She lied to me.
This girl, this Maxie, doesn't have a room after all. And it looks like that isn't going to change any time soon.
"I don't understand. Why can't you just accept cash?" Her voice is wavering, the voice of a girl trying to be mature but wanting to burst into tears and hide underneath her blankets. I was planning on going straight upstairs for a hot shower but I decide to stay for the resolution.
"Listen, dear" Natalie casts a disdainful glance towards the wad of bills clutched in Maxie's palm "you can't just show up here and demand a room. This is an establishment. Reservations must be made." This, simply put, is pure bullshit. If this girl were a Chandler or a Smythe or hell, even a Martin, she would be given a room no questions asked. But she's young and doesn't look particularly well off, so she's of no use to anyone here. If she had told me the truth I could have saved her the hassle and driven her directly to The Pine Cone. Oh, the follies of youth.
This has become almost too cringe-worthy for me to observe, as there are now curious bystanders listening to this sad display. I think I even feel a little twinge in my heart. What has happened to me? On second thought, it could very well be indigestion. Tad had been right about one thing; that salmon had definitely not been Grade A. A shame really, considering the price.
"Natalie, lovely evening isn't it? Feel lucky you've been indoors, unlike this poor lady. Open that warm, charitable heart of yours and give her a room. Right now she reminds of a certain other woman who was unable to find room at the inn. Why, it's almost sacrilegious to deny her one!"
JR. That little shit. I saw him eyeing her from across the room and I should have guessed he'd make a play for her. She was just his type. She did, after all, look exactly like his wife.
The exploits of Babe Chandler were common knowledge to pretty much anyone with eyes and ears, but the way JR fucked his way through half the men and women in town in some sort of hackneyed revenge plot against her was downright embarrassing. For both of them. Especially since the types of cases I had been treating recently would make it appear he wasn't being too safe about it, either. The guy is a walking venereal disease.
But he is one smooth talker, as it appears Maxie is now staying in one of the Pine Valley Inn Suites, courtesy of Chandler Enterprises. Not that I expect her to be utilizing that room tonight.
She's as easy as a goddamn game of Go Fish for him. But that's them the breaks, I guess.
I wonder where Krystal is?