Hanging Corpses by Jay Bower

Author:Jay Bower [Bower, Jay]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Jay Bower

ROOSEVELT IS FOR LOVERS

Palms swayed in front of the old Roosevelt hotel. Framed by a granite cascading staircase, the cracked fountain facing the courtyard bubbled and gurgled. Birds screeched in the distance as the mid-afternoon sun shone bright in a cloudless sky.

A dark blue car pulled up to the curbside drop-off. Rafael shifted into park and sighed as he opened his door. His last desperate hope of salvaging his marriage rested on this trip. During their two-hour drive south to the hotel in Miami, Daniella let him suffer as she declined any attempt at conversation.

Stepping out of their late model Oldsmobile, an 80’s relic Rafael rescued, he straightened his white button-down shirt and opened the door for his wife.

They climbed the impressive yet stained staircase which opened to a dark cavernous lobby. Marble columns streaked with cracks rose to support a vaulted azure blue ceiling with stars painted on it. To either side of the front desk stood ornate bird cages made of rich mahogany and glass and stood at least ten feet tall with a touch of dust covering them. The shrill noise from the birds echoed in the lobby.

Rafael winced while standing in the extravagant lobby though hid his discomfort from Daniella. This expensive trip had to work. His options were running out.

After checking in, a bellboy named Duardo carried their luggage to the eighth floor. Dressed in a clean black suit that appeared decades older than the man wearing it, Duardo escorted the couple to their room. “Thanks,” Rafael said.

“It’s my pleasure bringing you and Daniella to your room in our fabulous hotel. I hope you enjoy your stay,” Duardo replied before leaving. Rafael wanted to ask how he knew Daniella’s name when he thought he saw him shimmer as though looking at a distorted photo. Ignoring the disturbance and assuming the stress of the moment got the better of him, he closed the door.

Once inside Rafael broke the strained silence.

“This place is spectacular! We’ll have a wonderful time relaxing and enjoying ourselves here.”

Other than a slight nod of her head, Daniella refused to acknowledge him.

“What do you want to do first? Hit the spa? The pool maybe? We could go down to the—“

“Shut up Raf. You’re getting on my nerves already. Can’t you leave me alone for a minute? We’re on vacation for God’s sake!”

Rafael recoiled as though bitten by a venomous creature. He tensed ready to retaliate but considered it wasn’t worth the effort. Too many times he’d done that to no effect. This vacation had to work. It had to break down their barriers and bring them back together. If not, their marriage was over.

For close to ten years Daniella and Rafael had the perfect marriage. They used to make love four to five times a week. Daniella always had dinner waiting for him when he got home from work even though she worked just as much as Rafael.

At times sudden fits of anger broke her cheerful disposition. Once when he brought home a

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