Chapter 43
43
21 DECEMBER
Manon gives the reception desk a wipe down while I arrange a bouquet of colourful Christmas blooms Margaret picked up at the market this morning.
‘What is he doing here?’ Manon hisses as Francois-Xavier saunters past, lifting his head in hello as if we’re all on good terms.
I pull a face. ‘He’s staying with Renee. She’s updated her booking to include him and I didn’t quite know how to handle that because Renee is a guest and I’m terrified if I say no to her she’ll leave an awful review or make a scene for our other guests, and that would not bode well.’
Manon’s shoulders slump. ‘ C’est terrible .’
I nod. ‘It is. Unless you have any ideas on how we can boot him out and keep her happy?’
‘I should have held the choke. A jury of my peers would surely have forgiven me.’
‘Violence—’
‘ Is never the answer ,’ she groans. ‘I know, I know. But it would be so satisfying. What’s he doing? Trying to make you jealous? Snooping? What?’
‘I presume he wants to see if the hotel is a money maker? Money that he would gladly offer to take off my hands.’
Manon squints at him. There’s a touch of danger about the look, as if she is truly plotting an evil deed. ‘Hmmm. I have a plan.’
‘Does it include ending his life?’ I whisper. ‘Because, if so, I’d prefer you didn’t, even if you’re certain you can hide the body and it will never be found.’
‘OK, I have a new idea.’
I roll my eyes. ‘It’s probably best if we let this play out. I don’t want to risk a scene in the hotel, especially with the German family also staying here.’
‘I’m glad they’re on the third floor, well away from him. And Renee – why is she so demanding? This morning she told me she expected fresh sheets on her bed every day. Every day. That’s a lot of washing, when she’s booked to stay for three weeks.’
‘ Oui. Time consuming, washing and ironing too. Did we do those notecards about our green initiative?’ Manon and I have brainstormed so many plans for the hotel that our spreadsheets now have spreadsheets and I struggle to remember if we actually printed the notecards and placed them on the desks in the remodelled suites.
‘I’m sure we did, but I doubt she cares. Do you think the incentive is enough?’ Our green initiative offers guests a daily hotel credit to opt out of housekeeping services, in an effort to reduce water use, conserve resources and save staff time. It might not matter so much now, but it will when we’re at capacity.
‘It’s enough. The incentive can be used for a fromage platter, like who wouldn’t want that? Her sheets would be changed every fifth day, with or without the incentive. Anyway, there’s not much we can do except bear it.’
‘With a bright, welcoming smile.’
Margaret joins us, her vanilla perfume wafting over. ‘Who do we hate?’ She leans her elbows on the reception desk.
I laugh. ‘Renee has moved Francois-Xavier in, if you can believe that. But he’s expecting theatrics, so I don’t want to rise to the bait.’
‘His tan is even more orange, how is that possible? When he was lying in a heap after Manon strangled him, I swear I was looking at a twice-baked Christmas ham.’
We fall about laughing, which is very unprofessional of us, as our other guests, the family of six, wander over.
‘ Bonjour , how are you enjoying your stay at L’H?tel Bibliothèque Secrèt?’
The father speaks up. ‘Very good so far. We loved our special Parisian memoir, Paris Letters, by Janice MacLeod, and the children are enjoying the games and the books in the kids’ section.’
‘ Merci .’
‘There’s one small problem – the lights don’t work in the bathroom.’
‘Ah – sorry, I’ll get that fixed right away.’
‘Thank you. It’s only that the kids will need to bathe later and there’s no chance they’ll do that in the dark or by torchlight.’
‘Not a problem, we’ll do it right away,’ I say as my stomach twists in knots. How hard can it be to fix? It’s probably just a blown fuse or something.
‘Great. We’ll be back later.’
‘Enjoy your day.’
Once they leave, I face Manon. ‘Can you call JP and ask if he can send his electrician to see what the issue is?’
‘On it.’ Manon moves to the side of the desk to make the phone call.
Margaret touches the delicate leaf of the red poinsettia. ‘When that’s sorted, can we have a little chat? How about lunch? My treat.’
A little chat. When Margaret uses that phrase, it’s always something big. ‘You hate the chapters I sent you? They pale in comparison after reading Chloe’s, don’t they? Put me out of my misery and tell me now.’
She lets out a guffaw. ‘It’s nothing to do with your chapters. I haven’t had a chance to read them yet, but it is to do with biz.’ Margaret raises a brow to imply it’s important but she obviously doesn’t want to discuss it here.
Just as I go to ask more, Manon hangs up the phone and says. ‘No can do. His electrician is away on holidays. And the one who subs for him is in hospital. Must have cut the red wire; everyone knows not to touch the red wire.’
I swing from Margaret back to Manon. ‘So did he have any other ideas?’
‘I have to find a local electrician and he will square away the invoice as it’s a fault in their work.’
‘OK, well that’s easy. Find a local electrician and mention that time is of the essence, non? ’
‘Sure.’
‘Margaret wanted a chat. Will you be OK here while we go out for lunch? Then we’ll make up the rooms when I get back and you can have a break after that?’
‘I get breaks now? Is that only because Margaret is listening?’
‘Very funny.’
‘I’ll be fine. Go have fun!’