Without a Hitch Part 3

Penelope has a plan and always follows the rules.

Penelope looked around her fancy room. It was so much nicer than she would be able to afford. The best part was she would get it all for free. Her ability to con men out of things was what made her so good at what she did. She looked out her window at Green Park below. It was beautiful this time of day. She stepped out on the balcony and inhaled the fresh scent of the potted roses that added ambience to the concrete patio. Casually she surveyed the scene around her. She leaned with her back on the rail appearing to take in her room, but she was gauging the distance from the balcony above should she get in a jam that evening. It was jumpable. Now she had to go about seeing who was in there. Penelope shut the balcony doors carefully and went back inside to use the phone. With one gloved hand she dialed the front desk.

“Front Desk. This is Rupert. What can I do for you Ms. Sotherton.?”

“Yes, Rupert hello. I would like to know who is in the room above me. They are making an awful racket and my head is splitting. I was really hoping I could lather up in a hot bath and relax in some peace and quiet.” Planting that mental image in his head assured her of getting the information. She was not averse to using the body she had when she needed it.

“I am sure you are mistaken madam. The former occupants checked out this morning and there is no one due in till tomorrow afternoon. Perhaps it is the maid?”

“Well, Rubert,” she said deliberately mispronouncing his name, “If it is your maid, I would appreciate you telling her to quiet down. Or I will have to personally tell Mr. Wallace, of Wallace, Kramden, and Wallace that this will not be a suitable place to house our guests for our company gala.”

“Yes madam, of course, I will get on it right away.” And with a gulp as he hung up the phone, he called to the bellhop. “Get me whoever is cleaning the Parkview suites on floor nine today and send some aspirins, sandwiches and a pot of coffee up to the suite 809 on the house.”

The bellhop stumbled, “What kind of sandwiches sir?”

“The best that we have you idiot! And get on it now!” This was one time that the problems of this hotel would not be on his conscience.

“Yes sir!” said the bellhop and scurried away to do Rupert’s bidding.

Penelope was pleasantly surprised when she opened the door to the complimentary food, and she polished it off quickly. Most days she could afford little more then fish and chips. “Time for rule number S left the hotel at precisely 5:30. She made sure to give a wave, wink and smile to Rupert as she did so. She knew full well that when she came back thirty minutes later, he would be off shift and the new desk clerk would not even notice her. Then all she would have to do was sit and wait.

After a leisurely stroll, Penelope headed back to her hotel and deliberately took the elevator on the opposite side. She wandered the long hallways, noting the room service food trays that laid outside and the “Do Not Disturb” signs already hung on doorknobs. Doubtless they were young couples in love to retire so early, and she wished, not for the first time that some romance would come into her life. Nearing the middle of the hallway, making sure she was alone, she moved a table to the center, climbed on it and unscrewed the light bulb. With a sigh, she returned to her room.

After watching the telly for a few hours, it was time to get ready. She pulled back her auburn hair into a tight twist and put on her black jeans and sweatshirt. She grabbed her lock pick and stethoscope. The last thing to come out of her briefcase was the black jeff cap she insisted on wearing that was two sizes too large. She snuck out of her room into the now darkened corridor, walked quickly to the egress stairs and up two flights to the floor with the Presidential Suite.