Agatha appeared stealthily on stage, just as she had outside their room door. "Thank you all. That was quite a show. I know the residents appreciated. That's the most lively I have seen them in some time."
"That was lively? I'd hate to see what they were like before," Micky commented.
"What do you mean 'residents' and 'some time?' This is a hotel. Shouldn't guests be checking out in a timely manner?" Mike asked uncertainly.
"Did I say residents? I meant guests," Agatha corrected herself questionably. "Some of our guests are frequent visitors; here travelling on business or pleasure purposes."
"That explains it," Davy said staring dreamily at Agatha.
Figures, Mike thought. He made a mental note to discuss the odd behavior of the party patrons to the guys later on. Right now, in front of Agatha, would not get him much of a response from Davy. Plus, he didn't want her to hear about his personal observations.
"Now you will be our honored guests at dinner with the hotel's proprietor," Agatha broke into Mike's thoughts.
"Dinner?" Micky questioned. "It's one AM."
"Now, Micky," Davy cajoled, "how can we pass up the opportunity to be honored guests? It would be improper to refuse. Lead the way, darling," he finished taking Agatha's arm in his.
"Boy, he's laying it on thick," Micky rolled his eyes.
The three bandmates entered the grand dining hall decorated much the same as the rest of the hotel. There were about fifteen round tables with eight chairs each, fully decked out with dining settings and floral, candle centerpieces. The partygoers had entered the room and dispersed between two of the tables. The guys followed Agatha to a table in the center of the room that was already occupied by another old fashioned dressed man gray hair and a handlebar mustache.
"Welcome Monkees," the stranger greeted them with a hearty voice.
"Doctor Livingstone, I presume," Micky attempted to lighten the mood.
"No, Professor Hadley," the man answered with an air of confusion.
Mike let out a long sigh, "Nice to meet you Professor. This is your hotel?"
"Why yes. I opened the Hotel Valencia many years ago. I heard you all have been making quite a splash around here with your musical abilities."
"If you call causing the mundane to turn slightly bland, then yes," Micky said sarcastically. Davy elbowed him in the ribs.
"Please, sit," Professor Hadley offered.
"With all due respect, Professor," Mike began taking the seat that was offered, "we can't stay for dinner. Our friend Peter is in the room not feeling well and we have been away from him long enough already."
"Balderdash," Professor Hadley started as Davy and Micky mouthed balderdash to each other, "your friend will be okay while we get to know one another."
Mike had reservations, but allowed the professor to have some time. After all, he was letting them stay at the hotel free of charge. "Okay just for a few moments."
Professor regaled the three friends with tales of his years being man of science. All the ventures and expeditions he had been on in the name of scientific exploration. Mike thought it sounded as if this guy had been alive for hundreds of lifetimes. No way one man could do all that in 60 or 70 years, however old this fraud was. He couldn't help but to continue to check his watch for the time.
Micky though was eating this all up. He was a tinkerer himself and on occasion experimented in science and business ventures. "I could listen to these stories forever, Professor."
Mike hated to break up this adoration fest, but it was nearing 1:45. "Thanks for everything, Professor. We really should get going."
"Shucks, Mike," Micky protested. "I was hoping to hear more."
"Well, young man, why don't you stay and keep me company. I have so much more to share," Professor Hadley proposed.
"I would love to," Micky said shooting Mike a pleading look.
"Sure, Mick. Davy and I will go check on Peter and get rest," Mike answered slightly annoyed. "Don't stay down too late."
"I won't," Micky replied before turning back to his host. "You know Professor Hadley I dabble in the sciences. I have made some intriguing discoveries."
"What have you discovered, Mr. Dolenz?" Professor Hadley asked.
"Mostly that I cause a lot of explosions," the drummer admitted.
Mike shook his head as he left Micky.
Mike and Davy trudged back up to the room. All along the way Mike assessed if Davy had noticed the same oddities at the party that he had.
"I didn't notice anything peculiar," Davy answered.
"How could you not?" Mike practically shouted at the Brit. "Those guys were like zombies and seemed as though they were only able to semi function with music and nothing else."
"Maybe they were trying to forget all their troubles," Davy offered.
"With those blank stares it was apparent they didn't think about much to begin with," Mike retorted.
"Okay maybe it was to spark some sense of remembrance. Why are you so uptight about this? It's not like we are here forever. It's just temporary. Think of it as another crazy experience to add to the memory bank," Davy replied.
Mike wasn't completely paying attention though. He was tuning in and out of his conversation with Davy and distracted by those voices in the corridors again. Was it just him? Were they trying to tell him something? No you're just exhausted, he thought.
They finally reached their room and carefully opened the door and entered. "Check on Peter while I go to the bathroom," Mike directed.
"Hey, Mike," Davy said stopping the taller man in his tracks with the concern in his voice.
"What is it?"
"Peter's not here."