Chapter 17They met in front of a buffet restaurant for dinner. John liked the midcentury retro look of the hotel. It had a cartoon vibe that made him recall his sheltered childhood. His dad would have loved this place, he thought, looking up at the sign advertising breakfast, lunch and dinner. One block from the strip, the old place had two towering date palms in the parking lot. Surrounded by mega hotels, monorails and conference centers, progress had blossomed around the shabby, but inviting little property, called the Magic Carpet Motel and Casino. Rumors still circulated about how in its heyday, the Rat Pack had stayed there when they wanted to hide out from snooping investigative reporters and paparazzi flashbulbs.
Above the street, a flashing rose-toned, neon genie sat atop a blinki
