Chương 16: Las Vegas Trip IV

December 1970. The landing was smooth. The aircraft rolled steadily along the runway before gradually slowing to taxiing speed. Through the window, James watched rows of private aircraft, fuel trucks, and maintenance hangars pass by as they made their way toward the terminal. A few minutes later, the engines shut down. The cabin doors opened. Almost immediately, a wave of warm, dry air entered the aircraft. It was unlike anything they had left behind in New York.

Only that morning they had walked through snow-covered streets. Now, under the Nevada sun, winter felt strangely distant. Enzo stood and stretched his back.

"I could get used to this weather." James laughed.

"It certainly beats shoveling snow."

"It certainly does." Passengers began filing toward the exit in an orderly line, exchanging polite smiles and holiday wishes as they left the aircraft. When their turn came, James stepped onto the mobile staircase and paused for a brief moment. The desert air carried a faint scent of dust instead of the familiar mixture of seawater and concrete that always lingered over New York. Everything felt... open. The sky seemed larger. The horizon farther away. It was a completely different world.

Inside the terminal, the atmosphere was lively without feeling chaotic. Christmas decorations hung from the ceiling, and a large pine tree stood near the main entrance, decorated with silver ornaments and blue ribbons. Visitors from all over the country filled the baggage claim area. Some wore expensive suits. Others wore brightly colored vacation clothes despite it being December. Everywhere James looked, there were advertisements promoting shows, restaurants, and casinos.

A large billboard near the baggage carousel caught his attention. WELCOME TO LAS VEGAS THE ENTERTAINMENT CAPITAL OF THE WEST Beneath the slogan appeared illustrations of several famous resorts scattered along the city's growing casino district. Enzo followed James's gaze.

"They certainly know how to advertise themselves." James smiled.

"They're selling an experience." Enzo nodded thoughtfully.

"That's exactly what we're trying to do with Thompson." James looked at him.

"Not just products."

"Exactly." Enzo smiled.

"We're selling confidence."

Their luggage arrived only a few minutes later. Enzo collected both suitcases before they walked outside to the taxi stand. A line of cream-colored sedans waited beneath a shaded canopy. The first driver in line, a man in his late fifties wearing a brown cap and matching jacket, stepped forward with a welcoming smile.

"Good afternoon."

"Need a ride?"

"We do," Enzo replied.

"The Silver Star Hotel." The driver grinned.

"Excellent choice." He loaded the luggage into the trunk before opening the rear door for them.

"My name's Walter."

"First time in Las Vegas?"

"It is," Enzo answered as they climbed inside. Walter started the engine and eased the taxi onto the main road leading toward the city.

"You folks picked a good week."

"Christmas is busy, but not as crowded as New Year's." As they drove, James quietly observed everything outside his window. Unlike the towering skylines of New York, Las Vegas stretched outward rather than upward. Low-rise buildings dominated the landscape. Wide roads cut through the desert. Occasional patches of empty land separated neighborhoods, making the city feel as though it were still under construction. Then they reached the famous casino district.

Even in broad daylight, the Strip was unlike anything James had ever seen. Gigantic neon signs towered over the sidewalks. Every hotel seemed determined to outshine its neighbor. The Stardust Resort displayed a massive electric sign filled with stars and bright colors. The Golden Palace was designed to resemble a luxurious European estate, complete with ornate fountains near its entrance. The Royal Frontier embraced a western theme, with timber facades and wagon wheels decorating its exterior.

The Desert Crown featured sleek modern architecture, its glass façade reflecting the brilliant Nevada sun. And farther down the boulevard stood the Silver Star Hotel, its silver-and-blue marquee visible from several blocks away. Walter smiled as he noticed James staring out the window.

"Quite something, isn't it?" James nodded.

"It really is." Walter chuckled.

"Wait until tonight."

"The whole Strip lights up."

"You'll think someone turned daylight back on." Enzo laughed.

"I've heard about the neon." Walter shook his head.

"Hearing about it and seeing it are two different things."

A few minutes later, the taxi turned beneath the Silver Star's grand entrance. Uniformed bellhops immediately approached as Walter opened the trunk. The hotel itself was elegant without being overly extravagant. A polished marble entrance led into a spacious lobby decorated with Christmas garlands, fresh poinsettias, and an enormous tree that reached nearly to the ceiling. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Soft piano music drifted through the lobby while guests checked in at a long walnut reception desk. Enzo paid the taxi fare, adding a generous tip that earned an appreciative smile from Walter.

"Enjoy your stay, folks."

"We will," Enzo replied.

"Thank you." James looked up at the hotel's towering entrance as they walked inside. Everything was proceeding exactly as planned. Today was for arriving. For relaxing. For sightseeing. Tomorrow morning... The real reason they had come to Las Vegas would finally reveal itself. ☆☆☆☆☆ A young bellhop in a neatly pressed gray uniform approached them as soon as they stepped into the lobby.

"Good afternoon, sir."

"May I help you with your luggage?" Enzo smiled politely.

"Thank you." The young man lifted both suitcases onto a brass luggage cart with practiced ease before leading them toward the reception desk. The Silver Star Hotel's lobby was magnificent. Polished marble flooring reflected the warm glow of enormous crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Rich walnut paneling covered the walls, interrupted only by large landscape paintings depicting the Nevada desert and distant mountain ranges.

Near one corner of the lobby, a pianist quietly played Christmas classics while guests relaxed in leather armchairs. Unlike the loud image Las Vegas would eventually earn decades later, the atmosphere inside the hotel felt refined. Elegant. Almost luxurious. Several well-dressed couples chatted quietly near the fireplace while businessmen reviewed newspapers over afternoon coffee. Christmas decorations had been tastefully arranged throughout the lobby. Large wreaths hung from every column.

Fresh pine garlands wrapped around the grand staircase leading to the second floor. The enormous Christmas tree in the center of the lobby stood nearly twenty feet tall, decorated with silver stars that matched the hotel's name. Enzo stopped for a brief second.

"They certainly spared no expense." James looked around.

"No..."

"They didn't."

Behind the reception desk stood a neatly dressed young receptionist wearing a navy-blue uniform with the Silver Star emblem embroidered above her breast pocket. She greeted them with a warm smile.

"Good afternoon."

"Welcome to the Silver Star Hotel."

"Do you have a reservation?" Enzo removed the confirmation envelope Leslie had prepared before leaving New York.

"Yes."

"It should be under Enzo Lombardi." The receptionist accepted the documents and quickly searched through a row of reservation cards organized alphabetically. After a few moments, she smiled.

"Mr. Lombardi."

"I've found your reservation." She looked up.

"One deluxe room."

"Six nights."

"Checking out on December twenty-eighth."

"Correct." She slid a registration card across the polished counter.

"If you could sign here, please." Enzo carefully signed the guest register using his fountain pen. The receptionist then reached beneath the counter and produced a large brass room key attached to a polished wooden keychain engraved with the number 814. She handed it to Enzo with another smile.

"Your room is on the eighth floor."

"Our bellhop will escort you upstairs."

"I hope you enjoy your stay with us."

"Thank you very much."

The elevator climbed slowly. James watched the floor indicator move upward one number at a time. Third. Fourth. Fifth. Unlike modern elevators, it operated almost silently, accompanied only by the faint mechanical hum of cables hidden behind the walls. When the doors opened on the eighth floor, a long carpeted hallway stretched before them. Soft lighting illuminated framed photographs of Nevada landscapes mounted along the walls. The bellhop stopped outside Room 814 and unlocked the door.

"I hope everything meets your expectations, sir." He wheeled the luggage inside before placing it neatly near the wardrobe. Enzo thanked him and handed him a few dollars.

"Merry Christmas." The young man smiled appreciatively.

"Merry Christmas to you both." After the door closed behind him, James finally had a chance to take in the room. It was spacious. Far larger than the hotel rooms they usually booked during family vacations. A large window overlooked the famous Strip below. Two neatly made beds occupied one side of the room. Near the opposite wall stood a writing desk, a television set, and a comfortable sitting area with two upholstered chairs. The bathroom, finished in white marble, looked almost as large as the one back home.

Enzo slowly turned in a full circle.

"I have to admit..."

"This is nicer than I expected." James walked toward the window.

"So is the view." From eight floors above the street, Las Vegas unfolded beneath them. Cars moved steadily along the wide boulevard. Hotel entrances bustled with arriving guests. Bright signs flashed continuously despite the afternoon sunlight. Far beyond the city limits... The desert stretched endlessly toward the surrounding mountains. Enzo joined James by the window.

"For a city built in the middle of nowhere..." He smiled.

"... they've done rather well." James nodded.

"They're very good at attracting people." Enzo glanced sideways at him.

"You've been saying that a lot lately." James smiled.

"Because it's true."

"In business..."

"Getting someone's attention is often the hardest part." Enzo considered those words for a moment before nodding.

"I suppose Thompson has been learning that lesson these past few months."

"We have."

After unpacking only the essentials, Enzo checked his watch.

"A little after three." He looked toward James.

"What do you say?"

"Want to sit in the room all afternoon..."

"... or go see this famous city?" James smiled.

"I thought you'd never ask." Enzo laughed as he reached for his coat.

"Then let's go." Neither of them noticed the folded sheet of paper resting safely inside James's suitcase. The carefully handwritten betting instructions remained exactly where he had left them. They would stay there until tomorrow morning. For today... James intended to enjoy Las Vegas exactly as any ten-year-old boy on Christmas vacation should. ☆☆☆☆☆☆ They left the hotel a few minutes later. The moment the revolving doors opened, the warm desert air greeted them once again.

It was one of the strangest sensations James had experienced in years. Less than twelve hours earlier, he had been surrounded by snow in Manhattan. Now he walked beneath a bright blue sky wearing only a light overcoat. Enzo adjusted the collar of his jacket and looked both ways before they crossed the boulevard.

"I almost forgot Christmas could feel like this." James smiled.

"It doesn't exactly look like Christmas."

"No." Enzo laughed.

"It certainly doesn't." Instead of snow-covered streets and bare trees, tall palm trees lined the sidewalks. Decorative wreaths hung from lamp posts, while hotels had placed enormous Christmas trees outside their entrances. It felt festive, but in a uniquely western way. The Strip wasn't nearly as crowded as it would become decades later. There were plenty of visitors, certainly, but the sidewalks remained comfortable to walk along.

Large automobiles cruised slowly past the hotels, and nearly every block featured another spectacular marquee competing for attention. One advertised a world-famous singer performing that evening. Another promoted a comedy act. Farther down the boulevard, a giant illuminated sign encouraged visitors to watch a magic show. Every building seemed determined to promise something unforgettable. Enzo shook his head in amusement.

"They're all trying to outdo one another." James looked up at another enormous neon sign.

"That's exactly the point."

"If one hotel has the brightest sign..."

"The hotel next door builds one that's even brighter." Enzo chuckled.

"Competition."

"Exactly."

"It never really ends."

They spent the next hour simply walking. Neither of them felt any need to hurry. Enzo occasionally stopped to admire the architecture of one of the resort hotels, while James quietly observed the people. Tourists. Businessmen. Young couples celebrating Christmas together. Retired veterans enjoying the sunshine. Dealers on break smoking cigarettes outside employee entrances. Bellhops carrying mountains of luggage. The city was alive. Not because of gambling alone.

Because every hotel functioned almost like a small town. Restaurants. Theaters. Gift shops. Barber shops. Florists. Jewelry stores. Everything a visitor might need without ever leaving the property. James smiled to himself.

"Smart." The longer guests remained inside the resort... The more money they spent.

Eventually they came across a souvenir shop filled with postcards, miniature slot machines, cowboy hats, and colorful Nevada memorabilia. Enzo looked toward James.

"Want to go inside?" James nodded.

"Sure." The little shop smelled faintly of polished wood and fresh leather. Shelves displayed dozens of postcards featuring famous landmarks around Las Vegas. James picked one up. It showed the Strip after sunset. Every hotel glowed beneath thousands of neon lights. It almost didn't look real.

"You like that one?" Enzo asked. James nodded.

"I think I'll keep it."

"A souvenir?" James smiled.

"A memory." Enzo purchased the postcard along with a small silver keychain shaped like the state of Nevada. As the cashier wrapped the items in brown paper, she smiled warmly.

"First visit?"

"It is," Enzo answered.

"Then welcome to Las Vegas."

"I hope you enjoy your stay."

"Thank you."

When they stepped back outside, the afternoon sun had already begun sinking lower toward the western mountains. Long shadows stretched across the boulevard. The bright neon signs slowly became more noticeable as daylight faded. Enzo glanced at his watch.

"We've walked quite a bit." James nodded.

"I'm getting hungry."

"I was hoping you'd say that." Enzo smiled.

"I asked the receptionist for recommendations before we left."

"Oh?"

"She suggested an Italian restaurant just a few blocks from the hotel." James laughed.

"You came all the way to Nevada..."

"... to eat Italian food?" Enzo placed a hand dramatically against his chest.

"James..."

"I'm Italian."

"What did you expect?" James couldn't help laughing.

"Fair enough." A few minutes later they reached a cozy restaurant tucked between two hotel entrances. The sign above the door read: Romano's Trattoria Warm light spilled through its front windows, and the aroma of garlic, fresh bread, and simmering tomato sauce greeted them before they had even stepped inside. Enzo closed his eyes for a brief second and smiled.

"Now..."

"This smells like home." James followed him through the door. The restaurant was comfortably busy. Families gathered around large tables. Couples enjoyed quiet dinners near the windows. Soft Italian music played in the background. A hostess greeted them almost immediately.

"Good evening."

"Table for two?"

"Please." She led them toward a small table near one of the windows overlooking the boulevard. As they sat down, James glanced outside. The transformation had begun. One by one... The giant neon signs flickered to life. Blue. Red. Gold. Green. Entire hotel facades suddenly glowed beneath thousands upon thousands of electric lights. The city that had seemed elegant during the afternoon was becoming something entirely different. A city of light. A city that refused to sleep. Enzo followed James's gaze and smiled.

"I think that taxi driver was right." James looked back toward him.

"About what?" Enzo chuckled.

"He said we'd think someone had turned daylight back on." James smiled.

"He wasn't exaggerating." Tomorrow morning... The lights of Las Vegas would no longer simply entertain James. They would illuminate the beginning of the most important financial gamble of his second life. ☆☆☆☆☆☆ For several minutes, neither of them spoke. They simply admired the view through the restaurant's large front window. As the last traces of sunlight disappeared beyond the mountains, Las Vegas transformed before their eyes. Every hotel along the boulevard seemed to awaken at once.

Thousands upon thousands of neon tubes illuminated the skyline. Animated signs flashed in carefully choreographed sequences. Stars appeared to race across the towering sign of the Stardust Resort. The Golden Palace glowed with elegant golden lighting that reflected off its fountains. The Royal Frontier displayed a brilliant western panorama of horses, stagecoaches, and cowboys that seemed almost alive. The Desert Crown shimmered with blue and white lights, giving the illusion of a palace rising from the desert.

Automobiles continued flowing steadily along the Strip, their chrome reflecting every color imaginable. James had seen photographs from this era. None of them captured the experience. Las Vegas in 1970 wasn't simply illuminated. It performed. Every sign competed for attention. Every building tried to tell a story. Every hotel promised visitors that the greatest evening of their lives waited just beyond its front doors. Enzo slowly shook his head.

"I've never seen anything like it." James nodded.

"Neither had I..." He stopped himself.

"... I mean..."

"I didn't imagine it would be this impressive." Enzo smiled, pretending not to notice the slip.

"I think that's a better way of putting it."

A waiter soon approached their table carrying two menus. He appeared to be in his forties, with neatly combed black hair and a warm smile.

"Good evening, gentlemen."

"My name is Carlo."

"I'll be taking care of you tonight." Enzo accepted the menu.

"Thank you." Carlo smiled toward James.

"And for our youngest guest..." He placed a small basket of warm Italian bread in the center of the table.

"... some fresh bread while you decide." James's eyes immediately brightened. Enzo laughed.

"I think you've already won him over."

"I've learned never to underestimate fresh bread." Carlo replied with a grin before walking toward another table.

Enzo opened the menu.

"Well..."

"Let's see what we've got." James scanned the selections. Homemade lasagna. Chicken parmesan. Veal marsala. Fresh seafood pasta. Traditional spaghetti with meatballs. The menu reminded Enzo so much of home that he chuckled.

"I don't know whether I should be impressed..."

"... or disappointed that I flew across the country just to find Italian food." James smiled.

"You'll survive."

"I certainly hope so." After another minute, Carlo returned.

"Have you gentlemen decided?" Enzo nodded.

"I'll have the veal marsala."

"And for you?" Carlo asked James.

"The lasagna, please."

"Excellent choice."

"And something to drink?"

"Coffee for me." Enzo looked toward James.

"And milk." James rolled his eyes dramatically.

"I'm ten, Grandpa."

"Exactly." Carlo struggled not to laugh.

"I'll bring everything right away."

While they waited for dinner, Enzo rested comfortably in his chair.

"You know..." James looked up.

"I'm glad you chose Las Vegas." James smiled.

"Really?"

"I wasn't sure at first." Enzo admitted it without hesitation.

"I thought it was an unusual choice."

"It is."

"But..." He looked through the window once more.

"... I'm enjoying myself." James nodded.

"So am I." Enzo leaned back slightly.

"Tomorrow we'll visit a few more places."

"I'd like to see the hotels during the daytime."

"And perhaps one of those famous gardens I read about." James smiled.

"Sounds good." Everything was unfolding exactly as he had hoped. There was no rush. No pressure. Tomorrow morning, during breakfast... He would begin the conversation. Not here. Not tonight. Tonight was simply about enjoying Christmas vacation with his grandfather. The betting slips. The instructions. The four thousand dollars. Those could wait until morning.

Dinner arrived a short time later. The aroma alone was enough to make both of them smile. James's lasagna arrived bubbling hot beneath a layer of melted cheese, while Enzo's veal marsala was accompanied by roasted potatoes and sautéed vegetables. Carlo placed the dishes carefully before them.

"I hope you enjoy."

"We will," Enzo replied. For the next half hour, conversation became secondary. The food deserved their full attention. James quickly understood why the restaurant had been recommended. Everything tasted homemade. The tomato sauce was rich without being heavy. The pasta was perfectly cooked. Even the fresh bread seemed to disappear from the basket almost immediately. Enzo laughed as James reached for another piece.

"I thought you said you weren't that hungry."

"I changed my mind."

"I can see that."

By the time they finished dessert—a slice of homemade cheesecake for Enzo and vanilla ice cream for James—the streets outside had become even livelier. Visitors wandered from one resort to another. Stretch limousines pulled beneath brightly lit entrances. Music drifted from casino doorways each time they opened. Enzo paid the bill before standing.

"I don't know about you..." He adjusted his coat.

"... but I think I've eaten enough for two days." James laughed.

"I think you have." As they stepped back onto the Strip, the cool desert evening felt refreshing after the warmth of the restaurant. They walked slowly toward the Silver Star Hotel, taking no particular route. There was no destination. Only the pleasure of experiencing the city. As they passed the entrance to the Stardust Resort, James allowed himself a brief glance toward the sportsbook located somewhere inside. He didn't stop. He didn't even slow his pace. Tomorrow would come soon enough. For tonight...

He simply smiled and continued walking beside Enzo, listening as his grandfather pointed out another spectacular neon sign that had caught his attention.