took the exit and went behind the stands to investigate the grisly scene.

“No,” said Greg. “Don’t tell me.”

There was a commercial garbage bin sitting directly under where Larry had jumped from. And the lid was open.

“He couldn’t have known it was here,” said Greg. “We know he couldn’t see it from up there.”

Cynthia and Rebecca ran around to meet them and found the two men standing in front of the garbage bin, shaking their heads.

“Is he dead?” said Rebecca.

“No,” said Sandy.

They heard an engine start.

“There he goes,” said Greg.

“You’re kidding me,” said Rebecca.

“He really is lucky,” said Cynthia.

“Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s go after him,” said Rebecca.

“You and Sandy can, if you want,” said Greg. He looked at Cynthia.

They ran to each others’ arms.

After a long kiss, Greg said, “Are you okay, Baby?”

“I am now.”

Sandy looked at Rebecca. “What do you think? You want to chase him?”

“I guess not. He’s got too much lead time anyway. But, Cynthia, you need to go file a police report.”

“We will,” said Greg. “And let’s go do it right now so we can get out of here—‘cause we’re late for our honeymoon. That is, if you’re still up for it.”

Cynthia had been through quite an ordeal. And if it had been any other kind of trip, she would have cancelled it. But this was their honeymoon, and doggone it, she was not going to let Larry destroy it. “Sure. All I need is a good meal and a shower.” Then she remembered she was still wearing the ridi­culous cheer leader outfit. “And a change of clothes.” And a lit­tle sleep would be nice, she thought. “Oh—and I need help with this.” She held up her wrist.

Rebecca pointed the flashlight at it. “You need help with your watch?”

“It’s got a bomb in it. At least that’s what Larry said. That thing I knocked out of his hand was the detonator. He told me if he pushed the red button on that remote, or if I tried to take off the watch, my hand would get blown off.”

Rebecca looked more closely. “Probably a fake.”

“I know—but I didn’t want to chance it.”

**********

As Larry drove out of town, he felt invigorated. Things had gone terribly wrong, yet his luck had saved him again. He had truly taken a leap of faith this time, and in doing so, through his belief in the God of Luck, he had become…invincible.

Now, nothing could stop him from getting what he wanted.

And what he still wanted more than anything…was Cynthia.