The Golden Years

That Being Played Feeling

Eddie poked his sunglasses up on his nose and gazed about as he walked the three blocks to the car rental. Very few recognizable sights; the town had grown a lot. He pushed through into the cold interior of the rental office, immediately feeling the dampness on his skin.

"Hi!' A perky little woman beamed sunshine at him. "Here for a car?"

"I am. What do you have that's comfortable, inexpensive and available right away?"

"How long?"

"Two weeks."

"Local or travelling?"

"Just around the area - no long trips."

"Got just the thing. Fill out this and I'll get one of the boys to bring it around to the front."

She left the room before he could ask what just the thing was, and he smiled. What the hell, the price looked good.

Back she came, waving a brochure and a road map. "Here you go. Keys are in the car . . . you're at Palm Sands," she said, studying the form, her voice sounding uncertain.

"Yes, is that a problem?"

"No . . . no problem. Drive safe." The perky had become solemn.

He found the current year, white Chevrolet Malibu, idling at the front of the lot, and slipped happily into the air-conditioned interior. The sudden change in temperature of the sales woman, however, as he pulled onto the road, set his investigative mind humming. Drop it, Eddie, you're retired.

******

After an hour or so of reorienting himself with the town, Eddie headed back to the hotel, looking forward to a soak in the pool, a cold beer then out to dinner at the recommended, Anthony's. It looked to be about the best of the places in the manager's collection. Parking was off the street behind the hotel, and he slowed to take in the pair of grapefruit trees, heavy with fruit.

On the patio, several lounges were occupied, and he recognized Gail, now sporting a revealing two piece swimsuit. A pair of seniors had pulled lounges into the shade of the palms surrounding one end of the court, not much older than him, so he didn't feel guilty categorizing, and a younger couple basting in an unforgiving sun.

He took the menus back to the office, gave the manager his licence number and asked if the grapefruit were up for grabs.

"Sure, no problem, but just ask the maid to get them. Don't want guests strippin' the trees bare. We also have a lemon tree out back in the laundry area. You can help yourself to them."

Back in his room, Eddie changed into his bathing shorts, grabbed a pool towel from the bathroom, and paused for a scrutiny of a sorry looking profile. Sucking in his gut, he strolled out to the patio, found a lounge near his room in some shade, left the towel and beer on the flagstone, and sank into the gloriously pristine pool.

He felt the water disturbance and cracked open one eye to see Gail settling on the pool bench near him.

"Did you get a car?"

"Was that from Jim?"

"We always shoot the breeze about new guests." She tipped her head back and closed her eyes. The move, he suspected, was to allow for an inspection of the goods. He slipped off the bench and dog paddled down to the filler jet, letting it fill his bathing shorts with a tantalizing pulse.

When she opened her eyes, he was paddling back, and he hid a grin over her frown.

"Perfect temperature." he said, sliding up onto the bench again. "So, you are a regular here?"

"When I'm in town doing business."

"What do you do, Gail?" he asked blithely.

"Convention planning." She frowned slightly.

"Really. Here in the desert?"

"Mainly. Golf tournaments. Sales seminars - that sort of thing."

"Nice. And you choose to idle in the luxury of the Palm Sands."

The frown deepened. "I don't need to be around clients all the time. Let them live it up in the hot spots."

She swirled the water with her foot. "What about you, Eddie? This your destination of choice?"

"It'll do the job."

"What job is that?"

"Getting all those big city toxins out of my system, and enjoying a care-less world."

"Just enjoying retirement, eh?"

"Did I say I was retired?" He looked at her with amusement. "I don't remember."

She stood up next to him, dripping water and forcing him to look up the length of her body.

"Maybe it was Jim," she answered, a tad coolly.

"Hmm . . . oh, by the way, I'm taking your advice on where to eat. That place sounds good."

"Maybe I'll see you there," she said, tugging her bikini top up slightly.

"Maybe we could go together." The invitation shocked her, and he watched the play of suspicion and indecision on her face.

"That sounds like a very nice idea, Eddie." Decision made.

"Very nice to chat with you, Gail." He shaded his eyes and watched as she stepped out of the water and crossed the patio to her room. Being an ex-cop, having to beat around the bush never came up, he smiled.

******

Anthony's Tavern was a barely above ground wooden structure, architecturally configured to the landscape. The heavy wooden doors with porthole windows opened in, and Eddie stopped in the foyer, his breath taken away by the undersea decor.

"You have a reservation, sir?" The young maître d's eyebrows rose, taking in Gail.

Eddie faced the young man, nodding. "Banks. For two."

"Very good, right this way Mr. Banks."

As Eddie sat he noticed the large man in a dark green blazer behind the maître d'.

"Mr. Banks, welcome to Anthony's. Our policy is to greet first timers and welcome them with their first drink on the house." His eyes flicked over Gail with a bland curiosity.

"That's a great policy, perhaps you could extend it to my dinner partner as well."

The hesitation was brief, and a forced smile accompanied the concession. "Of course. What's your preference?"

Gail asked for a white wine, her cheeks bloomed instantly.

"I'll have a rum and coke. Thanks."

The man nodded, and rolled away, his gait reminiscent of a boxer. Eddie watched him cross the large dining area and pause by a table where a trio of men sat hunched forward. Eddie watched the exchange, and the men glance his way.

The drink arrived and he asked the waiter who the big man was that greeted him, learning it was Connor Anthony, the owner. Eddie tasted his drink, thanked him, and clocked the surprised look the waiter gave Gail on departing.

"So, you come here a lot?" His question sounded as innocent as his expression.

Gail's blush returned. "Now and then."

"Hmm, and you and Connor are friends." Deer in the headlights. "Actually, they all know you, don't they?"

"I've done business with Connor on some conventions." She placed her serviette on the table and excused herself. "I need the lady's room."

"Bet you do," he murmured, following her passage through the tables.