I awoke in a hospital room. Gradually I remembered that Hobby and I had been driving our protege Lara home from the casino when some stupid shit rammed us. I had tried to keep my car from tumbling down an embankment, but my skill was no match for gravity.
I moved my legs and arms, thank God for that, but I was on an IV. I touched my face and felt a bandage on my forehead. A nurse was soon at my bedside. "Mr. Crest, glad to have you back among the living. How're you feeling?"
"Got a headache. Where am I?"
"St. Mary's Hospital. You've been unconscious for two days."
"Wow. What happened to my friends Hobby and Lara?"
"Your friend Hobby has been hanging around here since yesterday. I don't know any Lara.
She took my pulse and blood pressure. "You're doing well, Mr. Crest. I'll ask the doctor to stop by; he might discharge you. Meanwhile, I'll let your friend come in."
Hobby pushed through the door grinning. "Joe, I'm so happy to see you came around."
"I'm fine. But what about Lara," I asked.
"Good question. When I came to, you were out cold and your head was bleeding. Lara wasn't there. I told the cops, but nobody saw her. It's a mystery, but right now I'm interested in my pal. Do you remember what happened?"
"Yeah, some bastard deliberately smashed into us and knocked us over the embankment."
"Did you see who it was?"
"No, but I suspect it was that bubba, Howie. Say, what about you? You've got your arm in a sling."
"Broken collar bone. I was released after they strapped me up."
Hobby was interrupted by the doctor who checked my chart and looked into my eyes and ears. "How're you feeling, Mr. Crest."
"Got a headache, but not too bad."
"Let's see if we can get you on your feet."
He unplugged my IV and I slowly went vertical. "I'm okay."
The doctor said, "I can release you if you'll promise to lie low for the next 24 hours and have someone keep an eye on you."
"I can do that, Doc," Hobby volunteered.
As we headed for the freeway I said, "What's with Lara?"
"I'm not sure, Joe. I called her home and Lara's mother answered,. I told her what I knew and said we'd look for her. She had already called the police."
"You think Lara has amnesia and is wandering around in a daze?"
"I don't know, Joe, but I'm plenty worried and feel responsible."
"Yeah, me too."
"Remember, Joe, we asked Eddie to do a background check on her? He called yesterday. No surprises. She checks out like she said, only interesting thing was that she had previously lived in Las Vegas. Maybe she went there?"
"Seems unlikely, but if she doesn't turn up we can alert the Vegas police. It's been three days since I got out of the hospital. All that time Hobby and I have been searching for Lara. We keep in touch with her mother who is having a tough time. We got a recent picture of Lara and had it splashed all over the L.A. area. Her story was in the Times, but so far no solid leads.
"Joe, how about going to Vegas?"
"We need to try something different. Let's do it." We were staying at the Mandalay Bay. I leafed through the yellow pages and said, "Hobby, I think we should enlist some help."
"Good idea. Like a private detective?"
"No, I was thinking of a skip tracer. There's quite a few listed."
I settled on a guy by the name of John Smith, which I thought was an ironic name for a skip tracer. When he came to the suite, we gave him the details and pictures of Lara. "I'll get right on it, gentlemen."
We visited Sergeant Ellis, Las Vegas Police, who we'd been in touch with from L.A. "Sorry guys, I've come up with nothing, but she's in the system. I'll let you know if we get any information." So much for that.
Hobby and I played some poker and saw the Celine Dion show, but our enthusiasm was half-hearted until we got a call from John Smith. "I met a guy at the Riviera who was almost certain he played poker with your missing lady."
"Could we meet him?"
"I've got his name and number, you can call him."
I did. "Can you tell me what the lady was wearing?"
"I think it was a red dress. She looked sharp."
"Was she nervous or uneasy, anything like that?" "No, she was just...natural, I guess."
"Anything else you can remember?"
"There was something I thought was queer. She was using a room key to cover her hole cards, the old kind with a tag and a key. All the hotels use the card things now."
"You didn't happen to notice a name on the tag?" "Sorry." After the phone conversation I told Hobby, "I might have learned something useful if the lady in red, as the guy described her, was Lara. She had an old style room key on a tag. She might be staying in a motel."
"Sounds interesting. Joe. How about we drive around the area where she used to live and see if there are any motels nearby?"
"Good idea, Watson."
"Thank's for the compliment, Sherlock."
There were about a dozen motels in the vicinity. We had stopped at most of them and showed the picture. No hits until the Morocco Terrace. A sleazy guy behind the desk said, "I might recognize her."
"Will 20 buck help your memory?"
"Yeah."
Hobby handed over the bill.
"She's in 210, but she just left in a cab about 20 minutes ago."
"What kind of cab?"
"Couldn't tell. I just saw the backend when she got in."
"Hobby, we'll have to wait."
What a boring night. Last time I looked at my watch it was one in the morning. The next I knew Hobby was shaking me. "Look, Joe. I think it's Lara."
I popped out of the car and ran to her. "Lara, Lara! It's me, Joe."
"I don't know you, leave me alone," she said as she ran for the stairway. "I'll scream and holler for the cops if you come any closer."
I stopped in my tracks. Hobby came along side and said "It sure looks like her."
"I'm almost certain it is, but we better leave her alone for now. I don't want to start a ruckus. Let's see if we can get a room here."
After we gave the clerk an extra 20 bucks to ring our room if he saw Lara leaving, we tried to get some sleep.
There was no action all morning. About two o'clock she walked out of her room. We were in the car at the back of the lot. When she hopped in a cab we followed- back to the Riviera. Hobby trailed her inside while I parked.
"She's at the poker table over there, Joe."
"Take that seat opposite her and see if she recognizes you."
She didn't pay any particular notice of Hobby so when another seat opened up I took it. I made eye contact with her, but there was not a glimmer of recognition.
We played poker for an hour or so. Lara was playing very well. She was totally focused on the game. I had to try something. I remembered her daughter's name was Megan, so, between hands I said loudly, "Lara, Megan misses you." She looked at me questioningly then shouted "Megan!
Where is she?"
As I walked around the table a big guy that had been sitting next to her jumped up. "Stay out of this, buddy," I advised.
"I don't think so," he replied with hostility. He shoved me back on my ass. By then Hobby was on the scene and twisted one of the guy's arms behind his back, but the big lug wasn't satisfied he had enough. He wound up with his other arm and swung it hard at Hobby just as Lara stood up. Ka...thunk! He clubbed her on the back of her head. She fell across her chips onto the table.
There was a full security alert. We were soon surrounded by hotel staff and trying to explain. There was so much shouting going on I didn't hear her at first, but Lara had gotten up from the table and was saying, "Joe & Hobby, what are you doing here?"
The rap on the head restored Lara's memory. We had a joyous reunion. After getting Lara safely home I said to Hobby, "Remember what got us into this?"
"Yeah, we sponsored Lara to play poker."
"Right, let's not do that again."
Hobby lifted his free arm for a high five, "It's a deal, Joe."
