Читать книгу 1 Law 4 All - Vegas - Billy Angel - Страница 14

Larry Sneed, the four term Senator from Arizona gazed out his office window. The rainy weather in Washington DC made him long for some back-home sunshine. He opted for two fingers of liquid sunshine, Johnny Walker, Blue Label from the office's mini-bar.

Since returning from Las Vegas ten days ago, his macho, arrogant attitude had been on hold. The fatal encounter with that tall, red head needed closure.

He buzzed Alice Doyle, his long-time personal secretary, into the office. She knocked and entered. "What does the rest of the week look like?" he asked her as she moved towards the desk.

"It's a bit dicey. You have tomorrow morning blocked off for a Mr. Li Wing. The afternoon is filled with delegations from the Native American Council, water rights advocates and the NRA. From Thursday night on, your weekend's free. You did ask me to pencil in the World Series of Poker. I think that's in Las Vegas or Reno."

"It's in Vegas this time. I should go. I'm losing my tan."

Alice wryly said, "Would you like me to order up a plane ride?"

"Yes. Itemize it as a convention speaking engagement. I'll only need a small jet." He smiled to himself. "I'll let my colleague from San Francisco have the sixty-six seat jet this weekend. Senator Melossi likes to travel with a posse."

Alice made note of the Senator's request and asked if there was anything else. After he said no, she turned and left the office.

Senator Sneed immediately lit a cigarette and walked over to the mini-bar. He filled his empty glass with ice and Coco-Cola. He opened the mini-bar door and diluted the coke fifty percent with Johnny. He wanted a little boost from the caffeine. Besides, if anyone should drop in on him, they would presume he was drinking a soda.

Sitting behind his desk, he took several long drags on the cigarette. He sipped the drink and opened the top drawer of his desk. He picked out a new, prepaid phone. He opened his day planner and found the number for Ralph Locci.

He recalled how they met in Phoenix a long time ago. He was running for his first elected office as the State of Arizona's lieutenant governor on the same Democrat ticket with Ken Clark, the candidate for Governor. At that time, Ralph Locci was the mob's coordinator for the southwest's postal and service unions.

As the election drew near, Sneed expressed doubts of winning to Locci one night at a fundraising, cocktail party. Locci pulled Sneed aside and told him to campaign confidently. He said, "Act like you've already won, because you have."

Sneed asked how he could be so sure. Locci said because the computerized, voting machines were fixed like the slots in Vegas.

Since then, Sneed has never doubted his election outcomes. And Locci was promoted through the mob ranks until he was offered and accepted the CEO position with the Galaxy Hotel Cooperation.

Sneed dialed and three rings later Locci answered, "Hello."

"Locci?"

"Yea."

"Locci, its Sneed. Can you talk?"

Recognizing the cowboy drawl, he knew this was Senator Larry Sneed. He said, "Sure Senator, what's on your mind?"

"I'm flying out this weekend. I want to put any complications from my last visit to rest. And I'll need tickets to the World Series of Poker and a room at the Galaxy. Will that pose any problems?"

"No, of course not. How many poker tickets will you need?"

"Two will be fine. I'll trust you to get me a date, for appearances sake, that is." After a short pause, Sneed continued. "Is the other thing over and done with?"

Locci delayed his response. Toms saw to the disposal of Janelle's body and cleaned up Sneed's room flawlessly. There was one complication. In any case, he didn't want a repeat performance.

"No problem with the tickets or the date. But I suggest you maintain your cool if you entertain in your room."

Sneed resented being spoken to like a teenager. But he sucked it up because Locci provided any number of girly options. He told himself to swear off tall women and go for the shorter ones. He smirked and thought that maybe screwing midgets would help erase the memory of the tall, red head.

"I've learnt my lesson. I think I'll mix in some shorter women along with the tall, leggy ones. But, for public appearances, I want tall, beautiful women around me."

Locci accepted Sneed's quasi assurance. "A few minor details concerning the situation you referred to are almost resolved. I'm seeing to it personally." Locci hesitated for a few seconds. He would miss beautiful Wendy, Janelle's close friend.

Wendy danced in the Galaxy's satellite lounge. Locci spotted her moving erotically to a rap song during rehearsals one morning. Her moves hooked his interest. From interest to setting her up in cottage 64, in the exclusive Blue Lake community, took less than a week. With Wendy out of the picture, he'd have to teach someone else her special, 'it's time' move.

Locci continued. "Would you like the Galaxy limo or an unmarked SUV to pick you up?"

"Either will be fine. I'm coming out alone. I'll text you the time I'll be landing at McCarran's private jet terminal."

"Do you have any extra special requests, Senator? Maybe a room for your secret service people?"

"Most of my trips to Vegas are off the books. There's no need for protection." Sneed paused and considered his short person idea. "If the mood hits me, I'm thinking of going to Chelsea's Pony Farm the night before the World Series finals."

The thought of Chelsea's Farm revolted Locci. In his opinion, the Pony Farm was a brothel for the weird. It catered to strange and even bizarre sexual escapades. Midgets, amputees, old people, transvestites and an occasional animal were all on the bill of fare.

"For Chelsea's, we'll definitely use an unmark SUV. But you'd better phone ahead. We wouldn't want you to be disappointed. Do you have their number?"

"Yes. See you Friday."

Senator Sneed recalled the last time he visited Chelsea's. The women menu ranged from tall and fat to very short and skinny. He'd always gravitated to the taller, fat side of the line. He was thinking of starting with the short girls this time.

The short girls hadn't seen the two inch scar on his right shoulder. He smugly brags about it, thinking it adds something macho to his persona. He liked telling the story of how he fended off a would be robber trying to get into his car at a downtown Phoenix stoplight. The story makes him seem like a real tough guy.