The Last One by Will Dean

Author:Will Dean
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Published: 2023-08-08T00:00:00+00:00

53

I wake early, harsh sunlight slicing the zinc-topped bar in half, the blinds not up to the task of keeping this room dark.

Shapes in corners. I can see Frannie’s red hair erupting from a pile of blankets and I can see Smith next to the bar sleeping on a chair wearing only one shoe.

I rub my eyes. I’m going to need a wash in the pool today. A good, long wash.

“Hey,” I say, croakily, spotting Daniel by the stairwell. “Are you OK?”

He has his arms crossed. Fully dressed. Wet hair combed neatly. A serious expression on his face.

“You don’t know?” he says.

“Know what? What’s wrong?”

“Let’s wake them up.”

He proceeds to walk to Frannie and Smith, clapping his hands together, and then stamping on the floor.

“Come back later,” says Smith, his words slurring. “Much later.”

Daniel stamps on the floor again.

“Be gone,” says Smith.

“Wake up. Both of you. This is important.”

Smith takes off a blanket and starts coughing and wheezing and rubbing his face. He groans and stretches and then makes an attempt at standing up.

“You’re still drunk,” says Daniel.

Smith rubs his temples.

“Frannie, are you OK?” I ask. “Did you get some sleep?”

She squints through barely open eyelids and nods and then she smiles and slips on her tennis pumps and staggers over to us. “What time is it?” she asks, wrapping a blanket around her shoulders and sliding onto a leather barstool. Then, after a pause, rubbing her eyes, she says, “What day is it?”

“Something’s happened,” says Daniel. “And I need whoever did it to step forward and take responsibility. It’s that simple.”

A long silence.

“It was me,” says Smith. “Take me down to the cells.”

I remember the comment about Smith’s felony history. I ask him about it and he explains it was a driving offense from years ago.

“Why did you do it?” asks Daniel.

“My head’s broken,” says Frannie. “Would someone please explain to me what on earth is going on?”

“Tell her,” says Daniel, scowling at Smith.

I don’t like the vibe in this room.

Smith checks the glass next to him, sniffing the contents, then drinks what’s left. “I’m sorry, OK. It’s not like there aren’t other restrooms you can use. I’ll clean it up later when my stomach can tolerate it. I apologize. It happens at my age. These things happen.”

“What?” says Daniel.

“I missed the urinal. Went all over the floor. All over one shoe. I apologize. It was a rough night and my balance isn’t what it used to be. I won my challenge; I was celebrating.”

“Not that,” says Daniel.

Smith looks at him and frowns.

“The box,” says Daniel. “The box in the Ocean Lobby. The one from the ice sculpture. Somebody opened it.”

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