{"id":2343,"date":"2023-10-23T01:54:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T01:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/?p=2343"},"modified":"2023-09-16T15:30:31","modified_gmt":"2023-09-16T15:30:31","slug":"chap-29-skip-shares-whats-bothering-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/?p=2343","title":{"rendered":"Chap. 29 – Skip Shares What’s Bothering Him"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Chapter 29<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skip Shares What\u2019s Bothering Him With Rocky<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Leaving Norman, Oklahoma, our next stop was a late addition to the list.  \u201cIt\u2019s on the way,\u201d Rocky said.  \u201cThere\u2019s this hotel, The Arlington, in Hot Springs, Arkansas.  Before there was a Las Vegas, there was a Hot Springs.  Once the best place in the United States to gamble, Hot Springs still has all the things a town needs for fun times \u2013 and The Arlington, famous for being Al Capone\u2019s hangout \u2013 well, wait \u2018til ya see it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     From the second we arrived, we saw what Rocky meant about The Arlington.  Coming from the west it\u2019s the last place on \u201cBathhouse Row.\u201d  From the east it\u2019s the first place on Central Avenue, the main road into town.  One reason Al Capone used to stay there – he could post sentries on the front veranda and make any needed escape into the hills out the back way.  Topping it off, the \u201cworld\u2019s greatest\u201d swimming pool, eight floors up tucked into the mountain side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     The lobby was exquisite, gold chandeliers dangled from 75-feet up, inch-thick carpeting all around.  Before paying, Sally suggested, \u201cLet\u2019s go see the rooms.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cNo, first the pool,\u201d Rocky said.  \u201cYou won\u2019t mind the price once you\u2019ve seen the pool.\u201d  (Rocky had stayed there before during a poker tournament.)  Eleven of us crammed into the all-mirrored (floor to ceiling, including the ceiling) elevators.  Whoa, not like any other swimming pool in the world.  First, yes, an Olympic-sized pool with chaise lounges (not too many takers in November).  Then a walk up a circular stairway to a huge hot tub built into the side of the mountain with a view of the entire town, with real honest-to-goodness thermal waters \u2013 not just a pool, it was a hot-springs with a slide that goes into the pool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201cOK!\u201d we all agreed and started figuring out rooms:  Jack and Sally in one.  Skip, Rocky, Max and Big Sam in a suite.  Patty was okay sharing a room with Huck and Steve \u2013 that is, until Huck invited Sunshine and Peaches to share the room.  Kicking him in the shins, Patty said, \u201cNo Huck, go stay with them in their RV \u2013 you\u2019ve all gotten to be such good friends.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The next morning, Skip got up early and bought all the newspapers in the lobby, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the New York Times and yesterday\u2019s L.A. Times, but there was nothing new to learn about the bombing at Dodger Stadium.  There were still no arrests or new leads, just a note found in the women’s bathroom at the ballpark with words cut out from a magazine saying “Release Political Prisoner Proud Boys or Face Greater Wrath from the Islamic State.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

     When Rocky found Skip in the coffee shop, Rocky suggested they check out the hot tub.  They did.  The sun was just coming up.  It was way too cold for swimming, but a perfect morning for a hot tub.  They were the first early risers enjoying the thermal waters, gazing at the radiant early purple-orange sky.  Robin had rolled Rocky a couple \u201cj\u2019s\u201d for the road and lit one up.  \u201cSo what\u2019s got you so down, man?\u201d Rocky asked.  \u201cYou haven\u2019t seemed yourself since you got back from L.A.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      After taking a long hit, holding it in, looking off to the sunrise, Skip exhaled saying, \u201cOh, for crissake, I guess I got to get this off my chest, that fucking brother-in-law of Max\u2019s and his SLA buddy are<\/em> involved<\/em> in<\/em> the<\/em> L<\/em>.A<\/em>. bombing<\/em>.\u201d And there it was \u2013 it just came out \u2013 marijuana will do that to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cSLA buddy, who\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cOh, I never told you, but I didn\u2019t want any one on the bus to know how close Max\u2019s brother-in-law was to the SLA.  The guy I stayed with in Sacramento, the guy Ken put me up with, Gordy, was an original SLA member and did five years for that Sacramento bank robbery, the one with Patty Hearst<\/em>.  I couldn\u2019t fucking believe it when Patty came up with that Patty Hearst skit.  And I really<\/em> couldn\u2019t fucking believe it when Ken told me that he and Gordy were in on the bombing.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201cYou\u2019re kidding me, right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cGod damn not kidding one bit.  And so I tell Ken I\u2019m going to the cops \u2013 can you believe that \u2013 me going to the cops \u2013 but this is some serious shit.  And then Ken tells me Gordy is now a CIA operative<\/em>, approached by the government and given early release to become a sorta double agent.  With his past history, he was easily able to get the confidence of some terrorist group; infiltrate it \u2013 and this<\/em> you\u2019re not going to fucking believe \u2013 some terrorist group operating out of Vancouver<\/em> . . . The Charlie Furbush connection<\/em>!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201cNo Shit!  What are you going to do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cYeah, that\u2019s what\u2019s bothering me.  Really doubt our gigolo buddy Ken is telling the truth about the CIA.  All I know for sure is that the guy I stayed with in Sacramento, Gordy, knew the bomb was going to go off, and when Gordy heard Ken was going to the ball game, he warned Ken off.  Probably doesn\u2019t give a rat\u2019s ass about me.  If Ken tells him I\u2019m clued in on all this, they might come lookin\u2019 for me.  I\u2019m looking over my shoulder every friggin\u2019 minute . . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cJesus Christ.  This is deep shit, man.  Deeper than we\u2019ve ever been.  Guess that explains no leads, no arrests . . . until<\/em> they find you,\u201d <\/em>Rocky tried laughing.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201c . . . but I don\u2019t think Ken has told Gordy that I know anything.  I\u2019m pretty sure Ken wants to stay tight with all of us.  Just happens to have Gordy for a good friend too.  Un-fucking-believable.\u201d Skip finished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cSo tell me what happened on the way to the Dodgers game \u2013 and how Vancouver came up,\u201d Rocky said, looking down the stairs and seeing their roomie, Big Sam, coming to join them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cYeah, I want to keep talking.  Let\u2019s tell Big Sam we got to race off to do something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201cToppa da mornin\u2019 gentlemen,\u201d Big Sam said, bounding up the last stairs and throwing himself into the hot springs, setting off a humongous wave, \u201cI hafta tell ya, this – is – the –  life!   How\u2019s that Rompers thing goin\u2019?  Whacha up here schemin\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Pretty quickly everybody was up enjoying the hot springs, and Rocky and Skip postponed their ongoing private conversation.  Sally wanted to know where\u2019s next after Hot Springs, \u201cNot that I\u2019m anxious to leave \u2013 this is a great place, Rock.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Patty said she had a friend in Daphne, Alabama, next on the list, \u201cbut Jack, Big Sam, one of you must know somebody in New Orleans, no?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     All smiles, Big Sam was quick with, \u201cArn’t ya glad I\u2019m along – I nose a gaahh–rate bar we oughta hit in Louise-e-anna \u2013 hafta time it jus right tho  \u2013 it\u2019s a SAT-UR-DAY MORNIN bar, a dance hall.  Place called Fred\u2019s Lounge in Mamou.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Sally tried steering the conversation back to politics, \u201cI could use help pushing the Rump idea.  It\u2019s looking cradle to grave without a life in-between.  Jack here, all he wants to do is….\u201d she trailed off blowing him a big kiss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Patty wondered, \u201cWhat are you thinking, Skip?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Before Skip could answer, Rocky tried ending the conversation: \u201cI\u2019m checking out the bath houses.  Scotch, you comin\u2019 with?  There\u2019s still things called bath houses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Skip ignored the cue to leave, \u201cYeah, maybe a spa will be good later, but everybody\u2019s here now.  Let\u2019s think this through a minute.  What connections have we made with Trump Nation types?  How can we build on crossing the political divide?  Max, now that Eloise\u2019s election is over, maybe those Montana cowboys want more action, more fun.  Are we really Facebook friends with them?  And Steve, how \u2018bout those guys you all met at the RV park in Arizona? Maybe find common cause in fighting terrorism together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Big Sam broke-in:  \u201cYah, yur on ta sumpin\u2019 \u2013 I voted for Trump.  I know, I feared tellin\u2019 ya . . .  but I\u2019m not really a right winger . . . sure as hell not a left-wing nut job, like you guys, either.  Just kiddin\u2019 . . . I voted fer Trump cuz he was diff\u2019rent . . .   more like<\/em> a<\/em> Pirate<\/em>.  Ya gotta stay wit dat.  Dats why yer so loved in L.A.  Why I wanted to hang with ya.  Dats why I got on board.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     \u201cYah, what is fun?\u201d Rocky said.  \u201cI\u2019m off to the bathhouses.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Skip followed Rocky down the slide, \u201cMeet tomorrow morning, same time, same place, and we\u2019ll make a plan?\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chapter 29 Skip Shares What\u2019s Bothering Him With Rocky      Leaving Norman, Oklahoma, our next stop was a late addition to the list.  \u201cIt\u2019s on the way,\u201d Rocky said.  \u201cThere\u2019s this hotel, The Arlington, in Hot Springs, Arkansas.  Before there … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[22],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2343"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2343"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2343\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2784,"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2343\/revisions\/2784"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2343"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2343"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2343"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}