A Servant of the Company by Alan Cooke Read Free Book Online Page A

‘Sorry I’m a late arrival, hope it doesn’t create problems.’ This was Hugo at his most charming. ‘Just let me pay this young man for his kindness.’ He turned to the taxi driver who was at least sixty. Taking out his wallet he was horrified to see the space where his money should be. ‘I’m so sorry, in my haste to get here, I’ve come without picking up any money.’ The driver shuffled uncomfortably. Hugo’s brain was in overdrive and he quickly regained his composure. Speaking to the receptionist, he asked her if she would kindly get the Duty Manager for him.
    The young Manager was equally as courteous as his receptionist and having heard Hugo’s story, he immediately paid the taxi driver adding a tip at Hugo’s suggestion. ‘No problem at all Sir. Felicity will put it on to your room number. Have a pleasant stay.’ Smiling, he turned and left the reception area.
    The driver was relieved, one minute he was expecting his fare then he was faced with an empty wallet. He was again a happy man. Smiling he turned to Hugo. ‘Thank you and goodnight Sir.’ His luck was in tonight, he might even get a fare on the way back. To himself he said, ‘Now that was a real gentleman.’
    Hugo received his room number and card to open the door while a porter took his case and holdall to his room. Sitting on the bed he tried to retrace his movements for the day. ‘Surely Lady B wasn’t in the confidence trickery business,’ he asked himself. He would have sniffed that out, or was he just pushing his luck.
    He then thought about his return to Carol’s flat. ‘No she wouldn’t have had a chance, and she would have to be a bloody good actress to behave as she had done. No, it wasn’t Carol.’ Lady B was in the frame. He was a bad loser even if it wasn’t his money.
    It had been a bad day, never before had he been faced with two disasters one after the other. He would catch up with Lady B when she was least expecting it and then she would find out who was the loser, and it wasn’t going to be Hugo Biggs-Connaughton. He had lost his free accommodation with Carol, great sex and entrée to her bank account. Then there was the mysterious caller. In all probability a private investigator acting on behalf of one of his earlier victims, there had been so many. He could not relate back to the last time he had used the name T.C. Jackson or the victim at the time. He realised he had come to the end of his time with Carol, there was no going back unless he had a strong desire to change his address to H.M. Prison, Strangeways.
    The next morning he thought he had better make a discreet exit from the hotel and leave New Designer Options to sort out the problems, but first he would enjoy a good breakfast. As always he slept well even though the day had ended badly. The following morning he made his plan over breakfast. When the Reception desk was busy with departing guests paying their bills, that would be the time to go, first he would find the next hotel which would have the pleasure of his company. The pay phone booth in the foyer had the Yellow Pages, this he picked up and headed for his room. As he waited for the lift, his attention was drawn to an extremely elegant lady booking in at the reception desk. ‘Interesting,’ he murmured and waited until she moved towards the lift before joining her. By the time the lift reached the eighth floor, he had arranged to have lunch with her. Plans for a quick exit could wait, there was money to be made.

CHAPTER FOUR
    Looking at his discharge book in disbelief, he was startled as Captain Rose barked, ‘Get him out of the barracks Sar’nt Major.’
    There it was in bold letters, Unfit for Military Service. He had been tested for drugs after collapsing in the street, the results were positive. He might have got away with it when he denied all knowledge and said that drugs must have been put into his drink by someone else, unfortunately the Military Police had searched his room. How