Chapter 11

Eggy frowned in exasperation. Vika was not answering his telephone calls. He had tried texting but again no response. The only thing left was to show up at the Radisson and see how she was doing. It could be more serious than just jet lag. Maybe she was ill.

He still had the old Toyota Yaris which he’d rented to show Vika around. But better to walk. He needed to burn off his anxiety and besides, it wasn’t that far. He had strong, long legs which had served him well for his fifty plus years.

It was now barely daylight and rain had started, making the damp penetrate through his light jacket. He shivered as he hunched his shoulders. Not great weather for sightseeing. He once again asked himself why the American had chosen November for her trip. Was there some special reason she had chosen this time of year?

Head down, he strode purposely along Barona Street until he reached Elizabetes Street where he turned right. Before passing through the hotel’s revolving doors he rehearsed what he’d say. He had to find a diplomatic way to let Vika  know that she should stay in touch. After all, it was she who had requested his services.

Eggy was completely unprepared for what came next. He was in for a huge surprise. He stood stock still at the reception counter, his mouth almost open in astonishment. He couldn’t understand it. The clerk had just told him Mrs Zito was no longer at the hotel.

“She checked out earlier and left no forwarding information,” the pretty young woman at the counter said with a regretful expression on her face.

Whoa! She’s gone! Eggy clamped his lips tight. His hands made fists. He badly needed a cigarette. But even more badly he needed details.

Eggy faked an easy smile. “Surely there must be a way to find Mrs Zito. She asked me to meet her here…”

He glanced at her nametag. Linda. Time for some strategic romancing.  Effortlessly he activated his secret weapon. It was all in the eyes. Eggy was a tall, handsome man but his eyes seemed to have a special power over women. He used this tactic carefully and only under the most dire circumstances. This was dire enough.

Linda blushed slightly and smiled sweetly. Eggy could tell that she was ready to make a special effort.

“Please wait just a moment,” she murmured, her smile deepening.

Looking around quickly to make sure her supervisor was not around, she summoned the porter who had just loaded baggage into a waiting taxi. He approached the counter and they had a short discussion.

Beaming, Linda turned back to Eggy.

“It appears that Mrs Zito’s luggage had been picked up earlier this morning.”

Eggy turned up the voltage on his smile.

“Who picked it up?”

“Well… I— ” she stopped. Confused and uncertain.

Eggy kept up the pressure. “You see, Linda. I’m a very good friend.”

Befuddled, she drew in a nervous shuddering breath. “Yes, yes. But I’m not sure I should tell you. We have a policy…”

Eggy was not used to this withholding. Is she playing with me? Linda  was an attractive woman somewhere in her thirties. Eggy just stood there. Looking her in the eyes.

“Well, maybe you can give me a hint,” he said softly.

His voice was also an asset. Linda had no recourse. She hesitated but then, with a sudden conspiratorial grin, she winked and said, “You’ve heard the expression ‘All roads lead to Rome.’”

Gotcha! Eggy didn’t bother winking back. Abruptly he turned away and was out the door in a flash. Hastily fingering a cigarette out from his pack, he lit it and sucked on it so hard his cheeks hollowed out.

Now he had to figure out what to say to Simone. She had bought herself a new outfit had spent money at the beauty parlor. She’d kill him if they lost Vika.

He too had spent money on car rental, had taken time off his job working at Gunas Gramatas, a used books store on Barona Street. He wasn’t paid much but, with the occasional English lesson and his father’s pension, he could make ends meet. But that was no way to live. He wanted to move to a decent apartment, buy a car, travel a bit. He had hoped that with Vika’s contributions he could see his way to living a little better.

Eggy dropped the cigarette, ground it with heel and reached for another. He had to think. It was raining hard now and completely dark. He couldn’t just storm over to the Hotel de Rome and confront Vika. Not in the shape he was in. By the time he’d make it over to the hotel he’d look like a soaked rat and the doorman probably wouldn’t let him in. Besides, he couldn’t behave like a stalker. He needed Simone to make the move.

This godforsaken weather… Eggy kept muttering to himself as he hotfooted it back to his apartment on Bruninieka Street. Damn! He had one more errand to do: stop at the grocery store to buy supplies. He had promised his father that he’d make milk soup with dumplings for dinner.