“Of course,” I said, again not wanting to rush her, but we weren’t busy so I wanted to make sure she knew we were there to help. “Would you like to check in now and we can send your friend up when they arrive? It’s not a problem. You don’t have to both be here for check in.” Sometimes people assumed they had to check in together. It wasn’t a rule here, though, and I liked to clarify, just in case.

  She glanced at the time on her phone, then out the window to the gloomy sidewalk beyond. Finally, she faced me again and smiled. But the smile was strained. I didn’t ask all the questions I had, but my curiosity was definitely peaked.

  “Yes. Yes, let’s do that. I wouldn’t mind getting up to the room.”

  At the desk, we got the woman checked in, card on file, identification verified, and a nice clean room for her and her small suitcase. Her name was Angela Yergunson. And turned out she was a doctor. I have to say, I’m glad Becky wasn’t there to see that. Didn’t matter what specialty Dr. Yergunson had, Becky would’ve grilled her about baby stuffed noses and asked if that meant Lilith had cancer or something—I am not exaggerating when I say Becky has lost her mind over Lilith being sick.

  As we got Dr. Yergunson checked in, I tried for some casual questions—because as I mentioned I’m nosey and we weren’t busy—but she wasn’t very forthcoming. Here on business. Didn’t need tickets or restaurant recommendations. Wouldn’t be needing to extend her stay. No, she didn’t need help with her luggage. Yes, she’d appreciate a call when her friend arrived and checked in.

  “May we have a name for the other guest,” I said as I typed in a few notes. “That wasn’t included on the reservation.”

  “Oh. Yes. Sorry. I made the reservation and… Well, anyway.” She glanced back toward the big windows, out to the now fully dark sidewalks lit by streetlights shivering in the wind. A gust hit the windows and rattled the panes as she watched. “Her name is Charlene Rhodes. She should have been here already. Her flight was probably just late.”

  The last two sentences seemed to be Dr. Yergunson talking to herself, but I said, “With the wind at the moment, there are probably a lot of flight delays. I’m sure she’ll be here soon.”

  Dr. Yergunson looked back at me with an obviously forced smile. “Thank you.”

  I handed her a room card key and both Shanda and I watched her head toward the elevator bank at the rear of the lobby.

  Benjamin came up to the desk from the back where he’d been on a break. And he watched the doctor disappear into the elevator too before saying, “She finally checked in, huh?”

  “Percy had to get her moving,” Shanda said.

  “I invited her to check in, I didn’t shove her toward the desk.” To Benjamin, I said, “She’s got a friend delayed.”

  “She didn’t seem anxious waiting,” Benjamin said.

  “She was when she was checking in, though,” Shanda said. “Nervous and jittery. Kept glancing out the windows.”

  “She probably just lost track of time,” I said, trying to give the doctor the benefit of the doubt.

  Honestly, if we weren’t so slow, none of us would have noticed her waiting and slow to check in. We might have noted the jitteriness about her friend not being here yet, because most of us at the desk liked to pay attention to how the guests were feeling at check-in. But it wouldn’t have been a big thing that we thought about for long. Because when we’re busy, we’re hopping, and no one had time.

  With things so slow, though, even the relatively innocuous can become interesting.

  And I was interested in Dr. Yergunson and her mysterious companion who wasn’t here yet.

  Or maybe I was just sleep deprived.

  Two

  By the time my shift ended, we still hadn’t seen Dr. Yergunson’s companion checking in. Charlene Rhodes was either very delayed in her travel or was going to be a no-show. I was curious enough to mention it to Dan Long, the regular overnight clerk, but I was too tired to get more involved than that. Going home to a less sick but still fussy Lilith and my still fussy, medically obsessed sister wasn’t going to help with the rest.

  The next day, I was just as exhausted, but we’d gotten a few hours sleep in a row and that helped more than you’d think. So I wasn’t falling asleep in my lunch that day, even if I was a bit of a walking zombie.

  Since I’d been thinking about it overnight, as a way to distract my mind from all the talk of deadly childhood illnesses, the first thing I asked Miguel when I got in was whether Charlene Rhodes had ever shown up.

  Miguel had to check the computer. “Not that we’re showing in the booking,” he said. “Doesn’t mean she isn’t here, though.”

  He was right. If she’d met Dr. Yergunson outside the hotel and they’d come in without stopping to get Ms. Rhodes checked in or get her a key, it was entirely possible the woman had arrived. These things happened. All kinds of things were forever happening at the Azur Regent. Didn’t make me any less curious.

  But since it was another slow slow day, I figured I could maybe take a look around, ensure Ms. Rhodes made it. Not sure why I cared so much. If we’d been busy, I wouldn’t have even given Charlene Rhodes and Dr. Yergunson and their strange reservation much thought. I’d have let it go the instant I finished with Dr. Yergunson. This is what happens when you leave someone like me with too much time to think.

  Shanda and I had to do a few check-ins that morning, a small group of women with three rooms in a block, a man here on business, and a lovely older person who was here for a small conference of some kind. Again, not too many people. The checkouts had been just as easy according to Miguel. Tara, the day manager, came out to chat after I’d been on the desk for about an hour. Which was unusual and a sign she wasn’t particularly busy either. We all gossiped about how our former day manager’s legal issues had made the news circuit again. And when Benjamin stopped at the desk to chat, we ended up talking about possible events we could do over the summer that were similar to the holiday cookie competition that had gotten that ex-manager into so much trouble.

  As we were all chatting, I spotted Dr. Yergunson leaving the hotel. She walked swiftly through the lobby, not even glancing our way. She still had that put together look, but a more formal version of it today in a pants suit. She was out the door before I could think to ask after her companion. Missed opportunity. But what could you do.

  It also occurred to me that she looked a little different today. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Maybe the hairstyle? Something about her. But she’d hurried through the lobby so quickly, I figured I was imagining it. Sleep deprivation will do that to you.

  Midway through my shift, I got a call from Becky, which Shanda was nice enough to let me take in the breakroom.

  “Lilith has cholera. I’m positive. I looked it up. She’s got all the symptoms.”

  Sighing, I collapsed into one of the hard plastic chairs at one of the small round tables and rubbed a hand over my face. “Lilith doesn’t have cholera.”

  “You’re not a doctor,” Becky pointed out. “The symptoms match.”

  “Has she been near contaminated water recently? You been letting her hang out at the docks?”

  “Shut up. How can you say that to me when my baby is so sick?”

  Another long sigh as I reached for my patience. I was, in general, a pretty patient person. One of the reasons I was so good at my job was because I could remain professional with even the most difficult guest and still treat them courteously. But there’s a reason sleep deprivation is considered torture under the Geneva Convention, and I hadn’t been this sleep deprived since right after Lilith was born and I was helping Becky handle the night shifts.

  “Sorry,” I said. “I’m just tired. Lilith is fine. She doesn’t have cholera. She had a cold and she’s almost over it.”

  “She is hacking up a lung as we speak.”

  Since I could hear Lilith gurgling in the background and the sound of one of her favorite cartoons on, I knew that to be a lie. “Becky…”

  “She was.”

  “Hacking up a lung isn’t a symptom of cholera.” I only knew the symptoms of cholera because we’d had this discussion already. Twice.

  “Well, it’s something. And she has diarrhea.”

  “She’s a baby who’s just been sick. And she doesn’t eat solid food. Is she still drinking?”

  That actually had been a worry in the first few days because between the fever and the stuffy nose, Lilith had had trouble drinking. But she was back to sucking down bottles like they were going out of style, so unless that had changed, I wasn’t worried about a little watery poop. And neither was the pediatrician. Because we’d called her about this already. Twice.

  I tried listening to more dire symptoms and possible diseases that Lilith might have until she actually did cough a little in the background before bursting into giggles. Becky panicked at the cough and hung up on me just as the baby giggles got started. Shame. I loved listening to Lilith giggle.

  Benjamin, passing through the breakroom, gave me a look and shook his head. “You should stay here in one of the free rooms tonight. Get a good night sleep so you can keep up with Becky’s paranoia.”

  “Not a bad idea. Except she’d probably just spend all night calling to tell me Lilith had developed new horrible symptoms like, her cheeks were pinker, or her toes got cuter or something.”

  Benjamin laughed. “You want a coffee from the bodega? I’m heading across.”

  “I’d be eternally in your debt.” The coffee in the breakroom was okay, one of those individual pack things so you could have what you wanted—Tara had gotten us that after she took over as day manager. But there was nothing quite as fortifying as the coffee from the Oligante’s bodega. No idea what they put it in. Worth every penny, whatever it was.

  I headed back out to the front desk considering what Benjamin had said. I could stay here. We all had an employee discount for the rooms—usually used for visiting family members or something like that—and there were a lot of available rooms at the moment, so I wouldn’t be dislodging a potential guest paying full price. Even last-minute walk-ins looking for a room would still have plenty of choice.

  If I wanted to keep my patience with Becky and do my job without biting the head off a guest, I really did need to get some more sleep. I was hesitant to leave Becky home alone to panic, so maybe not tonight. But if she kept me up half the night again even though Lilith was clearly getting better, then I’d see if I could book into a room tomorrow night.

  The bodega coffee gave me an afternoon boost and enabled me to get through my shift without falling asleep or yelling at anyone. By the time I was ready to head out, I was back to thinking about Charlene Rhodes, who, as far as I could tell, never did show up. I was coming back out of the breakroom with my stuff, ready to head home, when I saw Dr. Yergunson passing through the lobby again. She’d changed sometime during the day from the pantsuit she’d had on earlier into a skirt and silk blouse that looked lovely and relaxed under her thick white winter coat. Her hair was down now too, a style that framed her face and gave her a slightly different look. But it suited her.

  I hadn’t seen her come back to the hotel and leave again, but between my regular break and the three calls from Becky I’d had to take, that wasn’t surprising.

  I paused as she neared and smiled. “Good evening, Dr. Yergunson. Did your friend ever arrive?”

  She blinked at me a minute, as if she wasn’t sure who I was, which happened a lot if I wasn’t behind the reception desk. I had my coat on, too, so my uniform wasn’t obvious. After a brief hesitation, though, she returned my smile and said, “I’m afraid not. Her flight was cancelled. Weather.”

  “Ah, I’m sorry to hear that. This time of year can be tough on air travel.”

  “Yes. Thank you for asking.”

  “You’re welcome. Just let us know when she does arrive and we’ll be sure to get her a key.”

  “Not sure she’s coming now,” Dr. Yergunson said. “Depends on if she can get another flight.”

  “Of course. I hope you can enjoy your trip even without your friend.”

  “Thank you. Again.”

  She looked around the lobby, like she was looking for a way out of the conversation. I recognized that look. Some people aren’t the chatty type. I am, which is great for my job, but I’ve also learned how to give space to those who don’t like casual small talk.

  “Have a nice evening,” I said and headed toward the lobby door.

  “Thank you.” Dr. Yergunson said again, rushing to the elevators.

  I glanced back at her from the lobby door. She was fiddling with something inside her purse, then pulled out a cellphone. She looked a little panicked, which seemed strange. I thought back over the brief exchange. Nothing in it that should have upset her. The cellphone was to her ear and she was listening to something as she stepped into the elevator. She never glanced my way.

  Still, I was bothered by the interaction. I didn’t like to upset guests and hadn’t thought I did, but she’d seemed upset. Given how exhausted I was, I didn’t trust my perceptions, though. She might not have been upset, just in a hurry. I could usually read people well, but not always, and right now I was pretty sure my ability to read body language was compromised.

  I’d make amends tomorrow, if I needed to. And in the meantime, I hoped I could get more sleep the tonight.

  But I’d already booked a room for tomorrow night. I wasn’t sure how I was going to break the news to Becky. I didn’t lie to her about important things. But maybe I’d fib a little and say they needed me to cover the late shift. I’d make it up to her. I could always book her a room at the hotel and take over baby care duties one night so she could get some sleep.

  That idea appealed to me so much, I was smiling as I swung into the subway station, thoughts of strangely nervous guests moved to the back of my mind.

  Three

  Becky had almost burst into tears when I told her I had to stay at the hotel the next night, until I said I’d make it up to her with a night at the hotel while I looked after Lilith. She’d lit up like a Christmas tree then, and it occurred to me that my little sister was maybe even more exhausted than she’d been letting on. She’d never been away from Lilith and I’d half expected a fight, but she was so tired, the thought of a full night’s sleep, knowing Lilith was safe with me, sounded like heaven to her.

  I decided after that conversation we’d start doing more of that. I’d look after Lilith on a night off and get Becky a room at the hotel where she could sleep and not have to worry for a full twenty-four hours. With her husband overseas, and this being her first baby, and it just being the two of us now, we were both getting a little strung out. Time to make some changes to our schedule.

  “Excellent idea,” Jake said as he dished up my gyro. “My sister-in-law and her aunt did something like that, so they could both get sleep. Worked out great.”

  “Thanks.” I passed him the cash for my lunch. “Anything that makes her happy right now, and less obsessed with what kind of diseases Lilith has, is good for all concerned.”

  Jake laughed. “How are things at the hotel?”

  “Quiet. But it’s fine for a few weeks after all that crazy holiday stuff.” The holidays this year had been particularly crazy, too.

  “You hear about the latest about Chuck Marzecki?”

  “What did I miss?” Chuck was the former day manager who got himself into some legal trouble involving stealing from a former employee, Agnus Hosfelder.

  “Agnus is now suing for defamation after he went onto one of the morning talk shows to tell his side of the story.”

  “Chuck, Chuck, Chuck.” I shook my head. Agnus now had her own show on one of the cooking channels and a lot more money behind her than old Chuck did. She already had a case against him in civil court for a bunch of stuff, and the criminal case was still pending. Doing the talk show rounds had probably been a mistake.

  But what could you do? Some people just couldn’t seem to keep themselves from digging the hole deeper.

  The nice bright winter weather meant the sidewalk was busier, and the lobby in the hotel was bright as well. I bumped into the honeymooning couple as they were heading out the door and chatted with them a few minutes. They were off to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and I have to admit to being a little jealous. I loved the Met but hadn’t been there in a while. Something to put back onto the list.

  By the time I reached the desk, Miguel was leaning over the counter, waving me close so he could talk without being overheard. “You hear about Chuck?”

  We discussed the latest gossip for a few minutes—having a former manager in the news for embezzlement and having a former colleague become a famous TV personality had really added some spice to our usual neighborhood gossip.

  Miguel spotted my overnight bag as I rounded the desk to head back to the breakroom. “You going somewhere?”

  “I got a room here tonight. I need sleep or I’m gonna break Becky’s phone and cut off her access to the internet.”

  He chuckled. “Still playing amateur doctor?”

  “Not as bad last night, but she still woke me up three times worried that Lilith had some new and rare disease. I had to promise her a night alone in the hotel to alleviate my guilt, but I won’t be sorry to get a night’s sleep.”

  “Good tradeoff.” He looked at my plastic carry out bag from Jake’s where I’d rested it on the counter—there was no one in the lobby so I didn’t need to worry about that looking unprofessional. “Did you bring my anything today?”

 

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