Shadows & Tall Trees by Michael Kelly

Author:Michael Kelly [Kelly, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780981317748
Publisher: ChiZine
Published: 2014-12-14T23:00:00+00:00

At work the next night it was very quiet, with very few guests booked into the hotel, and all of them back quietly in their rooms by eleven, which was how Marianne liked it. She tidied up the reception area and wiped down the tables and the insides of the windows. It had turned cold and there were occasional snow-flurries outside, which seemed to keep people off the streets. When everything was tidy, Marianne sat at the counter and continued reading her Henning Mankell paperback.

She had walked the corridors twice that evening, and was back at the reception desk with her book when she happened to look up and stare out of the glazed front door. She was wondering whether the settled snow really amounted to even a centimetre when the Mercedes drove into the car park. She recognized it as the expensive silver model that had brought Mr. Charles as an overnight guest only the week before. Once again, the older woman got out of the driving seat and helped somebody else out of the car. As had happened the previous week, she had to support this second person as they made their way to the front door.

“Miss Fisher,” said Marianne in her most neutral, professional voice.

“Good evening. You were on the desk last week, weren’t you?”

“Yes, when you paid for a room for Mr. Charles.”

“That’s right, and I can’t believe that I’m in a similar situation tonight. . . My friend’s name is Fitzpatrick. He’s had a very, very long day. I made the same mistake as with Mr. Charles of taking him out to a restaurant rather than bringing him straight here. . . He really will be no trouble.”

“I would rather not book him in, not in this state.”

“But you let my other friend stay.”

“I did, but I shouldn’t have done.”

“Was he any trouble?”

“No.”

“Well, then. Mr. Fitzpatrick is just the same; tired and a little drunk.”

Marianne could not make up her mind what to do. During her job interview Mr. Lane had put various awkward scenarios before Marianne and he had obviously been pleased by her common-sense replies. This wasn’t as clear-cut a situation as any she had been asked about, though, and she hesitated.

Miss Fisher had to prompt her again for a decision.

“Room 34 is available,” Marianne agreed reluctantly. “That will be £60. I will need to see identification, as before.”

“Of course.”

Miss Fisher smiled, but Marianne did not feel able to trust the woman. She recognized her own prejudice against this self-confident older woman, with her heavy make-up and expensive clothes. And she hated herself for agreeing to do as the woman asked. While Miss Fisher took Mr. Fitzpatrick up to his room, Marianne went to put the cash in the till and found that she had, again, been paid £100 in notes. This time she put the difference into the charity box.

As before, Miss Fisher was back down again in less than a couple of minutes. Once the Mercedes had driven away Marianne went upstairs and stood outside the door of number 34, listening, but she could not hear a sound.

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