The Silk Trap. A Novel in 43 Chapters
Chapter 31: Michel lies about Lara.
Michel ordered room service for his dinner. He had just finished showering and had changed into the new clothes he had bought in the mall downstairs before coming back to the room. As he waited for the dinner, he looked at the leaflet that the reception manager had handed to him that showed all the facilities and entertainment highlights the hotel offered.
As he glanced at the options, his eyes fell on a small ad for a photo studio at the bottom of the leaflet. It advertised for instant passport photos, including more elaborate modeling portfolios, to its clients, and the Jebel guests were being offered a 10% discount this week.
This reminded him that he had walked past this shop while in the mall downstairs. The studio was closed by then, but its showroom window proudly featured a host of pictures of beautiful women posing as models wearing some rather expensive dresses. The shop was called Queen’s. Below the ad was the telephone number that the reception manager had told Michel to call to get some extra company at the club.
Michel felt that this number could lead him somewhere.
The phone rang thrice before a man picked up the phone on the other side. He spoke in Czech.
“Ah, hello, do you speak English?” Michel began in a hesitant tone.
“Of course, I do. How can I help you, sir?” the man spoke back in a crisp English accent. Michel tried to speak confidently and in a matter-of-fact tone, “Hi, I am staying at the Jebel, and the reception manager suggested I call you. I am on a business trip in Liberec and was wondering if I could get some company at the club tonite?”
Do you know the name of the manager you spoke to, sir?
Michel wracked his brains to remember. “Lukás!… That was his name.”
“Yes, I know him, sir. Not a problem. I can help you, but you will need to come to the club and identify yourself with the staff there. Please carry your ID, and once you have been seated, we can provide you some options to choose from.”
“What options are possible?” Michel pushed for some more information.
“I can’t tell you any more than this, sir. If we see you at the Club, we will be glad to go into further details with you then”, the man politely and firmly replied.
“Ok. Thanks. I’ll think about it”. Michel answered and disconnected the phone.
It was almost 10 pm; Michel looked at his messages and saw a message from Lara’s mum. She sounded worried. Her message read,
Lara’s mum: “Can you call me Michel? I have not heard from Lara for the last 24 hours. I keep calling, and her phone keeps going to voice mail.”
Michel texted back: I’ll call you now.
Michel called her number, and she picked the phone up on the first ring…
“Hello, Sophia speaking, is that Michel?” Michel heard her anxious voice on the other line.
“Yes, hi Sophia, this is Michel. How are you all doing?” Michel replied.
“Where is Lara?” Sophia asked, sounding very worried.
“I don’t know,” replied Michel feeling completely riddled with guilt.
What do you mean? I spoke to her yesterday, and she said she was with you in Prague. Are you still there?
“Yes, I am, but we had a fight last night, and Lara checked out of the hotel this morning. I don’t know where she went,” Michel replied, almost not believing what he was doing. He was lying to her mother!
Sophia went quiet on the other end and then said tersely, “Ok, Thanks, Michel. I’ll keep trying her number.” and then she hung up.
A few seconds later, Michel saw a text from Sophia that read, “Stay away from my daughter. I am calling the police right now and reporting that she is missing and that you were last with her.”
Michel felt the rage of Sophia in the text. He didn't blame her. He was the last person who had seen Lara. But he could not drag Sophia into the sordid truth of the story. He had to find Lara before he could tell her anything.
But Michel had created a new quandary for himself. He had become an accomplice in the disappearance of Lara. He was now suspect.
As he contemplated the consequences of his behavior, he heard a knock on his door. He opened to see Artur standing outside.
Surprised but pleased to see him, Michel invited him to come in.
Artur entered and carried a small package in his hands. He was on duty tonite and was wearing his porter uniform.
He looked a little nervous as he spoke.
“Michel, I want you to have something for the time you are staying here.” He handed him the package. Michel took it and felt its hard metallic contour and weight and quickly guessed what it was…he unwrapped it and saw it was a handgun!
“This is my 9mm, and I want you to have it while you are here. It’s for your safety. The people who have Lara are deadly and ruthless, and I want you to keep this to feel safer.” Michel looked at Artur and looked unsure of what to do…but Artur refused to accept it any other way and quickly started to explain how to use the gun to Michel.
Before Artur left, Michel told Artur that he was going to the Club in a few hours and trying to meet some people he thought might lead him to Lara.
Artur was surprised to hear about the number Lukás had referred Michel to but looked quite worried when he saw it was connected to the photo studio.
“I don’t like who comes and goes from that place,” Artur said, referring to the Queen PhotoStudio. “I have seen many young girls come and go out of that place during the day, and I have also seen the police hovering around there. I think this place is definitely involved in some way. But please be careful when you go to the Club…and “I am on duty all night so call me when you know something.”
“Will do,” Michel promised as he waved goodbye to Artur.
Michel looked at his watch; It was 11 pm. Time to go clubbing.