Illusion of Luck 34

“In the new chapter, he hunts down the redhead and rapes her,” said Sandy. “Before, it sounded like he was in love with her. But now, he just wants sex, and he’s determined to get it—no matter what.”

“I just talked to him on the phone,” said Rebecca.

“He called you?”

“No. I called him. I thought I was calling Greg’s cell phone, but it turned out to be Cynthia’s. Remember Saturday night—how I called her phone, thinking Larry might answer it if he saw that it wasn’t Greg calling?”

“Yeah. So, what did he say to you?”

“Basically, the same thing you just told me—that he was going to have sex with Cynthia tonight. Oh, but it gets worse. He said he was going to get her pregnant.”

“Yeah, that’s what it says in the chapter too. He’s an ani­mal.”

“I thought he was lying—just mouthing off. He said my call woke him up and…I just realized something.”

“What?”

“He said it was 9:30. That’s an hour later than it is here. That’s Eastern Time.”

“So, if he was telling the truth about the time, he might already be in Orlando,” said Sandy. “I tried calling Greg’s cell phone, but it was turned off. And they didn’t answer their hotel room phone. But it’s probably just as well, because I really hate to spoil what’s left of their honeymoon. And I really think Larry’s lying. We know he made up the story about what hap­pened in the motel room with Chaucey Reed. And he’s got to figure Cynthia went to the police and that there’s a warrant out for his arrest. But, just to be on the safe side…I have a proposi­tion for you.”

Rebecca hesitated. “What kind of proposition?”

“I did some checking. We could catch a noon flight out of DFW. There’s an hour layover in Atlanta, but we’d be in Orlando by dinner time.”

“I see.”

“Then we could enjoy Disney World for a couple of days while keeping an eye on Greg and Cynthia. And if Larry is crazy enough to try something, we could nab him.”

“Nab him?”

“Well, isn’t that what you private eyes say?”

Rebecca laughed. “Sounds like you’ve been watching too many old movies. Nab him?” She laughed harder.

“Well, at least I made you laugh. And I do love to hear you laugh. So, what do you say? Want to go see the Mouse?”

“I’d have to reschedule some things…but, sure.”

Rebecca agreed on a time and place to meet Sandy at the airport and hung up. Then she realized several details had not been discussed. Where would they stay? Would they get sepa­rate rooms? Was he expecting to sleep with her?

This could be a very interesting trip, she thought.

**********

“Pretty good food, huh?” Greg took another bite of his scrambled eggs.

“Very good. But I know the real reason you wanted to eat here,” said Cynthia.

“What do you mean?”

She nodded to whomever was behind Greg.

He turned around. “Oh, hi.”

“Good morning.” It was Cinderella. “I hope you’re enjoy­ing your magical vacation.”

“We’re on our honeymoon,” said Cynthia.

Greg frowned at Cynthia. “Great—now you’ve blown my chances with her.”

Cynthia punched him in the arm.

Cinderella giggled and said, “Have a wonderful honey­moon.” She moved on to the next table.

“Oh, there’s the prince,” said Greg. “I suppose you’ll want to flirt with him. Go ahead—I deserve it,” He pouted and bowed his head.

“I already have my prince.” She smiled as she gently took his chin in her hand and lifted his head.

“And I have my princess.”

“So, where shall we go today, My Prince?”

“How about Disney-MGM, My Princess? That Rock ‘n’ Rol­lercoaster ride sounds great!”

“Oh, yeah, and I want to ride the Tower of Terror.”

“This is gonna be so much fun. I can’t believe we’re actu­ally here. And, by the way, have I ever told you how beautiful you look in the morning light?”

“Thank you.”

“In any light, really. But this morning you’re…almost glow­ing.”

Cynthia leaned toward him and whispered. “It’s because my husband made love to me last night…and yesterday after­noon…and this morning. And he made my body feel amaz­ing—better than it’s ever felt before.” She leaned back. “I might actually be younger today.”

“I feel younger. That’s it—now I understand. We’ve dis­cov­ered the elusive secret sought by so many throughout the course of history—the Fountain of Youth.”

“Well, since we’re feeling like a couple of teenagers—let’s go act like it!”

Greg jumped up from the table and took her hand. “You got it, Baby!”

They paid for their breakfast and headed for the Disney-MGM Studios bus stop.

Nothing could spoil their fun.

**********

After hiding behind a beard for seven or eight years, he wasn’t sure what he looked like under there. But with each stoke of the razor, he became less Larry Luzor and more some­body else.

He studied his clean-shaven face in the mirror. “They’ll never know it’s me.”

Brushing his hair back into a ponytail changed his look even more. I’m a graduate student, he thought. But it was Feb­ruary, so okay—he was taking a semester off. He laughed. Whatever. The important thing was that the guy in the mirror looked way too young to be either Larry Luzor or Barry Undermine.

The drive from Coreyville had been exhausting. He had not arrived in Orlando until 5:00 AM. But as his body attempted to rest, his mind kept itching until he got up and scratched it by writing and posting another chapter. Then he had slept soundly for three hours—until Rebecca Ranghorn called. She must have been quite proud of herself, he thought, for helping to res­cue Cynthia at the football stadium. But she would never have the satisfaction of avenging Melanie’s brutal murder.

The plot of Larry’s novel had taken some unexpected and undesired twists, and now his main character had become des­perate. The title of the book, Illusion of Luck, had become all too appropriate. The leading man had loved the redhead for many years. But now, she had rejected him—repeatedly, and gone off with another man. Even after proving he was willing to kill for her, she still did not believe in his undying love.

And now, knowing there would be no happily ever after, that she would never welcome him into her arms, he altered his ulti­mate goal. Since she would not willingly offer herself to him, he would take her by force.

So, if he must die and be born again in order to be one with her… so be it.

**********

“Hey, son, you should be working instead of playing around on the internet.”

“I’m on my coffee break, Dad,” said Crow.

“Well, then where’s your coffee?”

Crow frowned at him.

“I’m just kidding. But you’re wasting your time. There’s nothing but trouble out there.” He walked off.

You may be right, thought Crow. Barry Undermine’s book was disgusting. Sure, he used a lot of flowery words, but to Crow it was just frilly ribbons tied around piles of dog poop.

He wondered if Barry had really followed Greg Tenorly and his new wife all the way to Disney World. Maybe Greg would push Barry off the top of a rollercoaster. It was fun to imagine him falling…falling…falling to his death. Oh, the horror that would race through his mind as he fell. It wouldn’t be enough payback for what he had done to Chaucey, but it would help. Maybe Barry could make up a nice poem about his death as he fell.

But what if Greg couldn’t handle the creep? What if he needed help? A rage began to build in Crow’s chest when he thought about Barry touching Chaucey, pushing her, trying to rape her.

He pictured himself grabbing Barry’s head and squeezing it as hard as he could, until his eyes began to bulge, and then twisting his head a full 360 and ripping it right off his body. Then he could spin around and hurl it into the sky like a shot-put. He’d look back just in time to see Barry’s headless body collapse to the ground like a sack of potatoes.

Kroger Bagley, Jr. was not a savage beast.

But with Barry Undermine, he could sure act like one.