Short Straw

Twelve

VITTORIO RETURNED TO HIS ROOM, DRESSED AND PACKED his things. He had a feeling that Barbara Eagle would be leaving the hotel shortly. As if to confirm his judgment, the phone rang.

"Yes?"

"It is the manager, senor. Senorita Kennerly has ordered a taxi in thirty minutes' time."

"Thank you. You'll have the rest of the money shortly." He took his bag and briefcase down to the front desk, paid the manager and asked him to keep his bags for a few minutes. He removed the file from his briefcase and went upstairs. First, he listened at Barbara's door, but he heard nothing. He looked at the surrounding doors and judged the size of her room, then he put an ear to the wall twenty feet down the hallway. He could hear water running, probably the shower.

Vittorio went back to the door, inserted the key card and cracked the door. He could hear the shower running. He let himself in and took a seat at a table in the corner, facing the open bathroom door, then put the file on the table and waited. A moment later the water was turned off, and he heard the shower door open and close. Perhaps ten seconds later, Barbara Eagle walked into the room, naked.

Vittorio hadn't expected that. She was still wet, and for a woman who must have been forty, she looked spectacular. Her breasts were high, the nipples erect, her belly flat, all her pubic hair waxed away. She had a small tattoo of a bright yellow sunflower between her breasts.

"Good afternoon," he said, putting a finger to the brim of his hat.

She did not move. "Who are you, and what do you want?"

"There are six sheets of paper in this file," he said, tapping the file with a finger. "Sign each of them at the bottom, and I'll leave you in peace." She continued to stare at him and he at her, but she still made no move toward the table or to cover her body.

"If you don't sign them, I am authorized to persuade you. I think I would enjoy that." He knew from his experience that people, especially women, often found his appearance threatening, and he used this to his advantage. He actually considered himself a peaceful, nonviolent person, but threat had its uses.

"I'll get a pen," she said, nodding at her purse on the bed. She took a step toward it.

"Stop," he said, opening his jacket, so she could see the gun at his waist. He took a pen from his jacket pocket and placed it on the file. "Use mine," he said.

She did not move, just stared at him.

"It would be a mistake to try with me what you did to the other fellow," Vittorio said. "In fact, he is on his way here at this very moment. I think it would be good for you to be gone before he arrives."

She still just stood there.

Vittorio reached into his jacket pocket and removed a small plastic box cutter, bright orange. With a thumb, he extended the blade to its maximum, about three inches. "You have such a beautiful body," he said. "It would be a shame to have it scarred."

A shudder ran through her. She walked over to the table, picked up the pen, opened the file and signed all six pages at the bottom. "There," she said. "You can tell him it's not over." She walked back to the bathroom door, then stopped and turned. "Now get out of my room."

Vittorio put a finger to the brim of his hat, took the file and left. He was surprised it had been so easy. He collected his bag and got into a cab for the airport, still thinking about the beautiful, naked body. He was halfway to the airport when a trace of doubt drifted across his mind. He opened his briefcase and took out the file. Each of the pages was signed, perfectly legibly, "Minnie Mouse."

"Turn around," he said to the driver. She was a smart woman. She had known he would be looking at her tits, instead of her signature.

As his cab turned around, another taxi passed them, and Vittorio caught sight of Cupie Dalton in the rear seat. When he had told Barbara that Cupie was on his way, he had been bluffing, but there he was. Ten minutes later, they arrived simultaneously at the hotel.

"Wait for me," he said to the driver.

Cupie got out of his cab, his left arm in a sling. "Oh, there you are."

Vittorio said nothing. He walked into the hotel and went to the front desk, where the manager stood. Cupie followed.

"Senor," he said.

"Is she still here?"

"She left in a taxi five minutes ago."

"She's gone?" Cupie asked.

"It seems so," Vittorio replied. "Come on." He went outside and waved a twenty at the doorman. "The tall American woman, which way did she go?"

The doorman pocketed the twenty and pointed down the road, away from the airport. "That way, senor," he said.

"What kind of car and what color was the taxi?"

"It was a Ford, dark blue."

Vittorio beckoned to Cupie and got back into his waiting cab.

Cupie tossed his bag into the front seat and got into the back with Vittorio.

"That way," Vittorio said to the driver, pointing. "Find a dark blue Ford taxi."

"Si, senor," the driver said.

"And go fast."

"Si, senor."

"What happened? " Cupie asked.

"She signed the papers."

"Then why are we chasing her?"

"She signed somebody else's name."

"And you didn't check the signature before you let her go?"

"My attention was diverted," Vittorio said. "Now, please shut up and look for the taxi."