That Old Gang OfMine by Leslie Thomas

Author:Leslie Thomas
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction & Comedy
Published: 2011-11-08T05:00:00+00:00

At seven in the evening it was what they called the Happy Hour in the Sweetheart Bar. A bulging black man loomed over the piano, producing some mellifluous sounds both from the keyboard and from his throat, the latter an amazingly high pitch coming from such a deep source.

The place was redolent with widows. They sat around, in their vivid, unsuitable gowns; pastel predators, their hair and faces of many hues, eyeing each other and any male who entered the bar whether escorting a lady or not. Bruce had been sitting for half an hour alone, observing the movements around in the hotel, and had already been on the end of many widows' winks, knowing nudges, and the blunt offer of a free vacation in Honolulu if he cared to take it in the company of a lady with ice-blue hair, several years older than his mother.

Gabby and Ossie appeared immediately on seven. 'We've secured the boat,' said Ossie quietly to Bruce. 'It'll be ready to sail in ten minutes from now.'

'Now we've got to get the man,' said Bruce. 'The quicker the better. These old women are monsters, man.'

At seven-five precisely Cyril M. Hoffner, wheeled by the mountainous Landers, appeared on the main concourse of the De Luxe Mon Desir's lobby. The hoary millionaire wore his

115

customary sour expression, enhanced by the extreme lighting of the surroundings. He looked grey and belligerent as the blunt-faced servant pushed him towards the Dow Jones Averages.

Bruce left the bar with a tentative farewell wave to the clutch of widows. 'A whole month in Honolulu!' the one who had made the promise called shamelessly after him. 'All for free.' He shuddered when he thought of the cost. He began to walk towards the door. The pale-blue haired lady lapsed into a sulk and barked at the barman for another rye and dry.

Bruce's eyes followed the slow progress of Mr Hoffner over the large concourse of the lobby. The place was placid, the clerks at their reception desk around the corner, the shops now closed, the guests changing for dinner. Bruce saw Ossie and Gabby leave their bar stools and stroll towards the corner where the tape machine clacked out its fortunes. He eyed the small side door to the garden. He moved closer behind Landers.

Gabby made her move then. She approached seductively and confronted Cyril M. Hoffner with a smile and a gun.

'Please Mr Hoffner,' she said, 'make no sound. I don't want to have to use this.'

To her consternation an enormous grin slashed across his face. 'God, oh God,' he breathed delightedly. 'Don't tell me I'm being hi-jacked.'

'You are,' said Ossie from behind, his Russian pistol pushed into the massive ribs of Landers. The expression on the great face scarcely changed. 'Please don't cause any trouble.'

'Goddamn it,' said Mr Hoffner, enormously pleased, 'I don't fucking well intend to. It's not every day a guy gets hijacked in his wheeled chair. Shit almighty - I'll be all over the papers.'

Bruce on the other side of Landers felt a chill sensation enter his stomach.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.