Lottery 1
“I don’t care if we didn’t see it all, I’m not going back to that museum of endless paintings and statues.” Steven complained to his sister as they exited to the street. “And if you think I’m going to that Broadway play you got tickets to Friday, you can forget it. And another thing too.” he continued ranting as they got into an empty cab. “I’m not spending another night in that bed and breakfast. I have all the money in the world, I’m going to stay some place where I can get filet mignon at three in the morning if I want it. And a massage. At the same time!”
“Don’t be like that.” Lucy looked out the window. She was quickly beginning to forget why she asked him along with her in the first place.
“You like quaint. You like all that bed and breakfast, hole in the wall, hidden treasure business. I’m not like that. I want to be pampered like a king not treated like someone’s visiting relative.” Steven continued.
Lucy drew in a deep breath and held it for a minute, slowly she released it. She began to think of the silence the rest of the trip could have if they did indeed only travel together. If she followed the itinerary alone, she would never again have to hear him complain. She would not have to wake to complaints about the mattress, coffee, or water pressure. She had wanted him with her to feel safe, but nothing had happened this whole time. This was definitely not worth any false security she needed.
She resolutely turned to her brother and said. “You’re right. You should go and do your own thing. Check into the biggest, fanciest hotel you can find. Enjoy yourself. There’s no sense in us both being miserable, just because you’re not happy with my arrangements. We can just travel together and the rest of the time spend apart.”
Steven smiled broadly at his sister for her wise decision. “You are the best sister in the whole world.”
Aston had positioned himself in the pub so he could see both entrances to the building. He’d brought a copy of “Even Guards Crossing” because of it’s size. It would take an entire week to read it, for a casual reader. He could have it finished in a weekend, especially since he had nothing else to do while he watched for the American couple.
He ate what the locals called a “Toad in the Hole” for lunch. He wasn’t sure what was in it, the sausage was too spicy. He was assuming that was sausage. Aston had never eaten English food before, and certainly not English pub food which had such whimsical names as “Bubble and Squeak” and “Fairy Cake”. He was certain that a porterhouse steak was in his near future, with a side of steamed asparagus and farm fresh sprouts. However he wouldn’t be getting it here.
The afternoon gave way to evening and still there was no sign of any American guests. There were Germans, several Germans, a French couple, and a lone college student on break from Belgium.
By the time it was night the place was filling up with English men and women. They were loud and full of life. Aston retired to his room without supper.
As he sat on the bed listening to the low roar coming from the pub below he began to wonder. Perhaps these Americans didn’t like the close quarters of this public house. Maybe the Americans had decided to have a more American vacation. He wouldn’t want to stay here, above the dull roar of a crowd, who just now broke out in some song or was that an argument from either side of the pub?
Perhaps they were in one of the corporate hotels, or large chain motels. They might even have checked into a local resort. They had the money.
Aston laid back on the bed as the noise downstairs began to fall again to a low rumble. The pipes in the wall began to make noise as one of the other tenants began taking a shower. The phone in the room next door began to ring, but no one would answer it. Aston felt his temples began to throb. They definitely didn’t end up staying here.
The crowd finally disbursed downstairs around the middle of the night. The sounds of England quieted down to a whisper. Aston closed his eyes and was able to drift off.
The next morning he checked out of the pub and went to the nearest Scarlet Seal Inn. Known for it’s impeccable standards in all areas. All Scarlet Inns worldwide have five star chefs, five star accommodations, five star room service, and all inclusive five star spa facilities. There was no better place to stay in the world. The motto of Scarlet Seal Inn’s is “If it doesn’t have the Scarlet Seal, then you aren’t being treated like royalty.”
Aston made himself at home in the restaurant and ordered his steak dinner, for breakfast. He worked out in the Gym, got a massage, and then rested in the sauna. The tourists were probably out day tripping right now, there was no need to watch for them til evening. He thought of calling Christine, but decided against it. It was better if he stayed off the radar for now.
Shaniqua walked into Janet’s hospital room, the woman who shared the room with her was fast asleep. She pulled the chair next to the bed and sat down. She reached in her purse pulled out her phone and turned it off . She then clutched the phone tightly in her hand as if it would give her the power she needed.
“I need you to wake up.” Shaniqua said in a low voice. “I need you to tell me what he knows. I need you to tell me what happened, and who did this to you. What did you tell him.” She leaned closer to the sleeping giant of a woman, “I need you to fight through this as fast as you can. For all of our sakes. This isn’t just about you anymore, Janet. It’s about whoever took that trip, it’s about a widow and her two small children. It’s about two kind hearted waitresses who are now scared for their lives! You have to wake up!”
Shaniqua leaned back in the chair. She had never felt so frustrated in her life. It just seemed at every turn there was someone else just one step ahead of her. Just one step ahead. She rolled her eyes as she stared out the window in anger, and it had to be the bad guy. She glanced at the swollen bruises that covered Janet. This could be any of them soon, if the lottery holder wasn’t caught first. Shaniqua inhaled deeply then exhaled, and time was running out.
She stared intently on Janet’s face as if it would wake her, but she did not move. Suddenly Shaniqua found herself saying something she hadn’t even so much as thought about in the past ten years. “God, please.”, as the words left her lips she heard the voice of her childhood Baptist minster ring out loud, ‘a sinner’s last resort, the prayer of a sinner.’ She took a deep breath, but she would not make deals with God over this. Promises she would never keep.
She looked at Janet as if the words would have magically woken her.
The woman slept unmoving, in a comatose state.
Shaniqua was not surprised, not really. Her shoulders slumped and she rested herself in the chair. She had nothing more to do that stay here and wait. If for no other reason than just to guard Janet in her sleep. She had no proof someone wouldn’t show up and try to finish the job.