1
Amy stared at the square black envelope, placed conspicuously on the driver's seat of her sport utility vehicle. After a quick scan of the faculty parking lot, the twenty-five year old plucked the envelope from its resting place and climbed into the truck, her tailored skirt sliding up her bare legs as she did so. Her heart beating insistently, Amy pulled the slip of paper from the black enclosure.
"Oh, Franklin," she sighed, reading the familiar script. "What shall I do with you?" Amy glanced at the clock on the dashboard, flicked open her cellular phone, and dialed her husband.
"Daniel, sweetheart?" Amy ran glistening, dark red lipstick across her pursed lips.
"Oh, hi, darling," Daniel replied, distracted. "I actually meant to call you -- I'll be late tonight."
She felt a puff of relief. "Oh no, not again, sweetie. It doesn't seem fair."
"Well, unless you want your new Range Rover repossessed, I've got to stay."
Amy heard the clicking of keys from his computer. Only the flimsiest of alibis would be required, and so that was what she offered.
"Well, as it turns out, I won't be home until nine anyway. Holly and I are going to hit the stores to pick up materials for next week's lesson."
"O.k., I shouldn't be much later than that," he answered, and Amy again heard the chattering of his keyboard. "I'll call otherwise."
Liberated, Amy brought her vehicle's large engine to life, and roared out of the Murray P. Sloan High School parking lot.
2
Unlike many of the abandoned buildings surrounding it, the Lehigh Hotel had at least received something in return for the honor it surrendered long ago. It may not have been prosperity, but it was enough to allow the hotel's continued operation, which was more than could be said of the fire-blackened movie theatre joined to its north wall, or the gutted department store attached to the south. Compared to these failed structures, the Lehigh's shabby maroon awnings, faded sign, and intact windows appeared welcoming.
Amy glided past the leering hotel manager, and self-consciously tugged the collar of her blouse together, which although modestly cut, was pulled tight over her full breasts. She hated this ritual inspection by the manager, a fat, balding man whose name she remembered as Lewis. Furthermore, no matter when she was summoned to the hotel, he was there, either reclining on the ripped leather chair behind the desk, or flipping through a magazine, occasionally pornographic.
Feeling the slight blush imposed by the manager fading from her cheeks, Amy tapped on the battered door of room 17.