The Summer Strikes Back, Part 20

The Falcon's engine held out long enough for them to make it to Gardener's Basin, on the bay outside of Atlantic City. Lance called a buddy of his while they were on board who was a bartender at the Claridge Casino and Hotel and might be able to get them cut-rate rooms. His friend met them at the marina there, taking them directly to the hospital across the street from Bally's Park Place.

As soon as the doctor took Luke to look at his hand and to check Chip for injuries, Leia went to the nearest pay phone and called Ben. “Leia, thank heavens!” Her uncle sounded genuinely worried. “I'm so happy you're all right. I heard from the police last night. They caught some of the Imperial Gang, but I'm afraid Vader and most of his top men are still at large.”

Leia wasn't in the mood for pleasantries. “Uncle Ben,” she said shortly, “is our brother Adam alive?”

A sigh laden with sorrow met her ears. “I was afraid this would happen.” Papers shuffled and a TV dial clicked in the background. Joan Lunden and David Hartman prattled softly on Good Morning America. “Yes, Vader is what your brother Adam is calling himself now. I'll explain it further when you get home. What happened is a little too complicated for a pay phone. Besides, Luke needs to hear this, too.”

“I agree. He's kind of in shock right now. He took this worse than I did.” Leia frowned as she inserted another quarter. “Uncle Ben...they have Hank. Vader turned him over to Jasper Hutt. Something about a drug deal that went sour.” Her fingers curled hard enough around the receiver to turn her knuckles stark white. “Charlie, Arturro, and I are fine, but Vader's goons really worked Chip over hard, and I think he may have broken Luke's hand.”

“I'll call Yoda and tell him about the boys. He did ask if they were all right.” A chair creaked on the linoleum floor as Ben leaned over to turn up the TV. “I'm starting to think we should cancel that surfing contest. Too many people have gotten hurt. We'll find another way to get the money.”

“No!” Leia's voice was louder than she'd planned. Two gamblers on their way back from Bally's stared over their shoulders at her as they passed. “We've been advertising it for weeks. We can't back out now. We'll figure out something.”

“All right.” Another creak, probably from Ben's beloved old recliner. “When are you two coming home?”

“As soon as we find Hank.” Leia cut off her uncle as he started talking again. “We have to, Uncle Ben. There's no way I'm letting that gangster hurt him.”

“But Leia,” Ben started, “it's one thing to deal with a local gang of delinquents. Hutt and his ilk aren't just young men out to start trouble. This is organized crime we're talking about. I know you've seen The Godfather movies.”

“Uncle, we'll be fine. We'll call the cops as soon as we've found Hank.” She made a face as the operator broke through, asking for more money. “I have to get off. I only have so many quarters. We'll see you in hopefully a few days, with Hank, Charlie, the guys, and a friend of Hank's.”

“If you don't,” Ben scolded, “I'm going to call the police again myself. This is way out of your league.”

“We'll be fine. Love you, Uncle, and so does Luke. Bye!” She quickly hung it up before her uncle could fuss any further.

~*~*~*~*~*~

It didn't take very long for them to check Luke's hand. Within two hours, they were all sitting around his room, Arturro bearing a bouquet of daisies from the near-by florist. Chip had ice on his eye, and his finger had been wrapped in a splint. Luke's wrist and knuckle were in a cast.

“They say it's fractured, but not badly.” He had to bite his lip to keep from crying. “I'll cover it when I do the contest with plastic or something. I'm not going to let this get me down. I'm not.”

Leia squeezed his good hand. “We'll figure something out, Luke.”

Lance came in as she gave him a hug. “You two are so sweet together.” His blinding grin was joined by a chuckle. “It's really adorable.”

“Well,” Chip fussed, “did you figure out where Jasper Hutt's hideout is?”

“Chip, he doesn't have a 'hide-out.'” Slender cafe au lait fingers slipped a piece of torn paper into Leia's hands. “Guy as rich as him doesn't need to hide it. Made a few calls from the Claridge. Talked to a few people. It took a lot of coercing, but I found out that Jasper's main haunt is the Desert Sun Palace Casino, on the south end of the boardwalk a couple of blocks down from the Golden Nugget. He opened it two years ago when he couldn't get the space where the Penthouse is going in now.”

“How are we going to get into a casino?” Luke frowned. “They just raised the legal gambling age from 18 to 21. Leia and I are 19.”

“We ain't there for gamblin'.” Charlie narrowed his eyes. “We're there to get Hank.”

Arturro waved his hand, babbling with a grin. “We can help?” Chip didn't look convinced. “How?” The little man grinned and babbled more excitedly. “Waiters? But it's late in the season. Sure they won't need waiters now.” His friend threw a copy of The Press of Atlantic City's help wanted ads in his friend's lap. “They're advertising for waiters at the Desert Sun Palace Casino? But I've never been a waiter in my life, and I'm pretty sure you haven't, either.”

“I'm old enough to pass as a regular gambler.” Lance leaned on the back of Luke's bed. “So's Charlie.”

“Ain't no way I'm gonna dress all slick like you.” The burly fisherman made a face. “I'd rather go as a bodyguard or one of Hutt's boys. I'm too big to be one of those toffs Hutt keeps around him. Besides, Hutt knows me.”

“I can pass for a showgirl if I wear really high heels.” Leia's dark eyes were dead serious. “There's no way I'm letting you boys go into this without me. Hank...well, he's special to me.”

“That leaves me.” Luke turned to Lance. “I have clothes, but it won't be enough. Is there a mall nearby, or at least some men's clothes stores?”

“There's the Shore Mall on Route 40. They have JC Penney's and Steinbach's and a couple of clothing stores. There's the new mall shaped like an ocean liner down by Caesar's, too. They're mostly luxury goods.” Lance raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

Luke managed to smile, even as he winced when he leaned on the hand. “Ok, this is what I have planned, folks...”