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38
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Mort made his way across the crowded French airport with the girl trailing along behind him. He glanced back at her occasionally to make sure he had not lost her in the orgy of people. As he came to the immigration control area, he took out his US passport to show it. He looked behind him, expecting to see the girl slowly following after him, but did not see her.
He looked around the crowded airport for her, but there was no sign of her. She had vanished. He shrugged and decided he was better off without her presence. He made his way out of the airport and into one of the many waiting taxis parked in front of the building.
After a short drive, the taxi stopped in front of yet another fancy hotel. This would be his third that week!
He exited the car, handed some money through the window to the driver, headed for the entrance of the building and walked up to the reception desk, and recognized the desk clerk.
"Hello, Gruber," Mort said. He'd stayed at this hotel before and was acquaintances with Gruber, the desk clerk.
The man looked up from his papers, acknowledged Mort's presence with a nod. "Hello, Mr. Corso. Delighted to see you again," Gruber said. He looked at his computer screen and frowned. "We don't have any vacancies, but uh... I'm sure I'll be able to organize something."
"Thank you very much, Gruber," Mort said. He slid a 100 Franc bill across the desk.
Gruber made it vanish and smiled. He looked at the computer screen again. "Oh, I see we have a vacancy afterall." He picked up a key from off the desk and handed it to Mort.
Mort nodded and turned around. He took a step forward, then stopped, turned back to Gruber and pointed a finger at him. "Gruber. I'd like for you to arrange a rental car for me," Mort said.
Gruber nodded. "I'll get on it, sir."