| Deny Everything
(Published in Trip Sheet Magazine January 2003) The title is named after an episode of the X-Files And the intro is a take on Star Wars A long Time Ago In a Galaxy Far far away..(okay so it’s not) It was a dark time in Taxi-dom with the adult establishments halting all payments to the cab drivers, leaving many of the nocturnal taxi operators to seek alternative methods of supplementing this lost income. Many drivers turned to the Dark-side of the industry…or something like that! Sahara Hotel Paradise Entrance 90 minutes before Super bowl 36 Alfred had been coming to Vegas every year since he turned twenty-one to watch the Super Bowl and to place a bet over at Caesar’s Palace. Each time he brought six grand with him to place a straight bet for a net of double his money, more or less. He’s been right on the money three for three and this year should be no different, or so he thought. Sam sat in his cab waiting in the cool afternoon for the next fare. When he saw Alfred approach, he didn’t know what to think. Alfred was dressed like a gangster except he wore a black leather jacket and a heavy gold chain with a medallion which spelled out his name in large gold letters, “BIG AL.” He topped it off with a matching leather hat which gave him that, “OG look.”(original gangster) Sam asked,” Where to?” “Caesar’s and don’t be thinking about taking me no long way,” he began, “I be knowing about you taxi drivers, scandalous, long-haulers.” Sam smiled a bit, “Don’t worry about that. Who’s going to win the game today?” “The Rams man that’s a stupid question. Shit don’t you watch football man? The stupid-ass Patriots got lucky against the Raiders; they don’t even belong in today’s game, hey man are you going the right way?” Sam turned on Convention Center up towards the Stardust Hotel. He wondered why this guy was acting like a jerk. He could’ve gave him some advice or the tip he received the day before from another passenger, but he didn’t. FLASHBACK TO THE DAY BEFORE Sam had picked an executive type from the Bellagio heading to the Venetian Hotel. The man had a stoic about him and was well mannered and dressed. He made the usual small talk all cabbies heard following the September 11th attack. He read the taxi license and asked, “So how you making out since 9-11?” Sam replied, “Oh things have been little tight, but I managed to make ends meet.” “Oh that’s good to hear Sam. Are you a gambling man?” “No sir, I have a family to support and like I said, things are a little tight.” “I suppose you have to put a lid on that living here right?” He continued, “ You know Sam I work for the American Football Conference and am part of the Patriots organization. The other day we received a very interesting phone call from someone in the higher Government. What made it so interesting was what was discussed in this mostly one-sided conversation.” Sam said, “please continue.” “They said America needs a hero to get behind of. America needs to see an underdog win against an unbeatable foe. America needs to see the red, white and blue celebrating, cheerleaders a jumping up and down, the crowd going wild and fireworks a blazing. The whole works. You know Sam, the Ram’s also received that same phone call and it was relayed to the team and all involved with the big game.” “Wow! That was a hell of a phone call,” Sam said. The man continued, “ There are those who see this game as the perfect tool needed to bring some normalcy to the many who’ve become disheartened by that damn terrorist attack on America! If you are smart Sam, you’ll put a lot of money on the Patriots tomorrow. For America.” The ride ended and the stranger exited the cab. Sam scratched his head and said to himself, “Good to know.” END FLASHBACK Big Al complained, “What’s up with this light? We’ve been sitting here for 5 minutes.” Sam made the left turn onto Las Vegas Blvd when Big Al yelled out, “Turn around taxi-dude and go to that Starbuck’s coffee shop.” Sam tried to be helpful and offered, “I believe there’s a Starbuck inside Caesar’s and we’re almost there.” Big Al replied,” Man what’s the hells wrong with you? Just turn around and go back, can you do that?” Sam spun around and Big Al said, “Yeah I thought so.” Sam’s face was red and he was angry but he held his tongue and said nothing. He drove right up to the door and Big Al instructed, “Turn off the meter man and wait right here, I’ll be right out.” Sam turned off his meter and begun to wait. “What the hell am I doing? I don’t need this crap!” He began to pull away, “SCREW IT.” Sam zoomed away leaving the unsuspecting loud mouthed OG to find another ride. The meter read, $6.20 before Sam reset it. “Worth every penny, “ he said while laughing out loud. In fact Sam laughed all the way down to Paradise Road heading South. “I don’t know why we have to put up with crap like this? I guess it’s all part of the job. I’d love to have seen that guy’s face when he came out and found me gone. Him with that stupid hat carrying his hot cup of latte grande, oh well.” Big Al’s Call “Taxicab Authority,” the woman said. “Hello. Yeah I left something inside a cab a little while ago,” Big Al started to say, but was immediately cut off. “Sir, there’s a list of phone numbers at the menu which will direct you to every cab company and their lost and found departments.” “No hold it one minute, you don’t understand; the cab driver took off on me. I left my money pouch on the backseat of the taxi.” The phone operator asked all the standard questions; Did you get the taxicab’s number? How about the driver’s name? Where did you get into the cab at? Big Al replied,” It was a white cab, but not all white and the driver was just some dude. He had a silver ring on his finger shaped like a castle.” “Sir, there’s really nothing we can for you until you call the cab companies or the driver turns it in. Why don’t you try Western Cab or Checker Cab companies first and go from there. Where are you now Sir?” “I’m standing in front of the Wal-Greens across the street from the Stardust.” The phone operator gave Big Al one last suggestion, “Stay where you are Sir there’s an investigator right down the street from there and I’m dispatching right to you.” Meanwhile Back In The Cab.. Sam had staged at the MGM Hotel and soon picked up a couple heading over to the Belz Factory Outlet Stores just South of the Strip. “Driver, someone left a bag on the seat,” the woman said as she handed the pouch to Sam. Sam got that sick feeling in the pit of his stomach as his mind scrambled at the thoughts of having to return the pouch to Big Al. “It’s such a lovely day today,” the woman began, “is it always this nice this time of year?” Sam could barely hear the woman because his thoughts were so loud. He answered , “Yes. Uh sorry miss, I just don’t feel like talking right now.” “What a rude driver you are. I won’t be giving you a tip.” They reached the outlet and Sam turned off the meter at $13.00 even. The man handed him a twenty dollar bill and he stuffed it in his shirt pocket. “How about the change? I told you we’re not going to tip you!” Sam gave them their change and the woman said, “You’re rude!” Sam parked the cab and quickly opened the pouch. His eyes opened wide as he saw all the money neatly tied with rubber bands. There was also a post it sticker on top that read, “Rams to win, Easy Money!” Sam took a deep breath as he put the money back into the pouch. Now Sam was an honest guy and on many occasions, wouldn’t hesitate to do the right thing. Like a few months earlier; he’d found a wallet and returned it to this heavy set man at the Plaza. First Mr. Rotund accused Sam of stealing the forty dollars inside, but soon remembered he’d lost it at the Riviera playing Blackjack. Another time he returned a purse to a woman at Circus Circus and received not even a thank-you. And the woman who left her cell-phone in the cab on her way to the airport. She promised to reimburse him if he sent it back to her in Canada Priority Mail, but didn’t send him any money when she received it. But then again he also remembered losing his wallet with lots of money inside and a stranger returning it with the money still there. The bad did outweigh the good, and his bills were stacked high from Christmas. And to top it off the mortgage was late again. “This could be a sign or gift from God or the answer to my prayers.” Sam reached down and slowly shut off his two-way radio just in case someone would report the pouch. He made a decision and would live by it. Four Hours Later At The Stardust Hotel Big Al contacted every cab company in town. He’d talked with the Taxi Cab Authority Investigator and still nothing. To make matters worse, he watched the Super Bowl at the Stardust instead of Caesar’s Palace. To compound that, he’d put his last $300 dollars on the Rams, who had just lost when the Patriot kicker hit a game winning field goal. Final 20-17 Big Al left the Stardust and was heading back to his hotel at the Sahara and he wasn’t alone. He’d managed to persuade a cocktail waitress named Buttons to accompany him back to his room for some drinks. All was not lost; right before they reached the Hotel, his cell phone began to ring, “Are you the man who lost a wallet or pouch earlier today?” the voice on the phone said. “Hell yeah I am!” Big Al yelled into the phone. “Okay. One of our drivers found it and is bringing it to the yard as we speak, so you can come and pick it up right now.” Big Al laughed out loud, “Shit yeah, I’m on my way.” Big Al and Buttons were a little busy making out in the backseat of the cab when they reached the cab yard. A small crowd had gathered and waited for Sam consisting of A Taxicab Authority officer and his Supervisor as well as Big Al, Buttons and the cabbie who was waiting to get paid for the ride. “How the hell did you find the driver?” Big Al asked the Supervisor. He explained, “When I heard the driver was wore a silver castle ring I knew who it was right away. I’d always admired the ring and if I didn’t come in so late, you’d had the ring hours ago. I called Sam on his cell phone and he said his radio was turned down low and didn’t hear the bulletin about the lost pouch. He also said he didn’t even look inside.” Big Al said, “Didn’t look inside? That’s a damn lie and my money better be there.” Sam parked the cab and walked over to the crowd. Big Al rushed Sam and snatched the pouch from his hand and quickly began to count its contents. The money was all there. Sam went inside and sat down on the bench. Big Al followed him, “I should beat your ass for leaving me this afternoon at that Starbucks sucker. Here!” He handed two hundred dollar bills to Sam, but Sam didn’t take them. “I should thank-you for saving me from betting on those dumb-ass Rams. You sure you don’t want the money?” Big Al asked. “Next time you come to Vegas try and be a little more courteous,” Sam began, “here give the cabbie a tip.” Sam gave the money to the driver who’d been waiting. Big Al said, “Yeah right. Come on baby let’s get going.” Epilogue: Two Weeks Later I sat and listened to Sam as he told how he used the money to bet on the game and how he was able to buy a used Jeep and catch up on his bills. “I’ll deny everything if you mention me in your magazine Frank.” Sam laughed. He tossed me his silver castle shaped ring, “Keep it, it’s good luck.” |
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