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Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas :: Thompson Hunter S.
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“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.
“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.