The Nightcrawler by Mick Ridgewell Read Free Book Online Page A

Scott replied, annoyed that this pimple faced, little pissant was talking to him.
    “Nice clubs, Mr. Randall. Where did you play while you were here?”  
    “Didn’t. Just bought them yesterday.”
    The elevator door opened. Scott was relieved that the Q & A with Jimmy was over. He approached the front desk where a cheerful woman asked, “Checking out?”  
    He just nodded and said, “Scott Randall.”
    She typed his name into her computer and inquired, “Was everything satisfactory, Mr. Randall?”  
    He smiled and nodded without saying anything.  
    “Your bill has been taken care of by a Mr. Thomas Andrews. If you’ll just sign here.” He scribbled an illegible signature. “Thank you, please come back and stay with us again.”
    Scott smiled again. “Thank you. I will.”  
    A few steps behind him Jimmy was waiting with Scott’s bags neatly placed on the trolley.
    “Can I get you a cab, Mr. Randall?”
    “No, I have a car in the garage.”
    Jimmy pushed the cart inside the first available elevator and Scott stepped in behind him not bothering to say a word.  
    “Did you park on level one or two, Mr. Randall?” Scott held up two fingers.
    The door slid open, the garage was near empty.  
    “Which one’s yours, Mr. Randall?”
    “The red Charger just ahead on the right.”
    The young lad stopped behind the Charger. “Whoa! Bitchin ride.”  
    A smile crossed Scott’s lips briefly.  
    While Jimmy stowed the luggage in the trunk, Scott looked at his watch, 11:15. “Jimmy, I need to pick up a road atlas. Any idea where I can get one?”
    “Sure, Mr. Randall. There’s a bookstore across the street. I’m sure they would have one.”  
    You couldn’t figure that out, Scott thought to himself. You were just there yesterday. Jimmy pointed him in the direction of the stairwell.  
    “The stairs are the quickest way, Mr. Randall,” he said. Scott thanked him, handed him a twenty then walked up the stairs.
    Stepping out onto the sidewalk he took a deep breath, exhaled and felt energized by the improved air quality compared with the dank garage. Then two steps toward the street, a familiar pungent odor made him feel nauseated.  
    “Say man, can ya spare some change?”  
    It was him, the same bum that spoiled his walk yesterday. So much for the rejuvenated feeling he got from the morning air. The stink on this guy was worse than yesterday. Who would have thought that possible? Scott was as angered by the intrusion as he was repulsed by the smell.  
    “I told you no yesterday, now fuck off.”  
    The bum just grinned, cocked his finger like a kid playing cops and robbers. He pointed at Scott, made that same clicking sound with his tongue and said “Okie-dokie.”
    Scott crossed the street and when he looked back the bum was gone.
    Inside the bookstore, the same clerk who rang in his purchase the previous day was working the cash register.  
    “I need a road atlas,” Scott announced.
    Just then the phone rang and she answered it. “Books and More, can you please hold?” She looked at Scott and pointed him to the travel section. He quickly found the atlas and returned to the checkout, putting the atlas on the counter.  
    “Hold on,” the clerk said into the phone, and then rung in Scott’s purchase. “Will there be anything else today, sir?”  
    He looked out the window, no sign of the smelly man.  
    “That’ll be all,” he said.
    She smiled that same smile that must be part of the training in retail. “$11.75,” she said. She took his money, made change and said, “Please come again.” Then she continued her phone conversation.  
    He put the change in his pocket without counting it and headed back to the hotel garage.  
    In the driver’s seat, Scott opened the road atlas and planned the first leg of his journey. He needed to get to the westbound I-94. Confident that he could get there, he closed the atlas and put the keys in the ignition. The 440 started with a roar that