Fear and Loating in Las Vegas. A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream

“The dope ring,” I said. “You must know what’s going on in this hotel. Why do you think we’re here?”

She stared at us, trying to speak but only blubbering. “I know you’re cops,” she said finally. “But I thought you were just here for that convention. I swear! All I wanted to do was clean up your room. I don’t know anything about dope!”

My attorsey laughed. “Come on, baby. Don’t try to tell us you never heard of the Grange Gorman.”

“No!” she yelled. “No! I swear to Jesus I never heard of that stuff!”

My attorney seemed to think for a moment, then he leaned to help the old lady to her feet. “Maybe she’s telling the he said to me. “Maybe she’s not part of it.”

“No! I swear I’m not!” she howled.

“Well .. .” I said. “In that case, maybe we won’t have to put her away ...maybe she can

help.”

“Yes!” she said eagerly. “I’ll help you all you need! I hate dope!”

“So do we, lady,” I said.

“I think we should put her on the payroll,” said my attorney. “Have her checked out,

then line her up for a Big One each month, depending on what she comes up with.”

The old woman’s face had changed markedly. She no longer seemed disturbed to find

herself chatting with two naked men, one of whom had tried to strangle her just a few

moments earlier.

“Do you think you could handle it?” I asked her.

“What?”

“One phone call every day,” said my attorney. “Just tell us what you’ve seen.” He patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t worry if it doesn’t add up. That’s our problem.”

She grinned. “You’d pay me for that?”

“You’re damn right,” I said. “But the first time you say anything about this, to anybody—you’ll go straight to prison for the rest of your life.”

She nodded. “I’ll help any way that I can,” she said. “But who should I call?”

“Don’t worry,” said my attorney. “What’s your name?”

“Alice.” she said. “Just ring Linen Service and ask for Alice.”

“You’ll be contacted,” I said. “It’ll take about a week. But keep your eyes open and try to act normal. Can you do that?”

“Oh, yes sir!” she said. “Will I see you gentlemen again?” She grinned sheepishly. “After this, I mean..

“No,” said my attorney. “They sent us down from Carson City. You’ll be contacted by Inspector Rock. Arthur Rock. He’ll be posing as a politician, but you won’t have any trouble recognizing him.”

She seemed to be shuffling nervously.

“What’s wrong?” I said. “Is there something you haven’t told us?”

“Oh no!” she said quickly. “I was just wondering—who’s going to pay me?”

“Inspector Rock will take care of that,” I said. “It’ll all be in cash: a thousand dollars on the ninth of every month.”

“Oh Lord!” she exclaimed. “I’d do just about anything for that!”

“You and a lot of other people,” said my attorney. “You’d be surprised who we have on the payroll—right here in this same hotel.”

She looked stricken. “Would I know them?”

“Probably,” I said. “But they’re all undercover. The only way you’ll ever know is if something really serious happens and one of them has to contact you in public, with the pass word.”

“What is it?” she asked.

“ ‘One Hand Washes the Other,’ ” I said. “The minute you hear that, you say: ‘I fear nothing.’ That way, they’ll know you.”

She nodded. repeating the code several times, while we listened tomake sure she had it right.

“OK,” said my attorney. “That’s it for now. We probably won;t be seeing you again until the hammer comes down. You’ll be better off ignoring us until we leave. Don’t bother to make up the room. Just elave a pile of towels and soap outside the door, exactly at modnight.” He smiled. “That way, we won;t have to risk another one of these little incidents, will we?”

She moved towards the door. “Whatever you say gentlemen. I can;t tell you how sorry I am about what happened ...but it was only because I didn’t realize.”

My attorney ushered her out. “We understand,” he said “But it’s all over now. Thank God for the decent people.”

She smiled as she closed the door behind her.

She nodded, repeating the code several times, while we lis tened to make sure she

had it right.

“OK,” said my attorney. “That’s it for Dow. We probably won’t be seeing you

again until the hammer comes down. You’ll be better off ignoring us until we

leave. Don’t bother to make up the room. Just leave a pile of towels and soap

outside the door, exactly at midnight.” lie smiled. “That way, we won’t

have to risk another one of theep little incidents, will we?”

12. Return to the Circus—Circus ...Looking for the Ape ...to Hell with the American Dream

Almost seventy-two hours had passed since that strange encounter, and no maid had set foot in the room. I wondered what Alice had told them. We had seen her once, trundling a laundry cart across the parking area as we rolled up in the Whale but we offered no sign of recognition and she seemed understand.