She hesitated for a moment in the hallway. It was a moment too long. The hotel man in the cutaway spotted her and came tut-tutting up at a trot. “I thought I told you to stay in there,” he clucked disapprovingly. “Come now, this party must be confined to the suite. The reputation of the Hotel Marlowe demands it. Back inside, now. Back-back-back.” He made a broom of his hands and swept Llona towards the door. She entered and he closed it firmly behind her.
The main room was dimly lit and half empty now. Stretched out on the couch with the redhead, Rooney saw Llona standing there. But drink had fogged his mind and he didn’t remember her. “Yer too late, girlie,” he told her. “We already had da bit wit’ da cake. Once is enough.”
“I’m not—-” Llona started to say.
“Well, hang aroun’ if ya want to, but not in here. Go on inside. Maybe one a da boys ‘ll take you on.” Rooney pointed to one of the doors leading off the main room.
Llona shrugged and walked into the chamber he’d indicated. It was also dimly lit. A blonde was jackknifed over a chair with her hands and feet tied by leather thongs. Llona didn’t remember seeing the girl before. Maybe she was the girl who’d come with the cake, she guessed.
But Llona knew the man. It was Archie. He peered myopically at her through the gloom. Like Rooney, he was obviously too stoned to recognize her. And besides, his mind was on something else.
It was on what he was doing. As Llona had entered, he’d just flicked a long whip back over his shoulder. Now, with only the most casual of glances at her, he snapped the whip forward.
“Ouch!” she cried. “Ahh! That was a good one!”
“Ooh!” The cry escaped Llona’s lips inadvertently. “Didn’t that hurt?” she asked before she stopped to think.
“Sure it hurt. That’s the idea,” the girl replied. “Hey, what do you want in here, anyway?” she added.
“She come ta get her licks. Dincha, girlie?” Archie leered.
“Well, no. I—-”
”Hey.” He squinted. “Ain’t I seen you somewhere before? ”
“No!” Llona said vehemently.
“Ya sure look familiar.”
“People are always telling me that. I’m always being mistaken for somebody else,” she said desperately. “I guess I just have one of those faces.”
“It ain’t yer face I’m talkin’ about.” He peered at her breasts. “Turn around!” he commanded.
Afraid, Llona did as he wanted.
He walked over to her and bent over to peer at her derriere. “I’m sure I know ya,” he insisted. “I never forget a rump. Besides, ya got some marks on ya that look like my brand.”
“Say, what is this?” the blonde strapped to the chair wanted to know. “This is my trick. What’s the big idea of walking in here naked like this and trying to take over?”
“I wasn’t—” Llona tried to explain.
“The hell you wasn’t!” The blonde was getting really angry now. “Sashaying in here with your bust bouncing like this. That’s unfair competish. That’s what it is. You ought to be ashamed. Why, I’ll bet you ain’t even a pro!”
“I am so!” Llona said indignantly.
“That’s the trouble.” The blonde ignored the protest. “Amateurs are ruining the business. Every damn little college girl is giving it away. How’s a girl supposed to make a living?”
“Whatcha wanna begrudge dis doll her licks for?” Archie asked, wetting his lips. “I don’t mind whoppin’ both of ya.”
“It ain’t fair, that’s why. She’s got no business here. You untie me and I’ll teach her a lesson. Come on, untie me! I’ll scratch her eyes out.”
“Yeah?” Archie looked interested. “Okay. Let’s see which one a you is da better girl.” He crossed back to the blonde and began loosing her bonds.
“Never mind,” Llona said hastily. “You win. I was just leaving.” She shot out the door, across the main room, and out into the hallway again.
Rattled, she ran up the stairs to the floor on which Lansing’s room was. However, by now the number had vanished completely from her head. Growing more distraught, she paused just outside the door and looked at the number. Was this it? Somehow, it looked familiar. She entered.
Richie Munroe was the first to react. “She’s back!” he screeched.
“Yeah!” Cliff ogled her appreciatively.
“Keep away from my son,” Mama said threateningly, interposing her bulk between Llona and Richie.
“The boy’s that good, hey?” Poppa’s hopes revived with Llona’s reappearance. “Well, listen, he didn’t get that from his mother, you know.”
“Whoops!” Llona said. “Wrong room.”
“That’s what you said before,” Poppa reminded her. “And I still don’t believe you.”
“It’s Fate drew you back here,” Cliff crooned.
“Clifford!” Richie howled.
“Richie,” Mama soothed him. “Let them go together. They deserve each other. I don’t want you to room with this musician any more. He’s a bad influence.”
“Your Mama’s right, Richie,” Cliff told him. “I’m a bad influence. You go along with her now so I don’t corrupt you any more.”
“Clifford!” Richie wailed pleadingly as his mother pulled him out of the room.
“Well, here we are.” Cliff leered at Llona.
“Here we are,” she agreed.
“Yes, here we are,” Poppa echoed.
“What are you doing still here?” Cliff asked, noticing him. “Why don’t you go along with the rest of the family?”
“I’m not much of a family man, I guess,” Poppa admitted. “It looked like there was more action here.”
“Well, you can just find your action somewhere else!” Cliff told him. “This is my room and I’m going to be busy. Very busy!”
“This is also my son’s room. And don’t be that way. Come on. Have a cigar.”
“I don’t want a cigar. I want you to leave.”
“And I want to stay.” Poppa pulled out his wallet. “I want to stay very much.”
“I see,” Cliff said. “Generosity runs in the family. I see. Well now --”
“Excuse, me, Llona interrupted. “But while you boys are ironing things out, is it all right if I use the bathroom?”
“You just used the bathroom before,” Poppa reminded her.
“Weak kidneys,” she explained. Llona crossed over to the bathroom, let herself in, and relieved her discomfort. When she was done, without planning to, she let herself out the door opposite the one by which she'd entered.
The room was dark. But the light went on as Llona was crossing it. She scurried through the door.
Behind her, trembling fingers picked up the telephone and dialed a number. “Dr. Hertzheimer,” the voice said shakily. “HELP!” the voice screamed.
The scream spurred Llona to race down the hall and into another room. The room was empty. It looked familiar. More distraught than ever now, Llona’s mind began playing tricks on her. She wondered if this was the room adjoining Lansing’s. She crossed through the bathroom and into the room next door.
Nick Dawes had just set Elmer Pframmis up for the con again. He’d raised, Elmer had raised, and now it was back to Nick again when he looked up and saw the nude for the second time that night. “Oh, no!" Nick hadn't meant to speak aloud, but he did.
“She’s back!” Manny Warden exclaimed, wondering what his wife would have to say about this if she ever knew, which she wouldn't.
“Are you fellas gonna play cards?” Elmer Pframmis was very annoyed at these interruptions occurring during the only good hands he’d had all night.
“That is one fine figure of a woman!" Irv Jones decided, his eyes glittering.
“Look, miss,” Nick Dawes said, “this is a private game.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t play poker, anyway. I was just—”
“You sure look like you played poker,” Manny interrupted. “You look like you lost. You look like you had a bad night. A very bad night.”