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Goin' to a topless place."
"Mike, how long have you been
a widower?" asked John.
"Eight years."
"What do you think is gonna
happen tonight?"
"I dunno. Nothin', I guess."
"Right. You're gonna see
some pretty ladies. Maybe one of
them will sit on your lap. She might the door open. As it moved, the
make you smile. Good golly, you
might even laugh. Won't that be
horrible?"
"They aren't whores, most of
'em," Doc chimed in. "And if one of
them wants to take you upstairs for
a ride, would that be so bad?"
Mike swallowed hard, looking
bewildered. "Oh, my."
John spoke softly, "Mike, when
was the last time you had an erec-
tion?"
Mike hesitated. "I don't re-
member."
"You're safe then. Nothing to
worry about. Let's go."
Three accomplices trailed
close behind John, stooped and
shuffling Silently down the darkened
hallway. They got to the side door
and huddled in the darkest corner.
John peered out the window beside
the door. Everyone was holding his
breath, afraid to move or make a
sound. In just a second their break-
out would be complete and they
would be free to roam the town.
After listening for a few sec-
onds to make sure no one was
close by, John stepped to the door.
He pulled a small magnet from his
pocket and placed it against the
door alarm sending unit. "This is it,
guys. We'll know in a second if this
works. Got the tape ready, Mike?"
"I'm ready."
John made sure the magnet
was in place, then gingerly pushed
parking lot lights reflected off the
warning sign: ALARM WILL
SOUND IF THIS DOOR IS
OPENED. They all listened to the
silence: no alarm, no moving, no
breathing.
John checked the magnet
again, then said, "Mike, get the tape
in place."
Mike stepped outside and
rubbed several layers of tape over
the door's latch then quickly moved
into the shadows.
"Everybody out," whispered
John.
Stan and Doc stepped through
the door and joined Mike. John
closed and opened the door several
times to make sure they could get
back inside. He joined the group in
the shadows and got his bearings
for the next leg of their escape.
"Remember, stay in the shad-
ows, move slowly and don't talk
until we're off the property. You got
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