Read Online Weekend by Andrew Neiderman, Tania Grossinger - Free Book Online Page A

work. A folding chair was placed against the right wall, giving the impression there were never more than two people in the office at one time. On the wall immediately behind the desk were series of charts depicting employees schedules, shifts, rotations, etc. He was about to leave when he heard footsteps.
    “Can I help you?” Bob Halloran asked as he walked into his office.
    “I’m Bruce Solomon and—”
    “Yes. Mr. Lawrence told me you’d be around. Something about insurance. Last inspection we had a couple of weeks ago, everything checked out okay. What’s the problem now?”
    “I’m involved with health, not property insurance,” Bruce said quickly. “I understand you had a worker here get sick, Tony Wong?”
    “Yeah, Tony the Chinaman. He’s in the hospital. What about him?”
    “I just need a few facts, actually.” He eyed the folding chair and when Halloran took his seat, Bruce sat down too. “Do you know if he was off the grounds at any time immediately before he took sick?”
    “I doubt it. He just came over from Hong Kong and I don’t think he really knows anyone away from the hotel. He’s only been here a week. But if anyone would know it would be his roommates.”
    “Roommates?”
    “Yeah. Two of them. In fact, I just left them. They’ve been shacking up down the road because Tony was sick and when they came back and saw the condition of the room, the way Tony left it full of shit and everything, they wouldn’t move back until I got it cleaned up. Had a helluva time getting a chambermaid to do it, too.”
    “Someone cleaned it? When?” He was starting to pick up a clue that pleased him not at all.
    “She started when I was leaving … might even be finished by now.”
    “Who is she?”
    “Who’s who?”
    “The chambermaid. I’ve got to see her right away.”
    “Margret Thomas? I don’t see what …”
    Bruce stood up. “Is she still in Tony’s room?”
    “Hold on. I’ll call over and see.” He lifted the phone and dialed an extension. “I still don’t understand what this has to do with insurance. “Hey,” he said into the receiver. “This is Mr. Halloran. Is Margret Thomas still there? She’s cleaning Tony the Chinaman’s room.” He put his hand over the mouthpiece. “You wouldn’t believe some of the weirdos we wind up hiring over the summer.” Okay, thanks,” he said. He turned to Bruce. “Nope, she already left. And to think I’m paying her a whole day’s overtime. She must have done some job.”
    “Where do you think she would be now?”
    “Maybe back in her room, that is if she’s not already out celebrating her extra pay.”
    “Can you call there? Please,” he added, sitting back down on the chair.
    “Sure.” Jonathan had instructed him to cooperate, but this wasn’t making any sense. What could Margret have to do with—“It’s ringing. How is Tony, anyway?”
    “I don’t know,” Bruce lied. “Those roommates of Tony. What do they do?”
    “Dishwashers.” He held up his hand. “Hello, who’s this? Graciela, this is Mr. Halloran. Would you do me a favor, please, and see if Margret Thomas is in her room?” He waited for an answer, then hung up. “No go. She’s not there either.”
    “If she was the last person to touch any of Tony’s things, it’s imperative I find her immediately.”
    Halloran tried to get a grasp on the situation. He was smart enough to know that something was going on that had nothing whatever to do with health insurance, but just exactly what it was—
    Bruce plunged ahead. “And Tony’s roommates. Are they in the kitchen now?”
    “They aren’t due for a couple of hours.”
    “Let me use the phone,” he said, not waiting for a reply. He dialed the switchboard and asked for the general manager. Jonathan’s secretary picked up immediately. “Hello, Suzy, this is Mr. Solomon. I have to speak to him right away.”
    There was a slight pause, then Jonathan’s cool hello.
    “I need three of your people