Chapter Four
In the 1960’s she was a beautiful, sultry movie star. After fifty years of wild living she’s a ragged survivor; one of the few old-school hotel/casinos to avoid demolition. A hallway leads to guest rooms with a South Seas theme.
Alastair and Wes follow a hotel security guard off the elevator. The trio is loaded down with as much medical gear as they can carry.
Female screams echo from an open door. Cries of fear fade, quickly replaced by shrieks of anger.
Nathan and two other cops emerge from the room struggling to keep a furious woman under control. A veil of long, blonde hair hides the woman’s face. As she twists, the bed sheet covering her body falls away, revealing the thin veneer of blood and sweat that coats her skin. She’s handcuffed, but fights with every muscle in her 120 pound body.
Alastair, Wes and the guard hug the walls as the woman and her captors pass. She kicks, attempting to lash out at Alastair. Nathan takes the hit, stumbling.
The Guard takes his station at the door while Alastair and Wes enter a honeymoon suite equipped with a Jacuzzi, massive bed, and mirrors on the ceiling. A shredded wedding gown covers an overturned wicker chair. Three empty champagne bottles roll around on the floor. Alastair steps carefully, narrowly avoiding the bloody shards of broken wine glasses.
A space-themed wedding cake sits untouched on a table. The conventional tuxedoed groom cake topper is joined by an action figure, the monstrous queen from the movie “Aliens.”
Following a trail of blood from the bed to the bathroom, Alastair and Wes brace themselves for the worst.
Copyright 2009, Wendy Pierce
