“Thanks, Ned. I appreciate that. And if it was any other circumstance, I’d borrow your gun and do the job myself, but that would blow back on Ivan for sure and I can’t let that happen. Neither can you. So killing the bastards is out.”
“One way or the other, Cothane and his thugs will pay for this,” Ned vowed.
Alan nodded. Then with a slight smile, he added the sage remark, “I know. They sure will.”
* * *
Watching the monitor in his office, Carl Cothane saw Alan and Ned walk through the casino.
Glancing at Earl and Albert, Carl laughed, remarking, “Looks like our lover boy is running to big brother just like I planned. Isn’t that Littlefield’s man helping him out?”
“Yeah,” Albert said. “And see how slow he’s walking? We reamed him a good one, boss. Like you said, next best thing to fucking Ivan Littlefield.”
After stopping at a pharmacy and picking up the items Alan had suggested, plus an antibiotic ointment cream the pharmacist recommended as both soothing and as a deterrent to infection in open wounds, Ned settled Alan in a motel, far off the strip.
They hadn’t talked on the way there, but once they were in the room, Ned met Alan’s eyes squarely as he declared, “Dammit, I can’t just let this go, Alan. Cothane has got to pay.”
“Ned, trust me, he will,” Alan said, easing himself down on the bed with a stifled groan. “It might take some time, but he’ll pay the ultimate price and it’ll be much better revenge than either of us could exact on the sonofabitch.”
“I don't understand.”
Alan fought back his emotions as he met Ned’s worried eyes and admitted, “I’m HIV positive. That’s one reason why I looked up Ivan again, to mend fences and spend some time with him while I’m in relative good health. I never intended to stay in Vegas even this long, Ned. If I hadn’t gambled at the Spa and gotten hooked into staying to pay off my gambling debt, I'd already be gone.”
Ned masked his shock as he stated matter-of-factly, “Well, there are all kinds of medications for that now, aren’t there? And like you said, you’re in good health so far.”
Alan nodded. “Sure, there’s medicine to prolong the inevitable, and I take the ‘cocktail’ regularly, but still, I feel like a walking time bomb. And I want Cothane to feel that, too; to know the helplessness of just waiting. I’ve seen what the end of this disease looks like, Ned, and it isn’t pretty. I don’t intend to subject Ivan and his family to that, so as soon as I’m able, I will be leaving again.”
“Mr. Littlefield wouldn't want you to leave, Alan. Why don’t you stay here with people who care about you and fight this thing? Take your meds and live out your life here in Vegas? Hell man, you could outlive all of us.”
“Even if Ivan and Andrea insisted I stay, I know they’d be wary of infecting their baby or themselves, Ned. I’ve seen that look in too many eyes. I don’t want to see it in my brother’s. Maybe, after enough time has passed and I feel I’ve been granted a few years with comparative good health, I’ll visit again.
“But back to this situation, Ned. This is between us, understand? No repercussions that will ultimately bring Ivan down, either by publicity or by an act of vengeance on his part, because that’s what Cothane is counting on. So, do I have your word to keep this to ourselves?”
They stared at each other for a minute before Ned nodded. “You have my word, best I can give it not knowing future consequences. I do promise not to kill them, but if I can figure out another way to make those sons-of-bitches pay for this, I’ll do it. Agreed?”
“So long as it doesn't involve Ivan, agreed.”
“Are you feeling well enough to be left alone? Is there anything else I can get for you before I go?”
“No. Thanks anyway though.”
“God, Alan, I’m sorry this happened to you.”
“Yeah, well, you know that old saying, ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger’,” Alan said with a semi-chuckle. “So I should come out of this strong as an ox.”
After giving Alan what he’d purchased at the pharmacy, and getting his assurance once again that he was okay to be left alone, Ned left, his mind running full tilt as he climbed into the Escalade.
What the hell do I do about this? I can’t let that bastard get away scot-free and I can’t tell Mr. Littlefield. Alan’s right about that.
Cothane had raped Alan to set a trap for Ivan, of that Ned was sure.
And if he finds out, the first thing Mr. Littlefield will do is go after him with blood in his eye, giving Cothane the perfect excuse to blow him away. So how do I remedy this situation without drawing the boss into the middle of it?
What he wanted to do was wrap his hands around Cothane’s neck and squeeze until the life left him or put a couple of bullets into his brain. Cursing, he thought about the promise he’d made to Alan as he phoned Sean and Marty.
But killing him is out, so I’ve got to figure another way.
Sean answered on the second ring.
“Yo?”
“Sean, are you and Marty going to be there for awhile?”
“Yeah. We’re just hanging out. Why?”
“I’ll be there shortly. There’s something I have to tell you guys and then we have to figure out what to do about it.”
“Sounds cryptic, man. What's going on?”
“Not over the phone. Tell you when I get there.”
Ned drove the rest of the way on mental automatic, his brain running a gauntlet of emotions as he tried to think of a way to bring those sons-of-bitches down.
Then it dawned on him. If he could turn Earl and Albert against each other, they would do what he had promised he wouldn’t.
That’s it. That would be perfect. It’s common knowledge those two thugs don’t like each other worth a damn, so it wouldn’t take much to set them off. I just have to figure out what that trigger is.
He pulled the vehicle into the garage and bolted up the stairs to the garage, knocking hard on Sean and Marty’s door.
Sean opened it declaring, “Man, you made good time. Now what the hell is going on?
Ned related what had happened, excluding the detail of Alan being HIV positive. When he finished, both Sean and Marty were muttering incredulous curses.
“Now the dilemma is handling this without getting Mr. Littlefield involved. I promised Alan to keep his brother out of it. We all know what would happen if Mr. Littlefield found out what they had done. He would walk right into the trap Cothane set for him and we can’t let that happen.
“My thought is we have to turn Earl and Albert against each other, get them fighting and maybe the two bastards will kill each other. Any thoughts of how to accomplish that?”
“Say, I have a thought,” Sean said, snapping his fingers.
“Spill it.”
“Earl has a younger sister that he dotes on. She’s seventeen. And I know the reason he and Albert don’t get along is because Albert once made a play for her.”
“How the hell do you know that?” Marty asked.
“My sister told me. Lisa goes to school with Earl’s sister. Her name is Rachel. So, Rachel was telling it around how Albert had hit on her once and bragging about how her brother had nearly wiped the floor with him.
“So, I’m thinking that if we send Rachel some flowers and sign Albert’s name, with a raunchy note, then that could be the match that lights the fire under Earl. And even if Albert denies sending the flowers, Earl probably won’t believe him because Albert did send flowers back then.”
“Glad you moved your folks out here, Sean, and that your sister knows Earl’s sister,” Ned said with a chuckle. “Small world.”
“Well, it’s that six degrees of separation thing, my friends. Or the long arm of fate.”
“It just might work,” Ned agreed. “We might even sweeten the pot by putting a bug in Earl’s ear that something is going on between the two of them, an anonymous tip.”
“You think he’ll buy it?”
; “I think he’ll fly off the handle without even thinking to confirm it, and confront that weasel Albert. Knowing how volatile that fool is, he’ll probably whip out that damned stiletto he carries and, if the gods are on the side of justice, they’ll battle to the death. It would be the perfect solution, if it works.”
“But what about Cothane?”
Ned shrugged. “He’s a different story. We have to tread light there, but let’s get Earl and Albert out of the way first. So, Sean, you know Rachel’s address?”
“Yeah. The McElheneys live in North Las Vegas.”
“Great. Then go to a florist and order the flowers, but pay in cash so the transaction can’t be traced back to you. Write something you think that creep Albert would write.
“Marty, you get one of those voice modifiers and give Earl a call that’ll start the ball rolling. Do you know Earl’s cell number?”
“No. But I know someone who works at the Spa and he might know it.”
“But that would link us back to whatever happens. People talk. Damn! I wonder how we can get his private number.”
“Why not call the Spa and ask for it?” Marty suggested. “We could just say we need to contact him, without giving our own name. It’s worth a shot.”
“Okay, try that. But don’t call until you know the flowers have been delivered to Rachel. She might even inadvertently help us by calling Earl and saying she got flowers from Albert again. Then we sit back and wait for the fireworks. If it doesn’t work, we’ll go another route.”
“So what about Alan? Where is he?” Sean asked.
“I left him in a motel. I’m going to check in with Mr. Littlefield first, to make sure I’m not needed, and then I’m going back to see if Alan is okay, maybe take him some food and a bottle of good scotch.
“Hell of a thing! Raped! God, I can’t imagine,” Marty said. “Wish we didn’t have to play this game and could just pick those bastards up and beat the hell out of them, like the no good scum they are.”
“Me, too. That’s what they deserve, but if our plan works, they’ll waste each other; our hands will be clean, and Mr. Littlefield will be in the clear. So the best thing we can hope for is that divine justice will pick up the slack.”
* * *
It was the headlines that shook the casino world two days later.
“MURDER—VEGAS STYLE!”
The story outlining the event made front page news for only one day before being relegated to an inside cover article, with the continuing background stories on Albert and Earl, their connection to Cothane and the Roman Spa, and their fatal brawl right outside the casino.
The article stated what began as cursing and threats between the two outside the Roman Spa ended with Earl punching Albert and Albert retaliating with his stiletto, stabbing Earl several times before the police arrived to separate them.
“Earl McElheney died shortly after reaching the hospital. Albert Tusser was arrested and is being held in Clarke County Detention Center pending a court appearance on charges of second-degree murder.
“Worked out just right,” Marty said. “Looks like Lady Justice wasn’t blind this time. Wonder if Alan has read this account. Maybe this’ll give him at least some comfort, knowing two of those bastards got what was coming to them.”
“Still,” Sean said with a shake of his head, “rape is something a guy just doesn’t get over that easy, if ever. Hell of a thing!”
* * *
Alan lay on his motel bed, reading the newspaper account. With a sigh he discarded the paper, thinking that just left Cothane. He had never believed he would actually wish AIDS on anyone, but in Cothane’s case, it seemed the perfect retribution.
Chapter 28
Ultimate Justice
On his way to a meeting at the casino, Ivan put the paper down, commenting after reading about the fight, “Always knew those two would eventually tie up.”
The divider partition was down as it usually was when it was just the two of them going somewhere. So Ned met Ivan’s eyes in the rearview mirror.
“In my opinion, it couldn’t have happened to two more deserving bastards!”
Ivan frowned, wondering at Ned’s bitter tone and the way he suddenly averted his gaze.
“You know, Ned, I tried calling Alan, but they said he was no longer at the Spa. I wonder where the hell he’s gone off to now. At least he took my advice and quit that damned job. I thought we were making strides toward peace and now he just disappears again.”
“Maybe he’s just getting settled in somewhere, boss, and he’ll call when he does,” Ned offered, feeling guilty.
“I hope so, Ned.”
After dropping Ivan off at his casino and ascertaining he wouldn’t be needed for at least two hours, Ned went to the motel where Alan was staying.
When Alan admitted him, he asked, “Are you feeling better?”
“Yeah, I am.”
“Well, are you going to call your brother and let him know you’re still in town, Alan? He’s worried about you.”
“Yes. I figured I’d get in touch with Ivan and say my goodbyes before leaving Vegas. I was just reading about the fight between Earl and Albert. Did you have anything to do with that?”
Ned snickered, “You might say divine justice had a couple of helpers. It just took the right push to get them at each other’s throats. There was never any love lost between those two. Now there’s just Cothane to tackle.”
“Well, like I said, I think the best thing to do is just let nature take its course.”
That thought sobered Ned.
“Alan, I know it’s none of my business, but I’d just like to say that I think you should stay in Vegas and move in with your brother. I know both Mr. Littlefield and his wife want you to.”
“They might not, if they knew the truth.”
“I don’t think that would matter to them. You’re family and I know Mr. Littlefield values family above all else.”
“As close as you are to Ivan, why do you still call him Mr. Littlefield, Ned?”
“Out of respect.”
“Ivan’s lucky to have you on his side, man.”
“I’m the lucky one. I was just more or less bumming around aimlessly, no family, my head kinda screwed up after the war. I had no reason to get up in the morning until your brother hired me on and gave me a purpose again. He’s quite a guy.”
“Yeah, he is. I just wish I were more like him.”
“You’re a lot like him, Alan.”
“Yeah, except that he’s taller and stronger and more virile and the ultimate alpha male and I am—well- the opposite,” Alan quipped with a lopsided grin.
“Don’t put yourself down. You’re a Littlefield and that says a lot.”
Alan snorted. “Ned, you sound envious of the name. You shouldn’t be, man. There’s more dirty baggage attached to that name than in a field of dumped garbage.”
“Not if you put Ivan or Alan before it,” Ned stated as he held out his hand.
Alan shook hands with a grin.
“Hell of a Littlefield crush you got going there, friend. But thanks for including me in it, even though I don’t deserve it.”
“You deserve it. Now, since you’re feeling better, what say I drive you over to Mr. Littlefield’s place? I know your brother would be thrilled to come home and find you there.”
“You don’t give up, do you, Ned?”
“There’s a saying we used to spout a lot in Special Ops. ‘You can give out, but you never give up.’ Adopting that motto got my ass through the war and home again. So no, I don’t give up. What say, I help you pack up again?”
* * *
Alan smiled at Andrea as she led him into the living room. He parked his wheeled Samsonite luggage next to the sofa and turned to Andrea as she said, “Ivan will be so happy that you’re here, Alan. He’s been worried about you, especially since he read that newspaper article about what happened at the Spa. Were you there, Alan, when the fight happened?”
Alan
averted his gaze as he answered, “No, I had already left. I’ve been at a motel. I just needed some quiet time to sort things out; clear my head, you know?”
“Ivan should be back before long. He had to check on something at the casino but he said he wouldn’t be gone long.”
“I’m glad he’s not here. I wanted to talk to you, Andrea.”
“Oh? What about?”
“First of all, I wanted to tell you that I think you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to my brother. After I’m gone…”
“Gone? You’re leaving town? Alan, you can’t. Please reconsider. Stay with us, at least until after the baby is born, and if you feel you can’t stay that long, at least stay until Ivan’s birthday. That’s only a couple of weeks.”
“Yeah, that’s right. Ivan’s birthday is right around the corner, a week before mine.”
“Oh, really? Well, that’s even more reason to stay, Alan,” Andrea proclaimed. “We can celebrate both your birthdays together. I know Ivan would love that.”
“I’d like to stay, but I—.”
“But what?” She interrupted. “Why can’t you stay, Alan? You could sing in Ivan’s casino and live here with us. That would make Ivan so happy and me, too.”
“I appreciate you saying that, Andrea. Right now, I just need to get my shit in order. To do that, I think maybe I have to go away. But I wanted to ask you to please take care of Ivan for me. Hell, I know I don’t even have to say that because I can see you’re head over heels for the guy.
“But I care what happens to him, even though I’m not so good at showing it. There are a lot of things I can’t say to Ivan’s face, never was able to, but I wrote them down.”
He fished in his suit pocket and retrieved a letter, which he handed to her with the request, “Will you give this to Ivan after I’ve gone? Just give me time to be truly gone before you do though. Promise me.”
“I don’t know, Alan.”
“Please Andrea, promise me!”
As he caught her hand, his eyes beseeching her, she nodded.
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