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Post by skybright on Jun 23, 2006 4:43:05 GMT -5
Daws smiled. "Well, we already know about how many security guys they've got, and where they're gonna be posted for the conference. We know that most've the suites are booked with scientists -- so the only thing left to do is figure out which one our friend Doctor Huber is in."
She chuckled. "Or rather, which two -- it's nothin' but a hunch, but I think that our friend the suite-hopper is quite possibly Huber. It kinda fits with the personality I'd imagine him havin'."
She scratched absently behind one ear. "We haven't had the greatest luck with bribin' the cleaning staff," she said wrly, "So I guess we'll go the more direct route and ask some questions at the front desk."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 23, 2006 5:54:33 GMT -5
"Maybe you could tell 'em you're some kinda volunteer test case for Huber," Joey remarked, more as a joke than as an actual suggestion.
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Post by skybright on Jun 23, 2006 18:59:27 GMT -5
Daws shuddered. "Thanks, but no thanks. I like myself live and un-dissected, if it's all the same to you."
She led Joey to one of the lobby walls, where a floor plan of the hotel was mounted. She peered at the plaque.
"All right, so the top-notch suites are here . . . eight on each side of the hall." she mused. "Roeber said that our room-hopper's been moving his stuff from one end of the hall to the other . . . If he's that paranoid about his stuff, there's no way he'd stay in a room that could be accessed from another room -- so most of these in the middle are out. They've got connecting doors."
Daws tapped the floorplan lightly. "My guess is, he's taken up either rooms 1100 and 1116, or 1101 and 1115." She gestured at the chart. "Those're the only four suites that don't adjoin onto another room."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 23, 2006 22:21:38 GMT -5
Joey blinked. "Okay... so how're we gonna find out which two it is? Play health inspector again?"
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Post by skybright on Jun 23, 2006 23:27:32 GMT -5
Daws tipped her head thoughtfully and looked around the lobby. "I don't suppose there's a . . . bingo." She grinned and gestured to a small lounge off the main lobby area, which was equipped with several public computers.
"A lotta hotels have a service where you can book rooms on the web, right?" She raised an eyebrow at Joey, "I'll bet the Millenium's no exception. So, why don't we see if any of those rooms are open tonight -- that might narrow our choices down some."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 23, 2006 23:35:43 GMT -5
"If you're thinking of doing any more snooping when we find out which one it is, I sure hope we don't get caught this time," Joey murmured. "Huber probably would make some kinda nasty experiment with you if he caught us."
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Post by skybright on Jun 23, 2006 23:42:35 GMT -5
Daws grimaced. "Yeah, he probably would -- 'course he'd probably love to do all sorts of real unpleasant things to both of us, come to think of it. No thanks."
She shook her head and led the way to the computers. "All we're doin' for today is finding out which rooms he's got. I don't plan on dealing with Huber in person until I've got my pistol handy and the element of surprise goin' for me."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 23, 2006 23:45:42 GMT -5
"I'm glad to hear that" Joey replied, following Daws over to the computer consoles.
He smiled as he watched her tap at the keyboard. "Y'know, I didn't figure you as someone who had much use for computers."
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Post by skybright on Jun 23, 2006 23:55:07 GMT -5
Daws shrugged one shoulder. "Honestly? I can take 'em or leave 'em. An old-fashioned pen and notebook aren't gonna erase everything if the power goes out -- and nobody can hack 'em without me knowing. These things've got their uses, though." She peered at the screen, navigated through a few more menus, and grinned.
"Okay -- 1100 is free until Wednesday, and 1116 is booked tonight, but open tomorrow. 1101 and 1115, on the other hand, are booked clear through to the end of the conference."
She shut the browser window and stood up. "So the fruitcake room-switcher is most likely in those rooms. All we gotta do now is find out if that's Huber, and we'll be in business."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 23, 2006 23:58:41 GMT -5
"It's too bad big hotels like this don't have old-fashioned guest registration books. That's always the way they did it in old movies, isn't it?" Joey grinned.
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Post by skybright on Jun 24, 2006 0:05:43 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "Yeah, the good ol' days," she sighed. "I'd just have had you distract the pretty desk clerk, while I took a peek at the log. But," she shrugged melodramatically, "We'll just haveta do what we can do."
She stopped walking and frowned. "Here's the only thing," she said, "The clerk's bound to remember me askin' any questions. If she says anything about it later and Roeber catches wind of it, the whole thing could tip over -- and we'll have done all that work for nothin'."
Daws looked thoughtful for a moment, and then gave Joey an appraising look. "Y'think you're up to handling the clerk yourself -- if I tell ya what to do?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 24, 2006 0:12:38 GMT -5
Joey frowned. "Well--yeah, I guess. At least as long as nothing happens that'd make me haveta improvise--you're the brains at this, not me." He shrugged. "What do you want me to do?"
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Post by skybright on Jun 24, 2006 0:20:31 GMT -5
Daws reached into her coat and produced a long yellow envelope marked with HAND DELIVER and Priority Couriers. She handed this to Joey.
"Tell the clerk that you've got to deliver this message, in person, to Doctor Huber in room 1115. She might try and convince you to leave it at the desk: all you gotta do is keep right on insisting that you've got to hand it to Huber yourself."
She shrugged. "Either she'll tell you to go on up -- which means Huber's in 1115 -- or she'll tell you you've made a mistake. In that case, hopefully, she'll tell ya what room Huber is in."
Daws patted Joey's shoulder and grinned reassuringly. "Remember -- actin' like you know what you're doing is half the battle. I'll wait for you by the elevators."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 24, 2006 0:34:34 GMT -5
Joey grinned. "Well, I guess being a message boy for the last few years is finally gonna to pay off," he said, and headed resolutely for the front desk.
There were two clerks at the desk--a man and a woman, both of them busy on separate phones. Joey stepped up to the desk and hovered, in the proper manner of someone waiting for attention. He thought he would have a chance to speak up when the woman ended her call, but she immediately switched to another line and addressed someone else.
His patience wearing thin, Joey finally gave in, and did what he had often done when delivering messages to oblivious bar patrons at Lusus Naturae.
"Hey, people, my boss is waitin' for me while you're busy ordering pizza," he announced loudly.
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Post by skybright on Jun 24, 2006 0:40:16 GMT -5
The male clerk barely glanced up from his telephone call, although the look he shot the teenager was a venemous one. The woman, however, immediately said "I'm sorry, hold please," into her phone and set the handset aside.
"Gosh, I'm really sorry," she looked chagrined, "We've just been so booked, and now there's this conference and on top of that Donna's out sick, and . . ." she paused for breath, assumed a perky face, and said brightly "How can I help you, sir?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 24, 2006 0:48:29 GMT -5
Joey waved the envelope at the woman. "I got a letter for one of the guests here. Real urgent, and I'm supposed to deliver it to him personally. So if ya don't mind, I need the room number for Franz Huber."
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Post by skybright on Jun 24, 2006 0:52:37 GMT -5
"Oohhh." The woman's face fell slightly. "Um, well, really, I'm not supposed to give out room numbers. It's policy. But if you want to leave it here for him at the desk, we can have a bellboy run it up to him . . ."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 24, 2006 1:00:10 GMT -5
Joey gave a melodramatic sigh. "Look, just between you and me, this guy's got some mold samples or something dying out back at the lab. His partner needs to know what to do about it fast. But if you wanna be responsible for losing what might be the next big cancer drug..." He shrugged philosophically. "It's all the same to me."
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Post by skybright on Jun 24, 2006 1:09:38 GMT -5
The clerk pressed her lips together worriedly, shot a glance at her still-occupied counterpart, and then leaned across the desk.
"Doctor Huber's in suite number 1115 . . . oh, wait!" She slapped her forehead lightly. "That was last night. Tonight he's in 1101." She rolled her eyes. "Don't ask -- and look," she added quietly, "Don't tell anyone that I gave you the number, okay? 'Cause I could get bumped back down to housekeeping."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 24, 2006 1:15:16 GMT -5
Joey gave the clerk his most charming smile. "Your secret's safe with me. I appreciate it. Have a nice day, ma'am."
Feeling a minor swell of self-satisfaction, Joey sauntered toward the elevators, looking for Daws. When he spotted her, he gave her a smile and a discreet thumbs-up.
"Huber's in 1101 today," he murmured.
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