Four Warned

‘A problem?’ Chenkov was a man who didn’t like problems, especially when the President was in town.

‘It’s just that Maureen seems to have caught a fever. We were out in the sun all day yesterday, and I’m not sure that she will have fully recovered in time to join us for the signing ceremony, so I may be on my own.’

‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ said Chenkov, ‘and how are you?’

‘Never felt better,’ said Dick.

‘That’s good,’ said Chenkov, sounding relieved. ‘So I will pick you up at nine o’clock, as agreed. I do not want to keep the President waiting.’

‘Neither do I, Anatol,’ Dick told him. ‘You will find me standing in the lobby long before nine.’

There was a knock on the door. Dick quickly put the phone down and rushed across to open it before anyone was given a chance to barge in. A maid was standing in the corridor next to a trolley laden with sheets, towels, bars of soap, shampoo bottles and cases of Evian water.

‘You want the bed turned down, sir?’ she asked, giving him a smile.

‘No, thank you,’ said Dick. ‘My wife is not feeling well.’ He pointed to the Do Not Disturb sign.

‘More water, perhaps?’ she suggested, holding up a large bottle of Evian.

‘No,’ he repeated firmly, and closed the door.

The only other call that evening came from the hotel manager. He asked politely if madam would like to see the hotel doctor.

‘No, thank you,’ said Dick. ‘She just caught a little sun but she’s on the mend, and I feel sure she will have fully recovered by the morning.’

‘Just give me a call,’ said the manager, ‘should she change her mind. The doctor can be with you in minutes.’

‘That’s very considerate of you,’ said Dick, ‘but it won’t be necessary,’ he added before putting the phone down. He returned to his wife’s side. Her skin was now pale and blotchy. He leant forward until he was almost touching her lips – she was still breathing.

He walked across to the fridge, opened it and took out all the unopened bottles of Evian water. He placed two of them in the bathroom, and one each side of the bed. His final action, before undressing, was to take the DON’T DRINK THE WATER sign out of his suitcase and replace it on the side of the washbasin.

* * *

Chenkov’s car pulled up outside the Grand Palace Hotel a few minutes before nine the following morning. Karl jumped out to open the back door for the minister.

Chenkov walked quickly up the steps and into the hotel, expecting to find Dick waiting for him in the lobby. He looked up and down the crowded corridor, but there was no sign of his business partner. He marched across to the reception desk and asked if Mr Barnsley had left a message for him.

‘No, Minister,’ replied the concierge. ‘Would you like me to call his room?’ The minister nodded briskly. They both waited for some time, before the concierge added, ‘No one is answering the phone, Minister, so perhaps Mr Barnsley is on his way down.’

Chenkov nodded again, and began pacing up and down the lobby, continually glancing towards the elevator, before checking his watch. At ten past nine, the minister became even more anxious, as he had no desire to keep the President waiting. He returned to the reception desk.

‘Try again,’ he demanded.

The concierge immediately dialled Mr Barnsley’s room number, but could only report that there was still no reply.

‘Send for the manager,’ barked the minister. The concierge nodded, picked up the phone once again, and dialled a single number. A few moments later, a tall, elegantly dressed man in a dark suit was standing by Chenkov’s side.

‘How may I assist you, Minister?’ he asked.

‘I need to go up to Mr Barnsley’s room.’

‘Of course, Minister, please follow me.’

When the three men arrived on the ninth floor, they quickly made their way to the Tolstoy Suite, where they found the Do Not Disturb sign hanging from the door knob. The minister banged loudly on the door, but there was no response.

‘Open the door,’ he demanded. The concierge obeyed without hesitation. The minister marched into the room, followed by the manager and the concierge. Chenkov came to an abrupt halt when he saw two still bodies lying in bed. The concierge didn’t need to be told to call for a doctor.

* * *