Page 68 of River Ride

“Thank you.”

Tammy parked in the last spot, took her bags with her and went into her room. Clean room with a bed and that’s all she cared about. Sleeping in the truck was an option, but with her leg the way it was, she needed a bathroom to change the dressing. Not the ladies’ room at a truck stop with nosy women watching her and asking questions.

She took off her uniform pants to check her leg for leakage and there wasn’t much. Only a couple of spots had soaked through. Tammy decided to leave the bandage changing until after she woke up. One pain pill and she was out cold.

Gold Mine Hotel. Lafayette. Louisiana.

Bobby did a lot of deep thinking about how to cash the bank draft and where he should do it that would leave little or no paper trail.

He finally came up with what he figured was a brilliant idea. He’d cash it in a casino at a teller’s cage letting on he needed it for a big game.

They’ll be into cashing paychecks for suckers. No fuckin doubt about it.

That’s the very reason he stopped at the Gold Mine in Lafayette. He was going to give it a shot.

Bobby walked into the lobby—so fuckin brightly lit, it was almost blinding. He blinked a couple of times, got his bearings and headed for the casino.

Rows of slot machines and then the table games. He looked up and read the signs. Washrooms. Restaurants. Players’ Club. Poker Room. Gift Shop. Cashier.

A short lineup at the long row of cashier cages. Bobby waitedhis turn, then presented his check to the girl in front of him. She looked twice at the amount and had to get approval from her supervisor to cash it.

“No problem, sir. It will just take a few minutes to get you that much cash.”

“I’m happy to wait,” said Bobby. He stood in front of the cage and watched the other patrons make their transactions. Some cashed in a lot of chips, and others needed another hundred bucks in cash from their credit card to keep on losing.

Bobby would never be that person. He wasn’t a gambler. No inclination in that direction.

The supervisor came with his money and counted it out in large denominations to him. “Envelope?”

“Yes, please.”

She provided him with an envelope, bulging with cash, which Bobby shoved into his pocket. As he left the cages, he glanced around to see if anyone had been watching him. If they had noticed the large amount of cash the teller gave him, he could be in trouble.

Never in trouble one on one, but if two or three guys jumped him, he’d be toast.

Always a danger.

Seeing no one in the immediate area, he strolled slowly through the casino towards the lobby. Bobby reached the revolving doors and glanced over his shoulder as he pushed through. Nobody watching him. Nobody behind.

By the time he got to the Wrangler, he had picked up two gangers and he was in trouble. Where did they come from? Had they seen him at the cashier’s cage?

First thing he did was open the door and let Cleo out. While she snarled and growled at the guys who were closing in, Bobby reached under the seat and grabbed his tire iron.

The gangers moved closer to Bobby and Cleo attacked them without hesitation. She tore into the lower legs of both of the thugs forcing them to the pavement.

On the ground and vulnerable, it was super easy for Bobby to crack them over the head with his tire iron. Two good cracks apiece and they were in la la land.

He whistled for Cleo, and she came running. Bobby patted her on her big head and told her what a good girl she was. They jumped into the Wrangler and got the hell out of Lafayette.

Silver Star Motel. Biloxi.

Adrenaline surging through his veins after the attack, Bobby stood on the gas and pushed the speed limit across the interstate.

On the lookout in the rearview for lights or sirens or both, he kept going. The farther away from the Gold Mine Casino, the better.

It was late when he found a motel that suited him outside of Biloxi. He checked into the one-story stucco facility and was given room one ten.

“Come on, Cleo. A short run around the property and then I’ll make your supper. You must be hungry, girl.”

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