Inside the hotel, the punters were all half full and getting into the races while they either cheered or cursed their luck. Rhedyn was on a break and the bloke behind the bar with the pepper and salt goatee beard and glasses never gave the agents a second look when Agent Moharic got three Diet Cokes and the three men strolled around the hotel.
‘So what are you comfortable with, Floyd?’ asked Agent Coleborne, when they regrouped near the door leading out to the parking area.
‘Well,’ replied Agent Moharic. ‘Vincent and his girl will be together. I imagine if we’re quick enough, we could knife them in here.’
Agent Niland’s smile was sinister. ‘I can be quick,’ he said.
‘If not,’ continued Agent Moharic, ‘there’s a drinking area in back. Or there’s a parking lot with seats and bushes just outside this door. Both are easily accessible and should be in semidarkness. You can bet Vincent and his girl like to party. So in time they’ll come out for some fresh air.’ Agent Moharic nodded to the doorway. ‘Out here by those shrubs would be good. I’ll position our vehicle near the entrance into the parking lot. Then we’ll either knife them or shoot them, and leave them in the shrubs. Then exit the premises.’ Agent Moharic shrugged his fellow agents an enquiring look. ‘You guys good with that?’
Agent Coleborne exchanged glances with Agent Niland. ‘Sure.’
Agent Niland nodded. ‘Fine. And if it comes to a worst case scenario, we can follow them down the road when the bar closes and pop them on
the run. Or if it’s a worst, worst case scenario, we’ll do it back at their motel.’
‘Whatever.’ Agent Moharic took a mouthful of Diet Coke. ‘I notice the hotel closes at twelve. So I suggest we get here at eleven. That gives Vincent and his girl time to get good and juiced, and we don’t have to hang around too long.’
Agent Niland nodded in agreement. ‘Eleven it is.’
‘Eleven is good,’ said Agent Coleborne.
‘There’s a diner at the motel,’ said Agent Moharic. ‘You guys want to eat there? Or order room service?’
Agent Niland thought for a moment. ‘Room service and TV.’
‘Yeah. Room service,’ nodded Agent Coleborne.
‘Okay. Room service it is,’ said Agent Moharic. ‘Then we’ll leave from my room.’
After lunch at the Waverley, Officers Ryman and Cozens had a quiet afternoon. With the scanner in Kerrie’s bag, they walked the meal off, stopping for coffee where Mick had breakfast. Kerrie had noticed in the papers earlier that
Wag the Dog
with Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro was on TV that night. Both she and Craig had seen it before, but it was a good White House conspiracy
movie and Woody Harrelson was pure gold as the psychopathic killer made into a war hero. The movie finished at eleven. Why not watch it in their rooms before they drove up to the hotel? Craig agreed.
‘Craig,’ said Kerrie over her coffee. ‘Just to be on the safe side, I’m going to wear my gun tonight.’
‘Good idea,’ replied Craig. ‘Saturday night drunks and all that. You never know.’
‘Exactly. We have tea in the restaurant before we watch the movie?’ asked Kerrie.
‘I don’t see why not, Officer Ryman,’ smiled Craig.
Driving back from Burning Mountain, Mick and Jesse didn’t have a lot to say. Jesse was wishing things had turned out better. Mick was still wishing the NSA hadn’t blown up his van. He wanted to ring Mrs Parsons from the motel. Jesse was of the opinion his next door neighbour’s phone was probably tapped along with his. Why bother? They’d be home tomorrow night. Mick bowed to Jesse’s better judgement. Marc Bolan was jumping into ‘I Like to Boogie on Saturday Night’ and Jesse was in better spirits when they arrived in Scone and she got Mick to pull up outside the Greater Scone Hotel.
‘The bottleshop’s down the back behind the dancefloor,’ said Jesse, as she opened the door. ‘What sort of beer do you want?’
‘I’ll leave it to you, oh pearl of the lotus flower,’ replied Mick. ‘Do you want some money?’
‘No. I got my credit card.’
‘Okay.’
Mick switched off the engine and waited patiently for Jesse. She soon returned with a dozen James Boags and a half bottle of Jack Daniels. She placed everything on the floor and turned to Mick.
‘That should keep you happy, mountain range lover,’ she said. ‘Just don’t go too mad on the Jackie’s. You know what you’re like once you get a sniff.’
Mick kissed the back of Jesse’s hand. ‘Where’s your wings, woman? You’re an angel.’
‘The hotel closes at twelve, too. So we’d better leave early if we’re going to boogie on down, rude boy.’
‘Not too early?’ protested Mick. ‘I’ve got to watch
The Iron Chef
and
RocKwiz
. I only live for the intellectual content of those two shows. Especially
RocKwiz
’
Jesse gave Mick a tired smile. ‘Mick, don’t you think I know your mind by now? I set my VCR before we left.’
‘You did what?’ Mick gazed out his window and stared up at the sky. ‘Oh Great Spirit,’ he intoned, ‘why do I love this woman so much? Why does my heart beat only for her?’
Jesse reached across and squeezed Mick’s balls. ‘Because I’m beautiful. That’s why. Now get us back to the motel. I’m dryer than a witch’s tit.’
Completely oblivious to the events and people around them, Mick casually drove back to the Tudor and parked outside their room. They got their things from the car and went inside, looking forward to a swim after sweating it out on Burning Mountain. Mick put the beers in the bar fridge and ordered a bag of ice and a bottle of Coke from room service. While they were waiting, he got into his Speedos and a pair of green boardshorts. Jesse went to the bathroom, and the ice and Coke arrived. While Jesse was changing into her dark blue one-piece lycra swimming costume that hugged her whippy body like a second skin, Mick sat on the bed and surreptitiously watched her out of the corner of his eye. Jesse had the bottom half of her costume on and was tucking her left breast into the top when she turned impassively to Mick.
‘Mick?’ she said shortly.
‘Yes, Oz,’ replied Mick.
‘Are you perving on me while I’m getting changed?’
‘Yes, Oz.’
‘Well stop it at once. You filthy depraved monster.’
‘Yes, Oz.’
Mick shifted his gaze and continued to watch Jesse’s reflection in the window. She tucked her right breast into her costume then gave the straps a tuck and when she was finished, there wasn’t a part of her moved that shouldn’t. She gave her backside one last adjustment, then stepped across to Mick and took him roughly by the front of his T-shirt.
‘And if the day ever comes,’ she hissed, ‘when I find you not perving on me, you’ll be in even bigger trouble.’
‘Yes, Oz.’
‘Now come on,’ she said, giving Mick a quick kiss. ‘Let’s go for a swim.’
Mick and Jesse spent an enjoyable late afternoon. They had the pool to themselves and whether drinking was permitted or not, it didn’t stop Mick from placing half a dozen bottles of beer in a plastic bag and sinking them in the corner. Jesse whipped through the papers then returned to a book she was reading. Mick managed to almost
finish the weekend magazines. By then the day was well and truly over and if drinking beer in the sun had given them a slight buzz, it also put an edge on their appetites. They picked up their papers and bottles and returned to their room.
‘What do you want to do for dinner, Oz?’ Mick asked her, before he got ready to shower first. ‘The restaurant here looks okay. Or we can ring room service.’
‘Why don’t we ring room service,’ said Jesse. ‘That way we can watch a bit of TV and catch up on the news.’
‘Okay,’ agreed Mick. ‘Soon as we get cleaned up.’
Mick showered first then threw a T-shirt over his jox. Jesse showered and put a T-shirt on over her underwear. After perusing the in-house menu, Mick went for the fish fillets in creamy white wine sauce and the stuffed Cajun mushrooms entree. Jesse ordered pork medallions and vegetables. They had another beer and watched TV, then as soon as the food arrived, ripped in with great gusto.
Back at the Waverley Inn, Officers Ryman and Cozens had rung Officer Blessing and their respective boyfriend and girlfriend. Now they were
seated in the restaurant enjoying dinner. Craig had ordered shepherds pie, omitting any more corny jokes. Kerrie went for the veal cutlet. Kerrie was wearing jeans and a loose-fitting blue cotton jacket. Craig had on a grey one. They’d left their Glocks back in their rooms, but their jackets would hide their guns and shoulder holsters easily when the time came. They finished dinner, then went back to their rooms to watch the movie. Kerrie said she’d knock on Craig’s door when it finished.
After spending a quiet afternoon at the Halscott, the NSA agents changed into the same clothes they wore when they left Washington, then had T-bone steaks, chips and salad sent to their rooms. Agent Moharic rang Zimmer Sierota, who approved of their plan to assassinate Mick and Jesse. They went over everything in Agent Moharic’s room, then Agents Niland and Coleborne returned to their room before meeting back at Agent Moharic’s room prior to leaving for the hotel. Agent Moharic informed the woman at the desk they could be checking out early and would leave the keys in the receptacle at the front desk. Then all three agents settled back in their rooms to watch TV.
As soon as they’d finished eating, Mick placed the tray of plates outside their door at the Tudor and poured himself a stiff Jack Daniels and Coke. Jesse had another beer. After a couple more good bourbons, Mick changed into his jeans, a plain white T-shirt and a blue Hawaiian shirt with coloured parrots all over it. Jesse wore her jeans and a lacy pink top, cut low in the front under a white cotton jacket. Mick was starting to get a glow on when Jesse picked up the remote and switched off the TV.
‘Okay, handsome,’ she said. ‘Are you ready to take the best sort in Scone out for a drink and a whirl round the dancefloor? Or what?’
‘I sure am,’ smiled Mick. ‘Just give me five minutes and we’ll be on our way.’
Mick used the bathroom and patted his face with a few dabs of Lomani while he was in there. He came out and stood in front of Jesse, looking and smelling good. Jesse sniffed the air then pushed herself up against him.
‘Why do you do this to me, Mick?’ she begged. ‘You know I’m just a poor, defenceless woman.’
‘I’m sorry, Oz,’ apologised Mick. ‘I don’t mean to take advantage of your weakness. It’s just me.’
‘Bastard!’
After checking to see he had all his money, Mick locked the door and arm in arm with Jesse left the motel and walked happily up Kelly Street.
The Greater Scone was going off when they arrived. There were people in the beer garden, the lounge was almost full, the dancefloor was crowded with sweaty bodies and the band was cranking out ‘It’s A Long Way To The Top If You Want To Rock ‘n’ Roll.’ Rhedyn and two other girls were flat out behind the bar, so Mick and Jesse stood next to the door leading out to the car park and checked out the punters while they waited for the bar to clear.
They were all ages and sizes, wearing everything from jeans to dresses and shorts to miniskirts. One shapely brunette had a red T-shirt with
SEX: NOW THAT’S GOT YOUR ATTENTION
emblazoned across the front. Some women had their hair braided, others wore it up or hanging loose. The men had everything from yellow spikes to shaved skulls. There wasn’t an unfriendly face in the house; everybody was happy and out to have a good time.
‘Hey,’ beamed Mick. ‘I think this is my kind of pub.’
‘Yes. It’s going off,’ said Jesse. She spotted a clearing at the bar. ‘I’ll get the first shout. Another Jackie’s?’
‘That’ll do nicely,’ replied Mick.
Jesse left Mick and moved up to the bar. Rhedyn had already noticed her with Mick and came over.
‘You made it,’ smiled Rhedyn.
‘Yes,’ said Jesse, returning the publican’s smile. ‘Looks like a good night.’
‘It’s only early. What would you like? And remember, the first one’s on me.’
‘Okay. A Jackie’s and Coke. And I’ll have…’
Rhedyn pointed her finger. ‘A Moscow Mule.’
‘Okay,’ nodded Jesse.
Rhedyn started making the drinks while Jesse smiled back at some men around the bar and winked over at Mick. The publican came back and placed Mick’s bourbon and a vodka, ginger beer and lime on the bar. Both doubles.
‘Is that your boyfriend over there?’ she said, nodding towards Mick.
‘Yes. That’s my Mick. God bless his little heart and soul,’ said Jesse.
‘He scrubs up all right. I like the shirt. That’s a nice top you’re wearing, too.’
‘Thanks, Rhedyn. And thanks for the drinks.’
‘My pleasure, Jesse. Have a good night.’
Rhedyn was busy and went straight to the next customer. Jesse took the drinks back to
Mick and handed him his. They clinked glasses and took a sip.
‘Shit!’ blinked Mick. ‘These are all right.’
‘You can say that again,’ double-blinked Jesse.
‘So that’s the publican?’
‘That’s her.’
‘You’re right. She’s a hot sort.’
‘I told you. But…?’ questioned Jesse.
‘But nowhere as lovely as you, my sweet frangipani,’ smiled Mick. ‘Come on, gorgeous. Let’s go check out the band.’
Holding their drinks carefully, Mick and Jesse eased themselves through the crowd and stood beneath one of the arches next to a beer barrel. They’d seen the band before, a three-piece with a stocky little blonde on vocals banging a tambourine. They were just as good as ever and had just finished laying down some heavy licks with an old Angels’ classic, ‘Take A Long Line.’ The singer just had time to raise her tambourine and the dancers barely had time to get their breath back when the band erupted into Aerosmith’s ‘Walk This Way.’
‘Ohh. Say no more,’ said Mick. He took Jesse’s drink, placed it next to his on the beer barrel and together they hit the dancefloor.
Mick was a good dancer with natural rhythm and could boogie with the best of them provided it was rock ‘n’ roll. Jesse was fit and light on her feet and like Mick preferred rock ‘n’ roll, too. With a few cool ones under their belts, the bookshop owner and the electrician could scorch a dancefloor. They howled through ‘Walk This Way’ then the band hammered straight into ‘Great Balls of Fire’ and Mick and Jesse tore into the old rock classic.