The Silk Trap. A Novel in 43 Chapters
Chapter 25: Checking in, Sir?
Magda was worried as she looked at Michel from across the seat in her car as they sat in the parking lot of the Jebel shopping center.
“If you want to find Lara, you will have to do it without the help of the local police Michel. They are involved in this racket,” she said to Michel.
“I think so too,” replied Michel. But if I speak to the British High Commission and report that Lara is missing, I am sure they will help.”
“Yes, That is a good idea. But right now I have to go home. My father is old and will be waiting. I’ll call you later and see if I can find out something more. In the meantime, maybe you should check into this hotel and see what you find?”
“Ok. I’ll do that; Michel nodded. “I am going to ask around and see if anyone has seen Lara or knows something about her.”
Magda scratched her head as she said, “Wait. You don't have any luggage. You will need a bag to check in; otherwise, it will make the hotel staff suspicious. I have an old rucksack in my boot. It has a dirty dog blanket that I needed to get cleaned. You take it to check-in. But don’t open it, I am warning you, It's not been cleaned for months, and my dog likes to swim in the lake before he comes home to his favorite blanket!”
Before Michel could object, Magda had jumped out of the car and brought out the rucksack that probably needed to get into the same laundromat as the blanket. She handed him the bag and chuckled at the contrast between Michel and his bag, then nodded, gave him a quick hug and jumped back in the car, and drove off.
Michel looked up and confronted the majestic elevator that led to the reception of the Jebel Intercontinental Hotel. It was a steep and long elevator, the kind he used back in London to get to the underground tube. He got to the top and scanned the environment.
The place was an exclusive arcade encrusted with designer brand stores and leather and perfume boutiques splattered around. At the center of the arcade was the entrance to the hotel. Michel had luckily carried his passport with him last night as ID to enter the club. He put his hand in his inner jacket pocket and pulled out the passport to check it once before approaching the reception desk.
He was surprised and then delighted in the same breath. In his hand was Lara’s passport. He remembered that she had given it to him to enter her details into the hotel register when they had checked in at Prague, and then he had forgotten to give it back to her.
He looked lovingly at her scowling teenage face staring back at him. She had short curly hair in the picture, and she looked like she was not happy with the photographer. As he smiled at her frowning face, his heart ached with worry for Lara. He had never been so scared in his life, and the fact it involved Lara made it ever so painful.
He looked in the other pocket of the jacket and found his own passport. He steadied himself and strode up to the hotel desk.
“Good morning sir, How can I help you today?” rang out the friendly young voice of the reception manager as he saw Michel in front of him.
Hi, Do you have a room for one person? Michel asked.
“Yes, we do, sir. For how long will you be staying with us ?” the manager, whose name read `Lukás’ on his jacket lapel.
“I am not sure as I am here on business, but can I get a room for three nights for now? Michel replied, sounding unsure of his plans.
“No problem at all, sir. Let me help check you in. Please fill in these forms, and I will get you your key. The room is a nonsmoking room on the 5th floor and faces the east so you can enjoy the sunrise from your window if you wish,” Lukás rattled off smiling without losing a breath.
As Michel filled in his details into the hotel form, he saw a woman come and stand next to him at the reception with high heels and tight leather pants. She tapped on the table with her expensive sunglasses as she waited for Michel to finish so that she could speak to the manager.
She looked at Michel and smiled at him. Michel looked at the woman and smiled back before going back to filling his papers.
Another manager came out of the back office and offered to help the lady. She spoke in Czeck and sounded a bit perturbed. She was speaking in a subdued manner but sounded a bit irritated. Michel could not help but look sideways at her again as she looked like she had been out late and was now going home in the morning from a long night of partying. Her hair was a little disheveled, and her silk blouse looked a little crushed. After a few more terse words, she left.
Michel finished the forms, and the reception manager had the key ready. Michel casually asked, “Is there a club in the hotel?”
“Yes, sir, we do,” replied the bright and chatty Lukás. “We have a 24-hour casino and an attached club in the basement of the hotel. The club opens at midnight and closes at 6 am. But we serve breakfast in the Casino from 6 am, so some of our guests prefer to finish breakfast and then go home to rest. As today is a Sunday, we are getting some of the club crowd now leaving after breakfast. In fact, the lady you just saw was one of our regular guests.”
Michel nodded and then shrugged his reply, “I would love to check them both out, but I am traveling alone on business and don't think I will enjoy it if I went there alone.” Lukás looked at Michel for a second longer as if to decide what to say next. He pulled out a leaflet from under his desk. It was a summary of all the facilities and a list of regular events hosted in the different areas of the hotel. Pointing to the telephone number at the bottom of the leaflet, he said, “If you call this number and mention my name, they might be able to help you find some company to chat with when you are there. Some of our business guests find this a handy way to relax.”
Michel smiled at the invitation, thanked Lukás, saddled Magda’s dog blanket rucksack on his shoulder, and headed towards the lift to find his room.
