***
Wayne opened the door for them, followed them into the lobby of the Hilton and walked with them to the elevator bank.
Elevator doors were open, cars waiting.
Nobody entered one.
‘Well,’ Vivian said, once again shaking Wayne’s hand. ‘Thanks so much.’
‘Glad to be of service.’
‘I don’t know what we would’ve done without you,’ Helen told him. She offered her hand. Wayne took it, squeezed it and let go.
Cora opened her purse. She took out her billfold, saying, ‘We’d like to give you a little something for all your trouble.’ She plucked out a ten-dollar bill.
Wayne held up both hands to ward it off. ‘No, please. I don’t want your money. Gosh. Put it away.’
Cora blushed. ‘Please. Take it. If nothing else, use it for a taxi home.’
‘The subway’s fine. ’ He patted a pocket of his jeans. ‘Already got my token.’
Cora put the money away. ‘Okay, if you’re sure. Anyway, thanks so much.’
‘Yeah, you were a lifesaver,’ Finley said.
‘Thank you very much,’ Abilene added, realizing she had misjudged him. ‘You really helped us out.’
‘You’re all very welcome. Now, I guess I’d better…’ He started to turn away, then stopped and grimaced. ‘You don’t suppose I could… use your facilities before I start back?’
‘I really hate to ask, but…
‘I’m sure there’s a john here in the lobby you could use,’ Cora said.
‘Yeah. Probably so. Okay, I’ll…’
‘For Godsake! ’ Helen blurted. Scowling at Cora, she grabbed Wayne’s arm and pulled him toward an elevator. ‘Of course you can use our john. Come on.’
‘I don’t want to impose.’
‘You’re not imposing.’ She pulled him into the elevator.
The others stepped aboard.
Helen jabbed a button for the twenty-fourth floor.
The doors slid silently shut and the elevator began to rise.
‘I really do appreciate this,’ Wayne said. He was leaning back against the rear wall.
Cora turned to face him. ‘I’m sorry, but you’ll have to use the toilet in the lobby.’
He frowned.
‘Cora!’
‘I mean it, Helen. Wayne’s been very nice to us and helpful and everything, but he’s not coming into our rooms. That’s final.’
‘It’s not fair! ’
‘I only want to use your toilet,’ Wayne said. ‘It’ll only take a minute, then I’ll be gone.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘We could at least vote on it,’ Helen said.
‘We aren’t taking any Goddamn vote,’ Abilene snapped, stepping close to Cora’s side. ‘We’ve gotta be sensible, and it’s stupid to let a stranger into our rooms.’ Looking Wayne in the eyes, she said in a softer tone, ‘I’m sorry.’
‘What do you think I’m going to do, attack you all or something?’
‘We just don’t want to take any chances,’ Vivian told him.
‘Sorry,’ Finley added.
As the elevator stopped, Wayne shook his head. ‘You gals are sure something.’
The doors rolled open. Cora glanced over her shoulder and punched the button for the lobby. ‘Just stay here. We don’t want any trouble.’
‘This is the thanks I get, huh?’
Cora, backing away, pressed her shoulder against the side of the doorway to keep the doors open. Abilene, Vivian and Finley stepped out. Helen stayed at the rear of the elevator. She folded her arms across her chest. She shook her head. ‘It isn’t right,’ she said.
‘Damn it, Helen.’
‘I’m not budging.’
‘Come on.’
Wayne turned his eyes to Helen. He slipped his arm across her shoulders, and she looked at him. ‘I’m afraid your friends aren’t going to give in on this. You’d better go with them, now. But thanks for trusting me.’ He squeezed her shoulder, then withdrew his arm.
Helen, nodding, walked toward the opening. ‘I think it stinks,’ she muttered. As she approached, Cora moved out of the way. The doors slowly began to roll shut. Helen stepped out of the elevator. She looked back at Wayne.
‘So long,’ he said.
And she leaped through the gap between the doors.
‘No! ’ Abilene gasped.
Cora rushed forward, but she wasn’t quick enough. ‘Shit!’
Abilene punched a finger against the call button. The plastic disk lit up, but the doors remained shut.
The lights above the elevator blinked from 23 to 22 to 21, marking the descent of Helen and Wayne. Below the twentieth floor, the elevator was an express to the lobby.
Abilene felt as if her stomach were dropping along with it.
‘What’re we gonna doT Vivian asked.
‘She’ll be all right,’ Finley said. From the look on her face, she didn’t believe it.
‘We should’ve let him use the john,’ Abilene muttered.
‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ Cora said. ‘If we’d let him into the rooms, there’s no telling what he might have done.’
‘Maybe we ought to go down to the lobby,’ Vivian suggested. As she spoke, an elevator arrived. Its doors opened for those who had called it to this floor.
They all glanced over at it.
‘We wouldn’t get there in time,’ Cora said, returning her gaze to the numbers above Helen’s elevator. ‘Whatever he’s doing to her, he’ll be finished by the time they reach the lobby.’
Abilene groaned.
‘She wouldn’t leave the hotel with him, would she?’ Vivian asked.
‘She’s not that stupid,’ Cora said.
Above the doors, the letter L lit up.
‘What if he forces her to go with him?’ Vivian asked.
‘No way,’ Cora said. ‘All she’d have to do is yell, security’d take care of him.’
‘I sure hope you’re right,’ Abilene said.
The L remained bright.
‘What the hell’s…?’
It went dark.
They waited. They didn’t talk.
Finally, 20 blinked on and off, followed by 21, 22, 23. Then the 24 lit up.
The doors slid apart.
Helen, crouched in a corner, looked at them with tears in her eyes. Her face was red and wet. Her hands were clutching her upraised knees. The back of her skirt shrouded the floor, baring the undersides of her thick, pale
