Who's Money Is It?

Who's Money Is It?

Frank Short a portly man dressed in his Vegas duds of a yellow Hawaiian shirt and shorts sat down at the roulette wheel placing his bet. Although winning was his hope, his mind was else where. The guilt of where he got his money was over riding his concentration on the game, now going over and over in his mind the reasoning he used. He won. He collected his chips and placed more down. The wheel again turned. As long as he was winning it didn't matter ,but he continued to scan the room filled with gamblers. It was loud from the noise of the machines and roar of the winners. He was glad it was smoke free, because his lungs were bad. He lost. He picked up his chips and left the table for now, a rule he made to himself.

Frank had left Joyce Sarii in the hotel room changing. He had met Joyce on this tour. She laughed at his jokes and he loved her smile. She had become a fine companion. She also was a very lucky lady. He had taken her out for dinner, and as they were returning to their rooms she had placed a dollar in the slot machine and won big. She had cashed out her chips and had left the winnings sitting on the bed. Waiting brought temptation. There it sat lying on that plaid coverlet. I could double or triple that amount by the time she is ready to go, reasoned Frank.
"I am going back to the casino. I will be back to pick you up soon." he shouted out to Joyce while he picked up as much of the cash as he could.

Frank knew there was no more time and he would have to get back to Joyce's room to replace the money,but before he went back he thought a bouquet of flowers would draw her attention as he replaced the money. At the flower shop in the hotel ,he bought a bouquet of pretty yellow flowers . He knocked on the door, and there was no response. He knocked again, and still she didn't come to the door. She had given him her extra key. He used it and entered the room. The winnings that were on the bed were now gone. He looked around the room and there was no Joyce, but her things were still there. The answering machine flashing indicated a message. It was only her daughter checking on her. As he moved about, the sunglasses he had in his pocket fell out. He did not notice. He heard a ruckus in the hallway. He looked out and there was Joyce talking to security guards. Would he be facing jail time? Joyce was on the right,but on the left was a fire escape and a way out. He walked at a normal pace as he went to the door leading to the fire escape, upon reaching the stairs he went into a speedy flight. When he was on the ground Franks freedom was short lived , because the fire escape door had an alarm. He had left in Joyce's room flowers and sunglasses.

Greed had ruined a great vacation.