The Dangerous Dames

3-The Cold of Night

The Regis Arms was a fancy place, much fancier than Leo would ever stay in. He'd driven by it plenty of times. He'd been inside, to the bar, taking pictures and observing people with much richer lifestyles than he lived. He'd sat in his beat up sedan, snapping photos of clientele who could afford much more extravagant sins than a fifteen-dollar bottle of scotch.

The Regis Arms was late model imported cars, exotic women in furs, and broad-shouldered men in perfectly-tailored suits talking business making deals.

As Leo's sedan pulled up to the front door, he was acutely aware of the missing hubcap. The edges of rust around the fenders. Not to mention the shattered rear window.

"Keys, sir?" A valet appeared at the window, a ghost of a man whose pale skin shone with a red pallor as it reflected the bright light of the hotel's sign above them.

Leo shook his head as he looked up. "No thanks," he offered. "Just dropping off the lady."

Electricity shot up his arm as her hand settled over his on this steering wheel.

"Please, Leo," she crooned. "After ze way that you have helped me tonight, you must join me for a drink."

He opened his mouth to respond, but she cut him off.

"Truly, I insist."

Let her out, she walks away, you never have to see her again.

The valet clucked impatiently.

"I'd love to, but I need to get going."

"Right now?" she asked, her finger trailing down his hand and arm. She was a cat and he was a mouse. She was toying with him, and they both knew it.

"Yes, right now." He answered as firmly as he could, but his voice was weak and he knew it lacked conviction.

She leaned over and met his startled look with a kiss, long and full. Leo wasn't sure what to do, but...he didn't pull away.

She broke the kiss and he heard her whisper in his ear.

"Surely you are gentleman enough to let me assist you, as you have assisted me?"

Her lips formed a perfect pout, her doe-eyes battering his willpower.

"I..." he stammered, looking for a way out, something a deep and primal part of him hoped he wouldn't find.

But there she was, coming to his rescue. In his mind's eye, Sandy was standing in the kitchen, something boiling in front of her, as she threw that wry smile at him that he loved so much.

"I do need to go. Sorry." His voice sounded a bit more convincing this time. Vera's pout grew more pronounced, but she reluctantly pulled away.

Glancing outside as she opened the door, she said "I thought zat you said this place was...very terrible?" Leo suppressed a chuckle as she searched for something else to use to describe the Regis Arms beyond "shithole."

"It's just America, honey," he said with a grin, his confidence returning. "Sarcasm is something you should get used to."

She closed the door and faced him, taking a few steps backwards. Leo couldn't help but notice that as soon as she was out of the car, two burly men appeared from near the door--well, gorillas was probably a more apt description--and immediately moved to flank her on either side.

Leo wouldn't have minded looking at her a bit longer, but the two new wet blankets did their job and he put the sedan into gear.

The sedan coughed and backfired as he gave it a little too much gas, enthusiastic now to leave this whole thing behind him. He glanced at his watch again.