Page 7 of Hotel Mallois

Katherine enters like a hurricane and fires off everything Mike discovered in an icy voice. Preston, who wasn't expecting this, takes time to react, but after a few minutes, he does, claiming all sorts of excuses.

"This is offensive," he adds, pulling out his handkerchief to wipe the sweat dripping down his left temple.

"Of course it is," Katherine says, "I'm offended that you dare come to my hotel spreading your lies without caring how it affects an innocent person's life. I'll think about whether to press charges, but meanwhile, I don't want to see you here or in any of my hotels or my sister's cruises again. I'll make sure your name goes on the blacklist, and of course, you won't leave until you pay every last dollar of what you've consumed. Mike will handle that."

Preston Bradford is about to open his mouth, but Mike plants himself in front of him.

"If you'll be so kind as to follow me," he requests, pointing to the door.

Katherine waits for both men to leave before turning to Lamir Kumar, the hotel manager.

"Find me Jodie Sinclair's address, someone needs to apologize to that woman."

"Of course, I'll send someone to her house," the man responds while typing on the computer.

"You misunderstood me, Lamir. I don't want you to send anyone, I'll go personally."

"Of course, yes, excuse me, Mrs. Taylor," says Lamir, blinking in surprise.

Chapter 5

"Are you sure it's this way?" Katherine asks, looking through the car window.

"This is the address you gave me," Mike replies while turning on his right turn signal.

"I expected something different," Katherine responds, adjusting in her seat.

That day, Katherine Taylor had decided to visit Jodie's house, but it wasn't until late afternoon, after numerous meetings and several contracts to sign, that she could leave the hotel with her ever-present companion Mike to look for the cleaner. The neighborhood they're entering is a working-class area in southeast New York, filled with all kinds of businesses, but mostly hardworking people. When Katherine read the address Lamir Kumar had provided, she imagined all sorts of scenarios, not because she's classist - the owner of Hotel Mallois is far from it - but she's worked with cleaners for a long time and knows most live in dangerous and rather deteriorated districts. However, thestreets she's seeing are far from her thoughts; everything appears organized and clean.

"Robin's pub is a few blocks from here. The area isn't bad; in fact, it's quite peaceful," Mike explains, referring to his friend's joint.

The bodyguard manages to park and steps out to do a quick inspection. Mike always checks everything and makes sure he has it under control. Katherine Taylor isn't a woman in danger; few people know who she is. The sisters maintain their privacy, though Caroline, the youngest of the clan, tends to make more headlines.

"It's that one over there," Mike says, pointing to a house with an old facade and worn colors a few meters from where they're standing.

Katherine nods and walks until she reaches the door. She extends her hand and rings the doorbell twice. Less than a minute passes when a woman with a tired face emerges from the house next door, wrapped in a yellow robe.

"Looking for Jodie? She's not home," the woman says, eyeing Mike and then Katherine, trying to guess their identities. "Are you from the bank?"

"No," Katherine answers, not wanting to give the neighbor much information but wanting to know where her employee is. "Do you know where I can find her?"

The stranger narrows her eyes, distrustful.

"Don't worry, Jodie Sinclair works for me, and I didn't want to wait until tomorrow to speak with her," Katherinesays with a charming smile meant to gain the neighbor's trust.

It seems to work because after a few seconds, the woman comes closer and in a low voice spills everything she knows as if she's been wanting to talk to someone for days.

"She's at that bar where she works in the afternoons. You see, the poor thing needs several jobs to handle everything that good-for-nothing brother of hers left her with," the woman recounts while shaking her head. "Of course, with her sick mother in that nursing home and her father dead, she's all alone. Her father," the woman sighs, "what a good man, educated, handsome, and very kind. Did you know he was born right here in this house? Times aren't like they used to be; back then, midwives came to your house, and you were born in your own home."

Katherine and Mike exchange sideways glances, both shocked not only by everything the woman is sharing in just minutes but also that, if true, Jodie Sinclair has quite an unfortunate life.

"Well," says the neighbor, pulling her robe tighter, "I don't like getting into other people's business."

"I can see that," Katherine replies with another smile. "Do you know the name of the bar where she works?"

"Of course, it's that one downtown," the neighbor says, tapping her forehead. "At my age, things slip my mind. I'll go inside to look it up; I have it written down."

Jodie's neighbor goes into her house and returns with a notebook full of all kinds of notes. Mike stretches his necka bit and notices she appears to have information about the entire block. She tells them the bar's name, and they politely bid the woman farewell.

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