Lottery 1
“You know the man that had the lottery ticket before you.” Shaniqua started.
Lucy’s eyes widened as large as saucers, her skin flushed white. How could anyone know about that?
“Well,” Shaniqua continued quickly because she had no time for emotions. “He owed money to a Loan Shark. Only this isn’t just some Lone Shark, I think it’s the mob. And they may be on to you, by now….”
Lucy interrupted loudly, “Are you Kidding me?!?!” She thought her brother was being over dramatic! His life could well be in danger. “Are you seriously kidding me right now?” she was half hysterical.
“Calm down!” Shaniqua snapped and continued. “I think they are here, so you need to shut up!”
Lucy’s face took on a whole new definition, it was full of fear. Everything began to whirl around her. The background noise of the hotel bar began to turn into a strange rushing in her ear like she were listening to a seashell. Her mind ceased to function, she felt her entire core become cold.
“Whoah kay.” Shaniqua reached forward and grabbed Lucy before her head hit the table. She let out a breath and sat back in her chair. There really was no other way she could have handled that.
Shaniqua reached for her drink when she noticed the man in the suit walk into the bar. She took in a deep breath and tried to relax.
Aston looked around the bar, he was sure he had heard some sort of emotional outburst. He noticed two women sitting off by themselves in a corner. He walked over and noticed one woman had her head on the table. “American?” he asked with a smile.
“Yes.” Shaniqua smiled back and set down her drink. “She’s had one too many, her husband just left her for a younger woman. You know how it is, it’s the besty’s job to keep her mind off of it.”
Aston smiled, “Everyone should have a friend like you. I am looking for someone, I was wondering maybe you saw her come in on your flight.” Aston pulled the picture he had of Lucy out of his inner jacket pocket.
Shaniqua leaned forward and took the picture to look at it. They didn’t know she had dyed her hair. “No, I don’t think I saw anyone like this on the plane. But I’ll keep a look out for you if you like. Are you staying here?” she handed the photo back.
“Yes, room 1103.” Aston put the picture back.
“Fancy.” Shaniqua replied coyly. “So why are you looking for her?”
“Her Mother is sick, we’re trying to contact her to get her home.” Aston smiled.
“I’ll keep a look out.” Shaniqua smiled back.
“Thanks.” Aston turned and walked to a man that say down at the bar.
Shaniqua breathed a sigh of relief as the oriental man walked out of the bar and towards the elevators. She walked to the bar and asked for a small glass of white vinegar. She took the vinegar and held it under Lucy’s nose.
Lucy came back to life and coughed slightly from the fumes.
“You don’t know how lucky you are.” Shaniqua said plainly to her.
“What happened?” Lucy looked around a little dazed.
“The man I was warning you about actually came in here with a picture of you, with brown hair.” Shaniqua set the glass on the table.
“Brown hair?” Lucy still was trying to get her mental faculties in order.
“He doesn’t know you dyed your hair yet, and he probably knows your name. Which is why he’s searching the front desk for any room registered in your name.” |Shaniqua reached for her purse, “So we are definitely putting the room in my name and waiting this out in our rooms til our next flight.” Shaniqua rummaged around and pulled out the tickets for the next flight. “Which is Sweden in seven days.” Shaniqua sighed, “We can lay low, watch tv, and order room service for seven days. Right?”
Lucy looked at her traveling companion and wondered how much of what she was hearing was truth. If she just went along with the woman for a little while longer, they would be in a hotel room. Once there she could call her brother on the phone and make sure he was ok. “Fine, that sounds great.” Lucy said with mild exhaustion. “I need to charge this cell phone so it will work again anyway.” she tapped her purse.
Aston entered his room with no leads at all. There was something so familiar about the african american woman in the bar with the caucasian blonde. It seemed like he’d seen her before or knew her from somewhere. The more he thought about it, the more he thought about how familiar her voice sounded as well. Almost as if he had heard it everyday.
Aston drew a hot bath and relaxed in it. He let his mind relax and ran the soundtrack of the conversation in the back of his mind. The warm water lulled his muscles into submission, his thoughts slowly started to fade out into nothing.
Then a quick flash entered his mind. An old memory woke and took him back in time. The night this all started and he knew where to look. The night the story ran on the local news.
Aston jerked out of the tub and grabbed the hotel bathrobe. He reached for his phone and began pouring over the local tv stations. Anchor after Anchor, he must have looked at twenty profile pages before he found the one he was looking for.
Not quite an Anchor just yet, but almost. Reporter Shaniqua Paston of KKRY. He narrowed his eyes. The reporter beat him to the punch, that blonde was going to be none other than Lucy Stymes. He’d stake his reputation on it.