Illusion of Luck Read online

  But the problem was that she couldn’t zip through this book in her usual manner. He was posting each chapter as he wrote it. It was driving her crazy having to wait.

  And the more she read, the more enthralled she became with the writer. To her, the man was powerful and dangerous and sexy. She wished she could meet him. And it took a lot to make her want to venture out of her apartment.

  And in his tyme swich a conqueror,

  That gretter was ther noon under the sonne.

  She would throw off her cloak of fearfulness and plunge headlong through the dreaded maze of ignorant masses—ifher journey would lead her into the presence of this intriguing, mysterious man. But she wondered…was she drawn to the writer…or to his murderous main character? Or were they one and the same?

  She was frightened, yet invigorated by her wild, impetuous thoughts.

  Barry’s story was taking place in East and North Texas. And he seemed to know that part of the country so well that she suspected he lived there. Perhaps she would write to him and propose a meeting.

  She had a picture she could send him. It was four years old, but her looks had changed very little in that time. It was one of those glamour shots taken in a studio. She was lying across a white furry blanket in a bikini. The photographer begged her to go out with him. She refused.

  The picture was for a doctor ex-boyfriend she was trying to win back. Her plan failed.

  What if she sent Barry Undermine that picture, along with an offer to satisfy the darkest desires of his heart?

  Could he resist such an offer?

  She trembled at the thought.

  Chapter15

  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 strongback.” 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. “Whatroom?”

  “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 trynot 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 needimagination. 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 befor
e 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 knewit 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 amon 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 killyou, 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.

  Chapter16

  Greg stepped out of the elevator. He had waited in the lobby until his patience ran out. Then he had gone out to the parking lot to look at the Bonneville. It didn’t have a scratch on it.

  He was relieved that his car was okay, but irritated that somebody would pick this night, of all nights, to pull such a prank. He took out his key card.

  His cell rang. It was Sandy.

  “That was not cool, Man.”

  “What?”

  “Didn’t you call our room 10 or 15 minutes ago, disguising your voice?”

  “No. That wasn’t me.”

  “Well, that’s weird. Some guy told me he bumped into my car, and asked me to meet him in the lobby. But he never showed. So, I figured it was you, playing a trick on me. I couldn’t think of anybody else who would do it.”

  “I’m serious, Man—it was not me. Are y’all okay?”

  “Yeah, we willbe. If people will just leave us alone.”

  “So, Cynthia’s okay?”

  Greg opened the door. “Sure. Why wouldn’t she be?”

  “Okay. I just wanted to make sure.”

  “What made you think something was wrong?” He walked to the open bathroom door looking for Cynthia. She was not there.

  “It’s a long story. I’ll tell you about it after the honeymoon. Y’all have a great time. I promise not to bother any more, Buddy.”

  “Wait. Cynthia’s not here.”

  “Well, maybe she went down the hall to get a candy bar or something.”

  “I don’t see any of her clothes. And her overnight is bag is gone.”

  “Uh-oh.”

  “What do you know about this, Sandy? Tell me what’s going on.”

  “It’s just a hunch, really. And it’s complicated. Just hang tough, Buddy. We’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

  “We? Who’s with you?”

  “Uh, her name is Rebecca. I met her tonight at the wedding.”

  Greg didn’t know any Rebeccas. “Okay…”

  “Another long story. See you soon.”

  “Okay. Bye.”

  Greg knew it had been too good to be true. He didn’t deserve Cynthia. She must have finally come to her senses.

  Then he remembered the anonymous call on the night of the wedding rehearsal.

  She’ll rip your heart out, Man.

  He sat on the edge of the bed, dizzy and heartbroken.

  *********

  Larry knew he couldn’t go back to his house in Plano or to the cabin on Lake Texoma. By now, the police might suspect his ex-wife had been murdered. If so, they would come around asking all kinds of questions. And he certainly didn’t want to be bothered—now that he was finally reunited with the true love of his life.

  He looked away from the road to see her pretty face in the moonlight. “You don’t know how long I’ve dreamed of this, Cynthia.”

  “What do you plan to do with me?”

  “What do you think?”

  She was afraid to answer.

  “Live happily ever after,” he said.

  “With a woman you abducted on her wedding night?”

  “I got there just in the nick of time. I savedyou.”

  This guy is seriously deranged, thought Cynthia.

  “You made sweet love to me every night in high school.”

  “I never even went out with you.”

  “Every night you slipped into my bed and had sex with me. We did it over and over again—until we both passed out from exhaustion.”

  “Larry, you’ve got quite an imagination.”

  “Yes, I do. But I knew it would all come true one day. I knew you wanted me as much as I wanted you. I just needed to get up the nerve to ask you out.”

  “But you never did.”

  “No. And it’s my greatest regret. You were so cute in your little cheerleader outfit.”

  Then she realized. “You’re the one who sent me those weird emails.”

  He seemed hurt. “You thought they were weird? What about my poem? I wrote you a nice poem.”

  A creepypoem, she thought.

  Your beautiful smile, your silky red hair,

  At the edge of the field, you were always there.

  Rooting me on to unimaginable glory,

  Inspiring my heart in a hero’s story.

  But now I’m alone and longing for you,

  So, flip up your skirt like you used to do.

  Jump into the air and I’ll catch my
hottie;

  I’ll rip off your clothes and have sex with your body.

  “If you wanted to date me, why didn’t you just call me up? Thisis certainly not the way to a woman’s heart.”

  “I was afraid you would reject me.”

  You were so right, she thought.

  “But I knew thiswould work. I knew my luck would come through for me.”

  “You call this luck?”

  “Sure. I’ve always been lucky. That’s why they call me ‘Lucky Larry.’”

  “Wait. Now I remember. Everybody started calling you that after you made the big play in that game against the Lobos.”

  “That’s right! I won the game.”

  “And you were lucky to even be inthe game, if I remember correctly. Coach hardly ever gave you any playing time.”

  “That’s right. If Coach hadn’t put me in for that last play we would have lost.”

  “But didn’t he haveto put you in the game? A bunch of the players suddenly came down with diarrhea, didn’t they?”

  “I don’t remember…”

  “Yeah, that’s right. They said you brought brownies to the locker room. And all the players who ate them got sick. That wasn’t luck.”

  “I didn’t make them sick. That’s not true.”

  “Yeah. And you were wide open in the end zone because everybody knew you were a lousy player. But nobody else was open, and the clock had run out. So, Tony threw the ball to you, and it bounced off your helmet, and you fumbled around with it for while before you finally fell to the ground. Thatpart was luck. The Longview coach claimed you didn’t have possession. But the ref said you did. There again—pretty lucky, I guess. Or did you poison the ref too?”

  “No, My Dear. You’re only half right. I waslucky to be put in the game. And coach waslucky he had the good sense to putme in the game. And, I’ll admit, I made a lucky catch. And that’s how I became ‘Lucky Larry.’ I wasn’t myfault seven players got sick that night.”

  Cynthia realized she was being foolish. It was not a good idea to argue with this wacko. He could blow off her hand with the push of a button.

  And clearly, he was crazy enough to do it.