Boldfaced Lies by Charlene Porter

Author:Charlene Porter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bublish, Inc.
Published: 2017-10-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

The Palace Hotel’s red-velvet lobby embellished with ornate chandeliers, where conversations were usually held to the lowest possible decibels, bustled with the comings and goings of summer travelers. Just as quickly as a bellhop deposited suitcases to one suite, he was summoned to another to pick up bags.

The clientele was mostly comprised of seasonal regulars whose entourages included maids and butlers. From political dignitaries to visiting royalty, from old money to new money, when visiting Denver, accommodations at the Palace were a must.

The local Ku Klux Klan considered the hotel their headquarters and made regular use of its meeting and banquet rooms. Tonight, however, the Klan had the domestic staff up in arms.

Mr. LaFonte, the hotel’s manager, rushed to the main ballroom and pulled the Denver KKK’s Grand Nighthawk, the sergeant-at-arms, aside.

“Monsieur MacDuff, please. This beautiful establishment is one of the finest in the world; I insist that your people not stand on the furniture. We can send out the broken end-table for repair; however, I fear the King Louis divan is a complete loss.”

MacDuff lifted the pixyish man by his lapels, and pinned him against one of the lobby’s onyx pillars.

“Listen, bub, by my count, the Klavern has stuffed your pockets with enough dough to pay for fifty of them Louis whatever you call ‘ems. Seems to me, you ought a be showin’ us a little more hospitality.”

LaFonte’s face turned blue as the heavily starched collar of his white shirt dug into his neck. MacDuff shoved him another foot higher and watched him squirm for air. “After all, you wouldn’t wanna offend Mayor Stapleton, now would ya?”

LaFonte croaked, “I think this has all been a misunderstanding.”

“That’s exactly how I see it, LaFonte,” MacDuff said. “I knew we could see eye to eye.” He released his hold on LaFonte’s jacket and let him crumple to the floor. He snickered at LaFonte’s efforts to untangle himself, and then abruptly turned his attention to Kyle and Spud.

“Boys, this shindig’s about to get under way for real. Better get on upstairs to your stations.”

Spud and Kyle looked at each other like they’d just won brand new Red Flyer Schwinn bicycles. This was the moment they’d prepared for since last month when MacDuff had deputized them into the Klavern’s security detail for special events.

Inductions such as tonight’s Klanvocation were second in importance only to cross-burning rallies.

Experienced Klexters weeded out spies who attempted to enter a ceremony, usually with lethal results for the trespassers, but Spud’s and Kyle’s duties were equally important, especially

their assignment tonight: to safeguard the Klavern’s higher-ups.

“Man,” Spud said, “I didn’t think this night was ever gonna come.”

“Tell me about it,” Kyle shot back. “And wait’ll my old man sees me. Bet he won’t be so fast to plunk me upside my head now.”

“He might not, but I will,” Spud said playfully, and boxed Kyle’s ear.

“Ow!” Kyle said, holding a hand to the pain, “Cut it out. I’m tired of your crap too.”

As usual, Spud ignored Kyle. Instead of a reply, he issued a challenge.

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