Chapter 3

The man standing at the reception desk was tall, his skin pale, and Elliot was sure that he had red eyes. But on a second look, they were just green like his. Probably just a trick of the light, he thought as the man held himself up against the desk.

The man however, seemed to notice the fact that he had noted something different about him. He turned slowly in Elliot’s general direction, then slowly nodded, before returning to his attention to his Mum.

“So, Mr Reed. Will you be staying long with us?” Amanda asked as she typed the man’s details into the computer.

Mr Reed, if that was really his name, looked around the room. He was wearing the oddest assortment of clothes that Elliot had ever seen. A three-piece suit that was completely dry despite the rain lashing against the windows was accompanied by a pair of weathered jeans and brown boots. And on his head, completing the odd look, was a fedora that cast his face into a slight shadow.

“Let’s make it a week to begin with.” Mr Reed said in a clipped voice, taking off a pair of driving gloves and gently fondling the handle of his briefcase. “With an option to extend if it is required.”

His Mum paused at this, like Elliot, she was also sensing some kind of trap. They just didn’t know what. The fact that this man had checked into this hotel was a red flag enough for Elliot, the fact that he was staying for so long was just fuel on the fire of his curiosity.

“Of-of course.” Amanda said as she finished inputting the man’s details onto the system and printed off a form.

Elliot moved slowly nearer, taking the smallest steps, he possibly could. But his movements were noticed by the newcomer.

“I don’t bite kid.” Mr Reed said as he pocketed the gloves and began scanning the printed off form.

“How did you hear about us sir?” Amanda asked, taking the man’s attention off of Elliot. This was something that he was grateful for. He didn’t know why, but the man scared him. There was just something off about him.

“Yes. Well, I require a lot of peace and quiet for my work, miss. And this place,” Mr Reed gestured around at the emptiness of the hostel. “This place was the quietest I could find.”

“Well. Peace and quiet I can guarantee.” Amanda said, smiling all the while. It was a smile that was not returned though.

“Yes. Even with children here. Who are well known for that.” Mr Reed said, taking a pen and making the necessary marks on the paper. “You will not be seeing much off me alas. My work will keep me busy, and I will require complete privacy. All food must be brought up to my room.”

“O-of course.” Amanda said as she filed the paperwork into the desk, and handed Mr Reed a room key, before gesturing for Elliot to step forward. And seeing that he was going to be drafted as a worker, Elliot followed instructions. For no other reason than to prove that he was the good kid. Maybe it would increase his sister’s punishment if he was willing to work and follow instructions whilst she sulked in her room. “My boy will help you to your room.”

Elliot gave his best customer service smile as he made to take hold of one of the three bags that the man had brought in with him.

For the briefest of moments, it seemed like Mr Reed would object. But seeing no other option, he gave him a once over, then nodded curtly, gesturing to what Elliot hoped was the lightest of the three.

If this was the lightest, Elliot thought as he took hold of it, then he didn’t know how Mr Reed could carry the other two with such ease. The thing weighed a tonne.

“We’ve put you in the seafront suite.” Amanda called after them.

The Seafront Suite was their best room, and also, mercifully, the closest. Elliot guessed that his Mum had just made an absolute killing selling that room for a fortnight minimum. Who knows, maybe he’d get a cut for acting as a volunteer luggage handler.

As they climbed up the now seeming very steep stairs, made all the harder by whatever was in the suitcase in Elliot’s trembling hand.

Once they’d climbed up only one flight of stairs, the pair arrived at a large set of wooden doors that Elliot knew led into the best room in the place.

“Here it is sir.” Elliot said dumping the suitcase down and began massaging his hands, feeling the burn in his palms that were red raw from the heavy bag.

“I’m sure I can manage it from here kiddo.” Mr Reed said as he swiped the key against the reader and opened the doors.

The smell of the sea hit Elliot’s senses as the doors were flung open, with the windows in the room having obviously been opened for cleaning.

But the smell was soon pushed from his mind, as Mr Reed opened a wallet, and took out a fifty-pound note, and pressed it into Elliot’s shaking hand.

“What?” Elliot said as he looked down at the money. It was the most he’d ever seen in one go in all his life. Whoever this man was, he was obviously rolling in money. Enough money to see them through the next few years if this tip was anything to go by.

“For your troubles kid. Now scram. I have too much work to do.” Mr Reed said, as he doffed his fedora and began moving his possessions into the room. Leaving nothing for Elliot to do, but beat a hasty retreat back towards his own room. He had only one thought on his mind, hide the money before anyone found out about it.

His plan though, was foiled, when just as he was about to arrive safely in his own room, the opposite door opened, and out stepped Isla, a nervous look on her face. Like she was dreading everything that was about to come, but forcing herself through it regardless.

“I’m sorry I made fun of you Elliot.” Isla said to the floor, her eyes never looked up throughout the apology. But it was the best that he had heard in a long time. And combined with his eagerness to hide his money, he chose to accept it.

“No probs.” Elliot managed opening his door.

But if he thought that he was getting away that easily, then he was dead wrong.

“What’s that?” Isla was pointing at his pocket, where Elliot realised that he had not done a very good job in hiding his tip.

“Nothing.” He quickly made to shove the note further into his jeans. But too late, as Isla, always quicker than he was, managed to snatch the money away.

“Holy shit how did you get this?” Isla asked whilst staring at the note.

Elliot didn’t say anything. He didn’t know why. The news that the hostel finally had a guest, and said guest was a good tipper was not exactly big news. And besides even Isla would eventually notice the newcomer.

But this was his money, and he wanted to keep as much of it to himself as possible.

“What’s it to you?” Elliot said as he lunged once more for the note. This time he was successful and quickly shoved it deep inside his pocket.

“You realise that whoever gave it to you is a criminal right.” Isla said as she looked enviously at his pocket. “Probably a fake as well.”

“No, it isn’t.” But Elliot was no longer as confident as he’d been a minute ago.

“Really. You see many fifty pound notes around peabrain.” Isla responded. And before Elliot could do or say anything else. His twin turned around and walked off.

As Elliot barricaded himself in his room, mainly to stop his twin barging in to steal his tip for good this time, his mind was focussed on the money itself and what Isla had said to him.

Could it be a fake, could it be that this Mr Reed was a criminal. Did that make him an accessory because he’d accepted that money.

All those questions made laps around his mind.

Elliot threw himself onto the bed, which creaked ominously from years of him doing exactly that. He wasn’t stupid, despite what Isla constantly said to him. He knew that this Mr Reed was weird, but was he a criminal?

He punched the pillow, trying to get conformable.

Nothing whatsoever worked. And the net result being, he found himself back outside of Mr Reed’s room, his hand hovering nervously against the door.

But just as he was about to give in and just accept that the man had no concept of what a usual tip was, a loud piercing shriek came from the room.

Elliot jumped backwards, colliding with the wall, knocking an ugly picture to the ground.

The sound brought both Mr Reed out of his room, and Isla from down the hallway.

“What was that?” Isla asked then saw Elliot panting next to the broken painting. “Oh shit, Mum’s going to kill you.”

But Elliot wasn’t paying his twin the slightest bit of attention.

“What was that noise?” Elliot asked, staring at Mr Reed as if he could force a confession. He’d wanted to be so wrong before. But he would eat humble pie if Isla turned out to be right and this man was a criminal.

“Elliot, what’s going on?” His Mum asked as she came down the corridor. Then her next question was directed at Mr Reed “Is everything alright, sir?”

“Yes.” Mr Reed said, straightening himself up. I think your boy knocked over a painting. I came out when I heard the crash.” Then after shooting a warning look that only Elliot apparently saw, he finished. “I did request peace and quiet when I checked in. I’d hoped that that promise would have lasted more than two hours.”

“Of course, sir.” Amanda replied in her best customer service voice.

“But Mum.” Elliot started.

“No Buts, Elliot.” Amanda said rounding on him. “Both of you go back to your rooms,” at the look on Isla’s face their mum started to resemble a wild tiger. “Now.” Amanda growled at the pair of them.

As they both headed back up the corridor, Elliot turned his head around to try and understand just what had happened.

All he got though, was Mr Reed staring fixedly at him as his mum apologised for the disturbance and requested that he continue his stay.

“Wow, you’ve really gone and done it now.” Isla said with glee at the thought of his punishment.

Elliot didn’t say anything. How come everyone was so focused on the painting, and not on the loud shriek that had just come from the hotels only occupied room. Why was that not being mentioned.

“I mean. The painting sucked ass. But that didn’t mean Mum wanted it in pieces.” Isla continued as they reached their respective rooms.

“Just shut up.” Elliot said as he thrust his own door open.

“Fine. But it’s good that that man paid you so much.” Isla said and turned towards her own room.

Elliot just stared, wondering what the hell was going on. Were his family just being deliberated stupid with him, gaslighting him until he went mad.

That was when he heard the question being blurted out of his own mouth.

“Didn’t you hear that shriek though?” Elliot asked at his twin’s retreating back.

“What shriek idiot. I didn’t hear anything.” And with that, and leaving Elliot completely stumped as to what to think next, his sister walked back up the corridor towards her own room.