HIGH TREASON AT THE GRAND HOTEL by Kelly Oliver

Author:Kelly Oliver [Kelly Oliver]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Level Best Books/Historia
Published: 2020-12-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen: Mrs. Henri Désiré Landru

In spite of the eventful night before, I was up at dawn. Still in my robe and slippers, I contemplated my options for the day. I was half tempted to don my maid’s outfit and head out to the Renault estate and try my scheme. The more time that passed since the countess’s murder, the less likely my plan to pose as a special type of cleaner would succeed.

Get it together, Fiona. What would Captain Hall say if he knew I was investigating another murder? My assignment was following Fredricks. I had to get the microfilm to Archie and then we had to get the information to Captain Hall. If I didn’t find Archie soon, I’d have to call Captain Hall myself.

Pacing my hotel room, I racked my brain to come up with a plan. Circumnavigating the tiny room was difficult. I had to skirt the desk, dressing table, lamp, and bed, along with my suitcase, so I ended up walking in tight circles. Although I kept the room neat and tidy, there was barely enough space to turn around. How I missed my small two-bedroom London flat, which was downright spacious compared to this shoe-box hotel room.

I may not have the comforts of home, but at least I’d managed to get an electric kettle delivered to my room. I only wished I’d brought my own tea. Clifford was right. French tea tasted like ditch water. I filled the kettle with water from the lav and plugged it in. Ten minutes later, the water was boiling and I had my first cuppa of the day, such as it was.

Sitting at the dressing table, I examined my poor hat. I still couldn’t believe Clifford had chased it down. Although the lovely plum cloche was trampled and stained, by some miracle the microfilm was still safely tucked in the hat band. I carefully removed the two strips of film and held them up to the light. Using my water glass again as a magnifier, I committed the contents to memory just in case my hat blew off once more. I tucked the bits back into the hatband.

I’ve got to get the microfilm to Archie as soon as possible. Will he be back? Should I wait in my room or go out looking for him? And if I go looking, where? I had no idea where Archie was staying in Paris or if I would see him again. I pushed from my mind Fredricks’s unthinkable insinuation that Archie was really a double agent and a traitor. Archie would be back soon. I was sure of it. It was ruddy confusing not knowing if I should go out and risk missing him, or wait and possibly put more lives in danger with every passing hour.

To save my hat—and calm my nerves—I retrieved a shoe brush from Harold the helpful bellboy’s kit and brushed dirt from between the ribs of corduroy. The steady motion of the brush against the fabric was soothing.

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