LuAnn came out of the bathroom where she had changed into a pair of jeans and a white sweater, her hair done up in a French braid. “I just like looking. That was fun enough. Besides, I flat out can’t believe the prices up here. Good God!”
“But I would’ve paid for it,” Charlie protested. “I told you that a hundred times.”
“I don’t want you spending money on me, Charlie.”
Charlie sat down in a chair and stared at her. “LuAnn, it’s not my money. I told you that, too. I’m on an expense account. Whatever you wanted, you could have.”
“Is that what Mr. Jackson said?”
“Something like that. Let’s just call it an advance on your future winnings.” He grinned.
LuAnn sat down on the bed and played with her hands, a deep frown on her face. Lisa was still in her baby carriage playing with some toys Charlie had bought her. Her happy sounds filled the room.
“Here.” Charlie handed LuAnn a package of photos from their day in New York. “For the memory book.”
LuAnn looked at the photos and her eyes crinkled. “I never thought I’d see a horse and buggy in this city. It was lots of fun riding around that big old park. Smack dab in the middle of all them buildings, too.”
“Come on, you’d never heard of Central Park?”
“Sure I had. Heard, leastways. Only I just thought it was all made up.” LuAnn handed him a double photo of herself that she picked out of the pack.
“Whoops, thanks for reminding me,” said Charlie.
“That’s for my passport?”
He nodded as he slipped the photo into his jacket pocket.
“Don’t Lisa need one?”
He shook his head. “She’s not old enough. She can travel under yours.”
“Oh.”
“So I understand you want to change your name.”
LuAnn put the photos away and started fiddling with the packages. “I thought it’d be a good idea. A fresh start.”
“That’s what Jackson said you said. I guess if that’s what you want.”
LuAnn suddenly plopped down on the chaise lounge and put her head in her hands.
Charlie looked keenly at her. “Come on, LuAnn, changing your name isn’t that traumatic. What’s bothering you?”
She finally looked up. “Are you sure I’m gonna win the lottery tomorrow?”
He spoke carefully. “Let’s just wait until tomorrow, LuAnn, but I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.”
“All that money, but I don’t feel good about it, Charlie, not one bit.”
He lit a cigarette and puffed on it as he continued to watch her. “I’m gonna order up some room service. Three courses, a bottle of wine. Some hot coffee, the works. You’ll feel better after you’ve eaten.” He opened up the hotel services book and began to peruse the menu.
“Have you done this before? I mean, looked after people that... Mr. Jackson has met with?”
Charlie looked up from the menu. “I’ve worked with him for a while, yeah. I’ve never met him in person. We communicate solely over the phone. He’s a smart guy. A little anal for my tastes, a bit paranoid, but real sharp. He pays me well, real well. And baby-sitting people in fancy hotels and ordering room service isn’t such a bad life.” He added with a big smile, “I’ve never looked after anybody I had this much fun with, though.”
She knelt down beside the baby carriage and pulled out a gift-wrapped package from the storage bin underneath. She handed it to him.
Charlie’s mouth gaped in surprise. “What’s this?”
“I got you a present. Actually, it’s from me and Lisa. I was looking for something for you and she started pointing and squealing at it.”
“When did you do this?”
“Remember, while you were over looking at the men’s clothing.”
“LuAnn, you didn’t have to—”
“I know that,” she said quickly. “That’s why it’s called a gift, you’re not supposed to have to.” Charlie gripped the box tightly in his hands, his eyes riveted on her. “Well, go ahead and open it for gosh sakes,” she said.
While Charlie carefully pulled off the wrapping paper, LuAnn heard Lisa stir. She went over and picked up the little girl. They both watched Charlie as he took off the box top.
“Damn!” He gently lifted out the dark green fedora. It had an inch-wide leather band on the outside and a ribbon of cream-colored silk lining the inside.
“I saw you trying it on at the store. I thought you looked real nice in it, real sharp. But then you put it back. I could tell you didn’t want to.”
“LuAnn, this thing cost a lot of money.”
She waved him off. “I had some saved up. I hope you like it.”
“I love it, thank you.” He gave her a hug and then took one of Lisa’s dimpled fists in his. He gave it a gentle, formal shake. “And thank you, little lady. Excellent taste.”
“Well, try it on again. Make sure you still like it.”
He slid it over his head and checked himself out in the mirror.
“Slick, Charlie, real slick.”
He smiled. “Not bad, not bad.” He fussed with it a little until he caught the proper angle. Then he took it off and sat back down. “I’ve never gotten a gift from the people I’ve looked after. I’m usually only with them for a couple of days anyway, then Jackson takes over.”
LuAnn quickly picked up on the opening. “So how’d you come to be doing this kind of work?”
“I take it you’d like to hear my life story?”
“Sure. I’ve been bending your ear enough.”
Charlie settled back in the chair and assumed a comfortable look. He pointed to his face. “Bet you didn’t guess I used to ply my skills in the boxing ring.” He grinned. “Mostly, I was a sparring partner — a punching bag for up-and-comers. I was smart enough to get out while I still had my brains, at least some of them. After that, I took up semipro football. Let me tell you, that isn’t any easier on the body, but at least you get to wear helmets and pads. I’d always been athletic, though, and to tell you the truth I liked making my living that way.”
“You look like you’re in real good shape.”
Charlie slapped his hard stomach. “Not bad for being almost fifty-four. Anyway, after football, I coached a little, got married, floated around here and there, never finding anything that fit, you know?”
LuAnn said, “I know that feeling real good.”
“Then my career path took a big turn.” He paused to crush out his cigarette and immediately lit another.
LuAnn took the opportunity to put Lisa back in the baby carriage. “What’d you do?”
“I spent some time as a guest of the U.S. government.” LuAnn looked at him curiously, not getting his meaning. “I was in a federal prison, LuAnn.”
She looked astonished. “You don’t look the type, Charlie.”
He laughed. “I don’t know about that. Besides, there are lots of different types doing time, LuAnn, let me tell you.”
“So what’d you do?”
“Income tax evasion. Or fraud I guess they’d call it, at least the prosecutor did. And he was right. I guess I just got tired of paying it. Never seemed like there was enough to live on, let alone giving a chunk to the government.” He brushed his hair back. “That little mistake cost me three years and my marriage.”
“I’m sorry, Charlie.”
He shrugged. “Probably the best thing that ever happened to me, really. I was in a minimum security facility with a bunch of other white collar criminal types so I didn’t have to worry every minute about somebody cutting my head off. I took a bunch of classes, started thinking about what I wanted to do with my life. Really only one bad thing happened to me on the inside.” He held up the cigarette. “Never smoked until I got to prison. There, just about everybody did. When I got out I finally quit. For a long time. Took it back up about six months ago. What the hell. Anyway, when I got out, I went to work for my lawyer, sort of as an in-house investigator. He knew I was an honest, reliable sort, despite my little conviction. And I knew a lot of people up and down the socioeconomic scale, if you know what I mean. A lot of contacts. Plus I learned a lot while I was in the slammer. Talk about your education. I had professors in every subject from insurance scams to auto chop shops. That experience helped out a lot when I jumped to the law firm. It was a good gig, I enjoyed the work.”