Glenn Cooper - Library of the Dead

"If someone did that to me I would split their lip," the man said.

Mark looked at him, startled. "I'm sorry, were you talking to me?" he asked.

"I was just saying, if a stranger did that to me, it would be all over, you know what I mean?"

The fat man and the lady with a cold neck were pawing each other, having a jolly time.

"I don't think they're strangers," Mark said.

"Maybe not. I'm just saying what I would have done."

The man was thin but extremely muscular, clean-shaven and black-haired, with soft fleshy lips and oily skin the color of hazelnuts. He was Puerto Rican with a strong island accent, casually dressed in black slacks and loose-fitting tropical shirt open to the breastbone. He had long manicured fingers, a square gold ring on each hand, and shiny gold chains around his neck. At most he was thirty-five. He extended a hand, and Mark had to grab it out of politeness. The ring seemed to weigh as much as the appendage. "Luis Camacho," the man said. "How you doin'?"

"Peter Benedict," Mark replied. "I'm doing okay."

Luis pointed emphatically at the floor. "When I'm in town, this is my favorite place. I love the Luxor, man."

Mark sipped his beer. There was never a good time for small talk, especially tonight. A blender whirred loudly.

Undeterred, Luis continued, "I like the way the rooms have sloping walls, you know on account of the pyramid. I think that's pretty cool, you know?" Luis waited for a reply, and Mark knew he had to fill the void or perhaps risk getting a split lip.

"I've never stayed here," he said.

"No? Which hotel you stayin' at?"

"I live in Vegas."

"No shit! A local! I love that! I'm here like twice a week and I almost never meet locals outside of the people who work here, you know?"

The bartender poured something thick from the blender into Luis's glass. "It's a frozen margarita," Luis declared proudly. "You want one?"

"No thanks. I've got a beer."

"Heineken," Luis observed. "Nice beer."

"Yep, nice beer," Mark replied stiffly. Unfortunately the beer was too fresh to excuse himself gracefully.

"So what kind of work do you do, Peter?"

Mark glanced sideways and saw that a comical frothy moustache had appeared on Luis's lip. So who would he be tonight? Writer? Gambler? Computer analyst? Like a slot machine, the possibilities rolled around until the wheels stopped. "I'm a writer," he answered.

"No shit! Like novels?"

"Films. I write screenplays."

"Wow! Have I seen any of your movies?"

Mark fidgeted on his stool. "They haven't been produced yet but I'm looking at a studio deal later this year."

"That's great, man! Like thrillers? Or funny comedies?"

"Thrillers mostly. Big budget stuff."

Luis took large slushy pulls on his drink. "So where do you get your ideas from?"

Mark gestured broadly. "All around. This is Vegas. If you can't get ideas in Vegas, you can't get them anywhere."

"Yeah, I see what you mean. Maybe I could read something you wrote. That would be cool."

The only way Mark could think to change the conversation was to ask a question himself. "So what do you do, Luis?"

"I'm a flight attendant, man. For US Air. This is my route, New York to Vegas. I go back and forth, back and forth." He moved his hand one way then another to illustrate the concept.

"You like it?" Mark asked automatically.

"Yeah, you know, it's okay. It's like a six hour flight so I get to overnight in Vegas a few times a week and stay here, so yeah, I like it pretty well. I could get paid more but I got good benefits and shit and they treat us with respect most of the time."

Luis's drink was spent. He waved the bartender over for another. "You sure I can't get you one, or another Heineken, Peter?"

Mark declined. "I've got to take off soon."

"You play the tables?" Luis asked.

"Yeah, I play blackjack sometimes," Mark answered.

"I don't like that game so much. I like the slots. But I'm a flight attendant, man, so I gotta watch out. What I do is limit myself to fifty bucks. I blow through that, I'm like done." He tensed a little then asked, "You bet big?"

"Sometimes."

Another margarita was served up. Luis seemed overtly nervous now and licked his lips to keep them moist. He took his wallet out and paid for his drinks with Visa. The wallet was slim but stuffed, and his New York driver's license slid out with the credit card. He absently let the license sit on the bar and placed his wallet over it and took a large gulp of his fresh margarita.

"So, Peter," he said finally. "You feel like betting big on me tonight?"

Mark didn't understand the question. It disoriented him. "I don't know what you mean."

Luis let his hand move across the polished wood until his pinky touched Mark's hand ever so slightly. "You said you never saw what the rooms here look like. I could show you what mine looks like."

Mark felt faint. There was a legitimate chance he was going to pass out, fall right off the bar stool like a drunk in a slapstick. He could feel his heart start to pound and his breathing become rapid and shallow. His chest felt like it was mummy-wrapped. He straightened his spine and pulled his hand away, sputtering, "You think I-"

"Hey, man, I'm sorry. I thought, you know, that maybe you dug guys. It's no big deal." Then, almost under his breath, "Anyway, my boyfriend, John, would be happy I struck out."

No big deal? Mark thought violently. No fucking big deal! Hey, asshole, this is a major big deal, you fucking faggot! I don't want to hear about your fucking boyfriend! Leave me the fuck alone! This broadside blared inside his head as a cascade of visceral sensations piled on, dizziness, rising nausea, full-blown panic. He didn't think he'd be able to stand up and walk away without hitting the ground. The sounds of the restaurant and casino disappeared; he could only hear thumping in his chest.

Luis seemed alarmed by Mark's wide eyes and crazy stare. "Hey, man, chill, you know. You're a nice guy. I don't want to stress you out. I'm just going to hit the john, then we can just talk. Forget about the room thing. Cool?"

Mark didn't respond. He sat motionless trying to get his body under control. Luis grabbed his wallet and said, "Be right back. Watch my drink, okay?" He lightly patted Mark's back and tried to sound soothing. "Chill, okay?"

Mark watched as Luis disappeared around the corner, his slender hips packed tightly into his slacks. The sight distilled all his emotions into one: rage. His temperature soared. His temples burned. He tried to cool himself by chugging the rest of his cold beer.

After a few moments he thought he might be able to stand and he gingerly tried out his legs. So far, so good. His knees held. He wanted to leave fast, without a trace, so he hastily threw a twenty down on the bar, then another ten to make sure. The second bill landed on a card. It was Luis's license. Mark looked around then furtively picked it up. Luis Camacho 189 Minnieford Avenue, City Island, New York 10464 Date of birth 1-12-77

He threw it back down on the bar and almost ran out. There was no need to write it down. It was already memorized.

After he left the Luxor, he drove home to his subdivision on a quiet six-unit cul-de-sac. The patio house was a pleasant off-white stucco with an orange tile roof. It sat on a small plot with rug-sized lawns. The backyard had a deck off the kitchen and a privacy fence for sunbathing. The interior was decorated with a bachelor's insouciance. When he was in the private sector earning a big high-tech salary in Menlo Park, he'd purchased expensive contemporary furniture for a modern apartment, minimalist pieces with sharp angles and splashes of primary colors. That same furniture in a Spanish-style ranch looked off, like rancid food. It was a soulless interior almost completely devoid of art, ornaments, and personalized touches.