“No problem, ma’am. If you’ll just show me some identification, I’ll be glad to give you another key card. What’s the room number?”
“343.” She dropped her purse on the floor and several items fell out. “Oh, my.”
The clerk watched with great interest as she turned around and her long, silky hair flung around too, seemingly in slow motion. She bent over while pulling her skirt up just a bit.
A little higher, he thought, as he leaned his head down close to the counter for a better view. It was taking quite a while for her to gather everything. He could almost see her panties. Please take longer, he thought. His head was resting on the counter, as though he was taking a nap. But he wasn’t. His eyes were wide open.
She suddenly turned her head and saw him gawking at her butt.
He jerked his head upright and nearly pulled a couple of muscles. In an instant, the key card was in his outstretched hand. “Uh, here you go.”
Chaucey stepped up to the counter. “Thank you.” She smiled warmly, as though she didn’t even realize his dirty thoughts were burning a hole in his pants.
After Greg and the others saw that she had succeeded, they walked in and joined her at the elevator.
**********
“It won’t work, you know. You might as well put on a condom. I could have a disease. You might as well be safe.”
“I don’t even have a condom.”
“And you’re wasting your time, because I’ll just have an abortion.” She knew the rape would happen anyway, unless she could stall long enough for Greg to find her.
“No, you won’t. You would never have an abortion.”
This is good, she thought. Keep the conversation going. “Yes, I would. Because there’s no way I’m having your baby.”
“But what about your mom?”
“Huh?”
“And what about Jennifer?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” But her eyes told him otherwise.
“You really miss her, don’t you?”
Cynthia began to tremble.
“Yeah, it’s too bad about your sister. You really think she can hear you when you talk to her?”
Tears began to run down Cynthia’s face.
“All these years…she could have been there for you…if you’re mother hadn’t—“
“—stop!” Her eyes were red and her cheeks were drenched. “How did you know about Jennifer?”
“Oh, that’s right—I forgot to tell you. I spent a few hours at your house yesterday. Comfortable bed, by the way.”
“You animal.”
“And I enjoyed learning so much about you. You women really open up when you write in your diaries. So, you see, I know you won’t have an abortion—like your mother did when she killed your big sister, Jennifer.”
“My mother was raped!”
“Right. But you still hated her for having the abortion, didn’t you? She killed your sister.”
“Jennifer wasn’t really my sister—she was never born.”
“But she would have been. And your mother must have at least considered keeping the baby since she gave her a name.”
“You are the most cruel person I have ever met!”
“Well, I’m sorry to hear you say that about the future father of your firstborn. Now quit stalling!” And with one quick stroke of the hand, he torn her blouse open.
Larry was so consumed by the sight of Cynthia’s breasts, barely contained in her lacy red bra, that he didn’t hear someone unlock the door behind him. But he did hear the hinge squeak as the door opened. He spun around, as he pulled out the pistol.
Greg ran at him like a madman.
Before Larry could swing the gun completely around, Greg grabbed his arm.
Larry squeezed the trigger, and the bullet went into the wall.
Greg wrestled the pistol from Larry’s hand and it flew into the air.
Larry tripped Greg, threw him down, and then jumped for the gun, which had landed on the floor, near the bathroom doorway.
Chaucey tried to beat him to it. She reached down, and was about to pick it up when Larry grabbed her. So, she kicked the pistol out of the way, and Rebecca snatched it up.
Larry put his left arm around Chaucey’s waist and held her so tightly she could barely breathe.
Rebecca pointed the gun at him. “Let her go!”
“You think you’re in control here?” He reached into his pants pocket, pulled out a large pocketknife, opened it and held it to Chaucey’s neck. “Think again.”
“No!” yelled Crow.
“I’m going to walk out of here with Chaucey, and you people are not going to try to stop me. And you’re not going to call the police. Because I really don’t want to cut up her sexy little body. So, don’t make me.”
“Noooooo!” Crow ran at Larry.
Larry had less than a second to make a decision. This was the same meathead who had attacked him in Chaucey’s apartment. Didn’t the idiot see the knife? Doesn’t he know I’ll kill Chaucey? He’s crazy!
Chaucey sensed Larry’s uncertainty and felt him pull the knife away from her neck. So, she let her body go limp.
Larry couldn’t hold her up with one arm.
Chaucey fell to the floor and roll away from Larry.
Now he was exposed. But he still had the knife. Just as Crow reached him, Larry slashed, nicking Crow’s left arm.
Crow clamped onto Larry’s hand and squeezed with all his might, until Larry released the knife and it dropped to the floor. Then Crow picked him up and ran toward the balcony. Larry felt no heavier than the cockroach he was, as Crow rammed his head into the French doors, which broke open to the balcony.
“You’ll never touch Chaucey again!” Crow held his body upside down above the railing.
“Stop, Crow!” Chaucey ran to the balcony.
But it was too late. Crow released him.
“No!” cried Chaucey. A fall from the third floor would surely kill him.
Somehow, Larry was able to grab onto the top of the railing. His body flipped over and slammed into the side of the balcony. But he was still holding on, facing them.
Chaucey breathed a sigh of relief. “Let’s help him up.”
Crow stopped her. “No. Why should we help him—after all he’s done? He’s a murderer.”
“But if he falls, you’ll be a murderer. And you’ll go to prison. And I love you!”
“You do?”
Larry grinned. “Well, now. Isn’t this sweet? But I don’t need your help anyway. Remember? I’m Lucky Larry.” He pulled his feet up to the bottom of the railing and pushed off as he let go and fell into the darkness.
They looked down, but saw nothing.
Sandy and Rebecca joined them on the balcony.
“He’s probably okay, right? Maybe he fell in the pool,” said Crow.
“I didn’t hear a splash,” said Chaucey.
“That’s because there’s no water in the pool,” said Rebecca. “It’s being renovated. I saw the sign in the lobby.”
Sandy stepped up to the railing and looked down.
“I guess ‘Lucky Larry’ is not so lucky after all.”
40 - LOVE VS. LUCK
“Sweetie, I’m so sorry you got hurt.” Cynthia kissed Greg on the forehead. “Are you in a lot of pain?”
“Just a bad headache. I must have blacked out for a second. What happened?”
“Well, Larry threw you down, and I think you hit your head on the arm of this chair.”
“What happened to Larry?”
“Crow threw him over the balcony. And somehow Larry grabbed onto the railing. But then he jumped.”
“He jumped or fell?”
“I didn’t actually see it. I was in here with you when it happened.”
Chaucey approached them. “He definitely jumped. Crow and I were going to help him, but he told us he didn’t need our help, because he was ‘Lucky Larry.’”
“So, what did he do—fall into ano
ther garbage bin? No—I’ll bet he jumped into the swimming pool,” said Greg.
“There is a pool down there, but it’s being renovated,” said Chaucey. “Rebecca saw the sign in the lobby. And we didn’t hear a splash.”
“You can’t see him?” said Greg.
“No. The lights are off—maybe because the pool’s closed. If you strain real hard you can see the outline of the pool, but that’s about it. Rebecca called the front desk and explained what happened, so I’m sure—”
“—they turned the lights on,” Rebecca shouted from the balcony. “Where is he?”
Chaucey ran out to the balcony to join Sandy, Rebecca, and Crow. “He’s got to be down there.”
“The pool has some water in it,” said Sandy.
“Looks like it’s less than half full,” said Rebecca. “They must be in the process of refilling it. But that’s not enough water to keep him from killing himself. At the very least, breaking some bones.”
“Wait—what’s that?” Chaucey pointed to a dark green rectangle located almost directly under the balcony.
“I’m gonna go find out,” said Rebecca.
“I’ll go with you,” said Sandy.
Rebecca looked at Crow and Chaucey. “You two better stay here.”
Crow and Chaucey understood that the police would be there soon with questions—especially for Crow.
After Rebecca and Sandy went out the door, Crow turned to Chaucey. “Did you really mean what you said?”
“What I said earlier?” Chaucey stepped in closer, but hesitated to say it. “Yes.”
“So, you do love me?”
She put her arms around him and looked up into his eyes. Why fight it? She finally had a man who loved her for who she was—and not just for her body. A guy who would want her even if she wasn’t beautiful. She had once thought only a blind man was capable of doing that. “Yes, Crow, I love you.”
Chaucey expected to see the familiar Crow grin. But instead, he looked very serious, and his eyes began to water.
“Chaucey, I love you with all my heart. You’re my best friend—the best friend I’ve ever had. After I met you and we starting hanging out, everybody at the store was saying, ‘Hey, Crow, how come you’re smiling all the time now?’ And it was because I knew I’d see you in a few hours.”
“You’re a wonderful, caring, funny, big lug-of-a-man.”
He smiled, and the tears rolled off his cheeks.
Chaucey pulled him closer. “Kiss me, my cro magnum man.” She didn’t know quite what to expect. Crow probably didn’t have great kissing skills. But, oh—he does, she thought, melting into his powerful arms.
Greg looked at Cynthia’s torn open blouse. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. He didn’t really hurt me.”
“But he was about to.”
“Yeah. But you saved me—again.” She smiled and gave him a light kiss.
“I’m never letting you out of my sight again.”
“Oh, Baby, it wasn’t your fault. And if he did manage to survive the jump, it’s just a matter of time before the police catch him. Hey, did somebody call the police?”
“Yeah, Sandy did.”
She kissed him again.
“You know what, Honey?” said Greg. “When you agreed to marry me, I thought I was the luckiest man in the world. But it wasn’t luck.”
“It wasn’t?”
“No. It was…destiny.”
“Yes, it was, Baby.” She leaned down and started a passionate kiss that made him forget all about his headache.
**********
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” said Rebecca. “What’s this?”
The assistant manager heard her, and walked over to answer her question. “They’re deck chair cushions. Our maintenance guys stacked them up there while they were cleaning the deck chairs.”
“Unbelievable,” said Sandy. “I’ve never seen such luck.”
“You think he knew they were there? Or is he just plain crazy?”
“You know what? I’m tired of thinking about Larry. Cynthia’s safe, and Greg gonna be okay. And it looks like Crow’s off the hook, since Larry is obviously not dead. So, now we can enjoy a couple of days together here.”
“I don’t know. What’s to say Larry won’t come back for more?”
“He won’t have a chance. I betcha the police have him in custody by morning.”
“That’s awfully optimistic.”
“Well, I’m just an optimistic guy.”
“Okay, then. Put your money where your mouth is.”
“Alright. I’ve got fifty bucks that says Larry is in the slammer by noon tomorrow.”
“Wait a minute—you said by morning, not by noon.”
“Is it a bet or not?”
“Fine. You’re going to owe me fifty dollars at noon tomorrow if he’s not in jail.”
“Or dead.”
“Okay, sure.”
“Good. So, we can catch a cab to our hotel room and…”
She frowned at him, but Sandy wasn’t buying it. He took her in his arms.
She resisted slightly and then reached up with both hands and grabbed his head, pulled it down to her, and planted a big kiss on him. “Let the fun begin.” She grinned.
“I knew you were faking.”
“But our room has two beds, right?”
“Yeah, sure. I think so.”
“What do you mean, ‘you think so?’ You promised.”
“Oh, alright,” said Sandy. “They might still have a double available.”
Rebecca punched him in the arm.
Sandy grinned. It felt good.
**********
Larry didn’t know exactly where he was, but for now, it didn’t matter. The back road he had taken was dark and deserted—a perfect spot for typing up a new chapter. Later, he would go to a Starbucks parking lot and post the chapter via the free wireless internet.
He had outsmarted them once again. When were they going to learn? Having his kind of powerful luck was as good as having a super power. Like Superman—without the pesky Kryptonite issue.
In less than an hour, he had keyed in the chapter. The redhead would never be safe. And one day he would finally get her. Whether it took months or even years…he would get her.
He shut down his laptop and set it on the passenger seat. The Jaguar purred to life and he started to drive away. The shoulder was soft and muddy, and the tires spun out slightly before catching traction on the pavement. But then he realized that something was wrong. He pulled back over to the shoulder, killed the engine and got out to inspect the tires. The rear tire on the passenger side was completely flat.
He opened the trunk and got the spare tire, the jack, the tire tool, and a flashlight. It might be better to move the car over onto the road, he thought, to give the jack a firmer footing. But, what if some idiot came barreling down the road and slammed into his beautiful Jaguar? He couldn’t chance it.
After positioning the scissor jack and raising the car slightly, he used the tire tool to remove the lug nuts, and then jacked the car up higher so he could take off the wheel. He tried to pull it off, but it was stuck. So, he repositioned himself, and yanked harder. It suddenly broke free more easily than he had expected, and the weight of the wheel threw him backward to the ground. At the same time, his left foot slid in the mud and went under car. Then he realized that the jack was sinking into the soft ground, and the car had become unstable and was shifting toward him.
He pushed the wheel off his chest and to the side as he frantically tried get away from the lunging Jaguar, which seemed determined to crush his body. And even though the ground was slippery and slimy, he somehow got away—except for his left foot.
The pain was excruciating. He needed to get his foot out—fast. But the jack was on its side, jammed under the frame of the car. He couldn’t budge it.
Call 911, he thought, reaching for his cell phone. Then he remembered he’d left it in the car. Maybe somebody would
come along soon.
Larry tried to relax, hoping it would ease the pain. But as his flashlight went black, he began to worry about creatures lurking in the darkness. He held his hand up to his face and could barely see it.
What was that? Sounded like a splash. He hadn’t realized he was near water. You idiot, he thought, this is Florida! Oh, please, don’t let it be an alligator!
But alligators don’t usually attack people for no reason. At least that was what he’d heard somewhere. So, he would just hold still, and it would go away.
But something was moving toward him. He could hear it getting closer, but forced himself to be as still as a rock.
The alligator clamped onto his right arm and he could feel the teeth cutting through his flesh. He screamed and began to thrash wildly. But the beast held on tight. So, he started punching it with his left fist, and the animal finally let go. Larry half expected his head to be bitten off at any moment. He cried and screamed until he was hoarse.
After a few more seconds, he realized the alligator was gone.
Lucky Larry had been victorious. He had beaten impossible odds once again.
He couldn’t feel or see the blood gushing from his arm.
After a while he fell asleep. He figured somebody would find him in the morning. They would call an ambulance. He would be fine.
But then he woke up, and realized the alligator was back. He would hit the animal with his left fist, and scare it off the way he had done earlier. But his left arm was heavy. Very heavy. He couldn’t pick it up. He tried to yell, but didn’t have the strength.
Now the alligator was ripping the shirt sleeve off his right arm. No, wait—that’s not my shirt he’s tearing off—it’s my flesh! He’s tearing my arm off! No!
Then the alligator clamped onto his torso.
He’s eating me alive, but I can’t move!
The horrendous things he had done throughout his life began to flash across his mind. Shooting the woman behind the convenience store after stealing her money. She had told him she had a husband and three kids, but he didn’t care. Bludgeoning that old woman’s head into the side of her car. Breaking Melanie Maylin’s neck. Poisoning Erin and incinerating her body in the barbecue pit. Murdering his own parents.
Greg Tenorly Suspense Series Boxed Set Page 59