by Lou Mindar
On the screen, the Twin Towers seemed to sway a bit. One side collapsed and created a huge ash plume. A few minutes later, the other tower did the same thing.
Scott felt like a fool for thinking that his paltry efforts had made a difference. He had saved some people for a few days, but most of them were simply killed on September 17 instead of September 11.
Then the news came that a fourth airliner had crashed into the White House. Pictures on the TV showed the White House burning and in ruins.
“We reported earlier that the President was not in the White House at the time of the attack, although it was unclear where he was. Now, we’re getting word that President Bush was, in fact, in the White House. . .” The news anchor looked off camera. “Is this correct?” A solemn look came over his face. “CNN has learned that President George W. Bush, the forty-third President of the United States, was killed earlier today as a result of the terrorist attack that struck the White House.”
Scott sat on the couch in shock. He only wanted to do the right thing, to save the lives of all the people that died in the original attack. Instead, he had cost even more people their lives.
Later that day, Richard Bruce “Dick” Cheney was sworn in as the forty-fourth President of the United States. After taking the oath of office, Cheney stepped up to the microphone looking tired and morose. He gave a quick, unemotional speech in which he promised to “hunt down the people responsible for this hideous, cowardly act. Our retribution will be quick, lethal, and unending.” Then he declared Martial Law.
Chapter 79
October 2004
It was the middle of the day, but the house was dark. All the blinds were closed, blocking out the sunlight. Scott sat on the couch in front of the TV, which was dark and silent. He had stopped watching TV months earlier.
After the attacks and the death of President Bush, law enforcement officers were given the ability to stop and search anyone for any reason. All citizens were required to carry identification at all times. The government also was given broad surveillance powers that allowed them to monitor emails, texts, and phone calls of anyone within the borders of the United States.
Cheney also used the September 17 attacks as the impetus for military operations against Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Based on CIA intelligence, these four countries had hosted training bases for the terrorists involved in the September 17 attacks, and they continued to harbor terrorists who meant harm to the United States. Every day, TV news anchors reported the previous day’s death toll. Thousands more died each day.
Scott leaned forward on the couch and grabbed the bottle of vodka. He emptied it into his glass and took a long drink. He looked at the empty bottle. “Another dead soldier.” He raised his glass and toasted the bottle. “You died a hero.” He set the bottle on the table, then accidently knocked it over as he pulled his hand away. The bottle rolled off the table and fell harmlessly onto the area rug. Scott considered picking it up, but decided it wasn’t worth the effort. “I’ll get you later.”
Most days, he just wanted to die. He had thought about committing suicide, but didn’t have the guts to do it. Plus, he hoped that if he held out until the eve of his forty-fourth birthday, his deceased father would come for him and drop him into a new life.
He wouldn’t have to wait much longer to find out. His birthday was the following day.
Scott struggled to get up off the couch, then walked into the kitchen. In the pantry, he found several unopened bottles of vodka. He pulled one off the shelf and carried it into the living room. He opened the bottle and filled his glass to the rim. “Come get me dad. Don’t let me down.”
Life 5
Chapter 80
October 1986
Scott blinked and felt a tremendous weight lift off him. He suddenly felt strong and energetic. Gone was the pain and depression that had weighed so heavily on him. To his right he saw a large body of water, a lake. It was Lake Michigan, and he was running. He was running. But why was he running?
Scott stopped and took in his surroundings. The place looked familiar. He must be in Chicago, but when?
“Hey, we still have another mile to go,” a female voice said. “You’re not tired, are you?”
Scott turned and saw Liz, his girlfriend and running partner. He stared at her, unable to speak.
“Are you okay?” Liz asked.
After a moment, Scott laughed. “Yeah, I feel great.” He continued to stare. He had forgotten how beautiful and full of life she was. He loved her energy. She had a zest for life that always seemed to fill him and make him see the world in a better light.
“What are you smiling about?” she asked.
“Am I smiling?” Scott felt his face, his mouth turned up in a big smile. “I guess I’m just happy.”
“You’re crazy,” Liz said. “Let’s go.”
Liz started to jog again, and Scott fell in right next to her. He felt fantastic. His legs were fresh, and his body felt strong. It was a joy to be able to move without pain or exhaustion. He felt like he could run forever.
As they ran, Scott tried to figure out what date it was. He knew that he and Liz had started dating right after he’d graduated from law school. That was in May 1986. But they didn’t start running together until sometime in the heat of the summer. It didn’t feel like summer now. It was a gorgeous, sunny day, but the air was cool and clear, the humidity low. As they ran, he saw Halloween decorations in shop windows. It must be the fall, either September or October.
“Hey, what’s the date today?” Scott asked.
Liz glanced over at Scott. “The Eleventh. Why?”
“October?” Scott asked.
Liz laughed. “Yes, October,” she said. “What’s wrong with you?”
Scott laughed, trying to cover up his confusion, then he doubled down. “It’s 1986, right?
Liz looked at Scott, trying to give him a menacing look. “Would you just run?”
Their run came to an end in front of Scott’s apartment building. He almost kept running, but quickly recognized the old building when Liz stopped.
“Would you like to come in,” he asked.
“Unless you want me to run all the way back to Westmont.”
He remembered now that Liz lived in Westmont where she worked as a high school teacher. On weekends, either she would visit him in Chicago, or he would visit her in Westmont. It went on like that for several months until he started working weekends. Sometimes they’d go two or three weekends without seeing each other. But, despite not seeing Scott, sometimes for weeks at a time, Liz remained a loving and loyal girlfriend. She never complained about him working too much. It wasn’t until she got a job in Wisconsin, closer to her parents, that their relationship suffered. They agreed to keep dating, but two months after she moved, the relationship was over.
Scott unlocked the door.
“I need to take a shower.” Liz got a seductive grin on her face and raised her eyebrows. “Want to work the soap?”
“I’d be a fool not to.”
Chapter 81
January 1987
When Liz broke the news to him about the job offer in Wisconsin, Scott tried to act surprised. He was happy for her, but doubtful that he could move, and concerned about their relationship. He played the act for a few minutes, then gave in.
“This is a great opportunity for you, Liz,” he said. “You’d be crazy not to take it. I know it will be a pain taking the bar in Wisconsin and finding a new job, but I don’t want to lose you. I love what we have together, and if that means giving up my job and moving with you to Wisconsin, I’ll do it.”
Liz was overjoyed. She sprang out of her chair and hugged Scott. He was afraid he’d overdone his part. He had prepared the words he was going to say, but he was no actor. Regardless, his words had worked.
There was one problem that he hadn’t figured out yet. He had no desire to continue as an attorney. Naturally, he had thought about building a kayak touring business, but he
couldn’t very well do that in Wisconsin, with their long, cold winters. He needed to start making bets and stockpiling cash. Problem was, he only had a couple thousand dollars in the bank, and another five thousand dollars available on a credit card.
Scott knew that the Giants were going to beat the Broncos in the Super Bowl, but he wasn’t sure if they had beat the spread. The day before the Super Bowl, Scott flew to Las Vegas to place a bet. When he checked into Bally’s, he found out that the Giants were a nine-and-a-half-point favorite. He went to the sports book inside the hotel and thought for a few minutes. Did the Giants win by ten or more points? He seemed to remember they beat the Broncos handily, but by that much? He bet on the Giants to cover the spread.
The day of the game, Scott didn’t watch. He was too nervous. Instead, he hailed a cab outside of Bally’s.
“Take me to the best steakhouse in town,” Scott said when he got in the cab.
The restaurant was only half full. Scott assumed that was because everyone was busy watching the Super Bowl. He ordered a twenty-two-ounce bone-in ribeye, a baked potato with butter, a Caesar salad, and a glass of red wine. He was going to do his best to enjoy a great meal without thinking about his bet. He took his time and savored every bite. When he was finished, he ordered bananas foster for dessert. He was stuffed.
“Can I get you anything else,” the waiter asked.
“Just the check,” he said.
The waiter set the check on the table.
“Do you know the score of the game?” he asked.
“The Giants won 39-20.”
Scott smiled and thanked the waiter.
Chapter 82
March 1987
The plane taxied down the runway, then lifted its nose into the air. The thrust pushed Scott and the other passengers back into their seats. As the plane leveled off and the engines throttled back, the chatter inside picked up. He was alone and had no desire to talk to strangers. He closed his eyes.
He had taken the day off from his job at the law firm in Chicago, and his boss was not happy to have Scott away. Even so, he gave his blessing, and Scott booked a round-trip flight to Las Vegas. The plan was to fly in early, place his bet, and fly back later that same day. He didn’t want Liz to know about his trip, and he didn’t want to be gone from work any longer than necessary.
Step one of Scott’s plan had been to double his money with the Super Bowl. He now had fifteen-thousand-dollars to bet on the World Series winner, which was step number two. He would have more than enough money come October to live comfortably with Liz, and neither one of them would have to work. The money would allow the two of them to spend all their time together, whether traveling, going on adventures, or just hanging out at home.
After he arrived, he took a taxi to Bally’s and made a beeline for the sports book. It was mid-morning on a weekday, so there were few people placing bets.
“I’d like to bet fifteen-thousand-dollars on the Minnesota Twins to win the World Series,” he said.
The cashier pursed his lips. “With such long odds, I’ll need to get permission to take that bet.” The cashier picked up the phone and spoke too softly for Scott to hear. He hung up and looked back at Scott. “Mr. Fry will be up to meet with you.”
Of course, Mr. Fry wouldn’t remember Scott, but Scott became nervous anyway, looking around rapidly. The longer it took Fry to come out, the more nervous he became. Finally, the little tough guy came out.
“What bet is it that you’d like to make?” Fry asked.
Scott hesitated, for some reason expecting Fry to suddenly recognize him. “I want to bet $15,000 on the Twins to win the World Series.
Fry turned toward the cashier. “What are the odds?”
“500-to-1.”
Fry shook his head. “I’m sorry. The maximum wager we can take on that particular bet is $10,000.”
“I was really hoping to bet the entire $15,000.”
“I understand,” Fry said. “You can take the other $5000 down the street to another sports book if you’d like, but we can only take $10,000.”
Scott paused a moment. Splitting his bet between two casinos was inconvenient, but not the end of the world. If he hurried, he could place both bets and be home before dinner.
Scott placed his bet, then walked out of Bally’s and hailed a taxi.
“Where to?” the cabbie asked.
Scott instructed the cabbie to go to Caesar’s Palace. Then he sat back in his seat and waited.
Chapter 83
October 1987
Liz was conservative by nature. To be sure, she was fun-loving, but she avoided glitz or being the center-of-attention. The neon-lighted pageantry of Las Vegas was definitely not her thing. That’s why it had been such a struggle to convince her to spend their limited funds on a last-minute trip to Sin City. Liz had only been in her new job for a few months, and Scott was still studying for the Wisconsin bar, hoping to find a job soon. Their budget was already stretched thin.
But Scott was persuasive. He had a little money put away for just such an occasion. Since Liz started her new job, they hadn’t spent enough time together having fun. Plus, Scott reasoned, it was Halloween and they should do something special. Finally, he wore her down.
A few days earlier, the Minnesota Twins had beaten the St. Louis Cardinals to win the World Series. St. Louis’ loss made Scott think of Randy. He missed his old friend. Randy was easy to talk to, and despite his quirky nature, he was a solid friend. Scott wondered what he was doing now.
Scott and Liz checked into Bally’s, and after getting cleaned up, they went to dinner at a Mexican restaurant inside the hotel.
“Did you get your studying done for the week?” Liz asked.
“I did. I’m right on schedule.” Scott hated to lie to Liz, but he felt it was justified under the circumstances. Very soon, the bar exam would be the least of their concerns.
“February is going to be here before you know it.”
Scott smiled and took a drink of his margarita. “Oh, I know.” He wanted to laugh at Liz’s concern. She was just being a good partner. She had no way of knowing about the life they would be living when it was time to take the bar exam in February.
“Have you heard anything new about a job?” she asked.
Scott raised his hands and looked around the room. “We’re in Vegas, Liz. Let’s enjoy our time together while we’re here.”
She leaned forward across the table. “But I feel guilty,” she said. “You wouldn’t have to take the bar exam again if I hadn’t drug you up to Wisconsin. You gave up a perfectly good job.”
Scott reached across the table and held Liz’s hands. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. No more talk about jobs and bar exams. This weekend, it’s just about the two of us.”
Liz smiled at Scott’s suggestion. “It’s a deal.”
Scott flagged down a waiter. “Two more margaritas,” he said. “We’ll be done with these by the time you get back.”
*
Scott and Liz slept in on Saturday morning. Hungover, they went for a late breakfast, and Scott suggested they go for a short walk to burn off a few calories.
Liz looked curiously at Scott. “Why are you smiling?”
Scott tried to conceal his smile, but he couldn’t. “Can’t I smile if I’m happy?”
“You’ve been smiling all morning.”
Scott laughed. “I’ve been happy all morning.”
Liz shook her head. “You’re being weird.” She put her arm through his and they left the restaurant, walking down the street toward Caesars. When they got there, Scott suggested they go inside.
“I’d like to see what it’s like in there.”
“I’d just like to get in out of the heat.”
They made their way to the sports book. “Why’d you want to come here?” Liz asked.
Scott handed Liz the winning World Series ticket. “Go up to that window and give this ticket to the cashier.”
“Why? What is this?”
Scott turned Liz toward the cashier’s window. “You’ll see.”
Liz looked over her shoulder at Scott, then walked up to the window. She tentatively offered the ticket to the cashier, who looked at it, then got a smile on his face.
“Congratulations,” the cashier said. “It will be just a minute.” He picked up a telephone.
Liz turned around toward Scott. “What’s going on?”
Scott placed his hands on Liz’s shoulders to reassure her, then turned her back toward the cashier. He kept his hands on her shoulders. “Be patient. You’ll see in a minute.”
The cashier handed the ticket back to Liz. “If you’ll just go down the hall to the second door on your left, Ms. Hauser will be waiting for you.”
Confused, Liz turned and walked down the hall with Scott. Ms. Hauser greeted them in the hallway and directed them into a meeting room where a man in a suit held an oversize check.
“Congratulations,” Ms. Hauser said. “I just have a few forms for you to complete to make things official.” She asked Scott and Liz to sit, then showed them where on the forms to sign. “Do you have any plans for the money?”
“What money?” Liz asked.
“The money you just won,” Ms. Hauser said.
Liz looked at Scott and then at Ms. Hauser. “We won some money?”
“Two-and-a-half-million-dollars,” Ms. Hauser said.
Liz looked at Scott and blanched. “Two-and-a-half-million-dollars?”
Scott raised his eyebrows and nodded.
“Oh my God, you’re a millionaire.”
Scott smiled. “We’re millionaires.”
When the paperwork was done, Ms. Hauser asked if they’d be willing to pose for a photo with the oversize check.
Scott and Liz stood in front of a backdrop of Caesars Palace, and the man in the suit took a photo.
“If you’re interested, Caesars would be happy to comp you a suite and give you a million dollars in credit,” Ms. Hauser said.
