Chapter 5: A Date with Danger.
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She watches the Mercedes drive away, making note of the badge on its trunk lid – 790SEL. The license plate only had 'Polancco 213' on it. It turns away on the nearest intersection. Tammy decides to go to the hotel, stopping by the gated reservation desk.
"Can I pay for another two weeks for the room?", she asks.
The old grey mouse on the counter looks over his ledger book, and then looks at her, "It is already paid for."
"Paid for?", Tammy asks.
"Some men in suits came and asked about you, then showed police badges and explained that you were in the hospital. Then they paid for the remainder of the month's rent and the month after that depending on when you will return.", the old mouse explains and then asks, "Are you feeling better?"
"Yeah. I'm fine. Some body crashed into me at the intersection when I was getting here a week ago.", Tammy answers.
"I remember. I was there returning from the store to witness it. I was one of those who called the police. You are lucky that you were not hurt more or killed.", the old mouse says.
"Thank you then.", Tammy says before going up the stairs to her room.
Not paying attention to the box on the bed, she sits down on the bed thinking about the events of the past week and more so on the day. She is more confused about the situations than anything. A US Envoy from the embassy checking on her, the change in tone and demeanor on Johan Polancco, bills paid for two months, and her damaged scooter paid for and replaced with something bigger and better. It does not make sense to her. At least now she knows more about her mother and the demise she went through and no longer being accused by the family. It is now imperative that she finds her sister and brings her home. But now she has a date to prepare for.
Looking at the keys given to her in her hand, there are two that make sense to her. One of the two with the 'H' in a rounded square is 'Honda', and more than likely for the Helix Scooter that Johan said was in the parking area near the hotel. But the one with a gold 'W' made no sense to her though the number on the edge gave her a clue.
"A hotel key?", she asks herself, "But which hotel?"
Then she remembers Johan saying, "You should be staying in the Milan Hilton or the Westlin Hotel. Not in this bed bug infested roach motel."
"Could this be the Westlin Hotel?", she asks herself. She goes into her bag and pulls out the information pamphlets. Finding one about hotels, she finds the information for the Milan Hilton, The Westlin and other large hotels in the city. There are pictures of the Hilton and the Westin along with their logos. The 'W' for the Westlin matches the one on the key. She says to herself 'Yes!' in her mind.
After a few minutes of further researching, she opens the box. Inside was a Pink Helmet like the one she had before but a bit larger and heavier. Under it was a foam cervical collar to wear with the helmet and a pair of leather gloves. All seem to fit as if they were tailor made for her.
Putting the items down, she decides to take her clothes off and take a long over due shower. Though the hospital may have given her a sponge bath while she was out cold, she still felt as if she hadn't bathed in months. She spends over a half hour showering up. She then returns to her room and towel dries herself. Going through her bag, she finds a fresh set of clothes to put on but realizes that she needs to do the laundry with the dirty clothes piling up in the sealed bags. She remembers that there was a laundry mat near by.
In another hour she returns from the laundry to her room to gather her remaining things and repacks her backpack. Taking and putting on her Rescue Ranger jacket, she puts on the backpack and picks up the helmet, collar and gloves. She leaves and locks her room. It will take a few minutes to leave the hotel and into the parking area where a couple of cars and motorcycles were. She finds the Hondo Helix at the far end. It was much larger than the Vespa she had. She had to sit up though more like a car and not a motorbike. Putting the key into the ignition, the engine turns on quieter than the Vespa. With her feet on the side, she pushes off the kickstand while revving the engine. The Hondo zooms quickly to speed, making her take to the hand brakes.
It takes her a while to get used to the Honda Helix's power, as she goes around the block a couple of times to try it out. Once she figures out how to handle the machine, she takes it onto the main streets of Milan and heads for the main tourist center where the Westlin Hotel was in. Being able to accelerate faster into traffic, she gets there faster than she had with the Vespa.
One thing she quickly finds that there were no parking areas outside in the streets. There were several signs for indoor parking, including one at the hotel. She rides slowly into the indoor parking area of the Westlin and finds a gate at the entrance. A guard steps out into view.
"Do you have an electronic pass key?", he says in Italian. She turns off the Helix to remove the keys, and holds it out to him. "This is not an electronic pass...", the guard begins to say but his demeanor suddenly changes, "I'm sorry Miss. You can park at the usual spot."
"Where will that be?", Tammy asks.
"Second level down, by the elevator.", the guard answers.
"Thank you.", Tammy replies as she received her keys.
Turning on the ignition of the Helix, Tammy rides around the rising barricade and finds her way to the second level by the elevators as the guard told her. She parks the Helix at the wall closest to the elevators. She then takes the elevator to the main lobby to find the information desk.
Most of the clerks were registering hotel guests to their room though the process was fairly fast. Once she was on line, it takes a couple of minutes to see a hotel clerk. She manages to get a female clerk.
"How can I help you?", the female clerk asks.
Tammy takes her keys and hands it to her. The clerk picks them up and sees the Westlin key on the ring. She runs the number through her computer terminal; it takes her a few seconds longer than necessary, as she was going through the faces of the Polancco clan to make sure its not a bad date seeking revenge. She was surprised to find Tammy's face on the list with a brief bio of who she was.
"I am very sorry, Miss Polancco.", as the clerk slides the keys back to her. "How can I help you?", she then asks nervously.
"Miss Polancco?, I'm Tammy Squirrel. I'm just related to them by marriage.", Tammy says, "I just need to know where the room is."
"I'm sorry. Go through that door and take that elevator at the end and put the key into the keyhole for the thirty-second floor. It will take you straight there.", the clerk explains.
"Key goes into the elevator?", Tammy asks herself.
"The Polanccos own much of the upper floors. Don't you know that?", the clerk says and asks.
"Its been a while I been in America way too long.", Tammy lies to try to cover herself.
"I see. That key will allow you to get to thirty-second floor. You can choose which room to get into from there. I suggest you take the last room in the hall as the boys have the rooms by the elevator.", the clerk tells her.
"Thank you.", Tammy tells her. She then leaves for the private elevator. Once in she puts the key into the keyhole and rides it up to the thirty-second floor. It takes almost a minute to get there. The doors open to a vast room like hallway with doors lining on the walls on either side. She finds the place deadly quiet.
Following the clerk's directions, she goes to the last room at the end of the hall. Walking in she enters a large living room like space. She finds the place elaborately decorated. Walking around she finds two large bedrooms and a bathroom with a giant tub and shower stall. Heading back to the living room area where she puts down her bag. She thinks about the day's events as she makes her way to a window. Parting the curtains, she takes a look outside, taking on the grand view of the city below.
"Wow. I can see my hotel from here.", she says to herself. Looking down she feels a little dizzy but holds on to the windowsill. The people look like ants as they mill about on the streets below. Further down she can see the Milan Hilton, a large fountain further down near the Hilton and a park. She looks around and takes in the scenic views of the city around her.
Her growling stomach tells her that there was more for her to do. She looks around and finds a telephone nearby. She takes it and picks it up, but instead of a dial tone, she gets a female operator on the line.
"Room service. How can I help you?", the operator says on the phone.
"Room service?", Tammy asks.
"Yes. How can help you?", the operator asks.
"Is it possible that I can have food sent up?", Tammy asks.
"Sure you can have food sent up. What would you like from our restaurant?", the operator asks.
"Err... Uhm, wait. How will this be paid?", Tammy asks.
"It is paid by the Polancco's expense account. Is there anything you would like?", the operator explains and asks.
"If I go down stairs and eat there, will I have to pay for it?", Tammy asks.
"Actually, I can set up a reservation for you to eat down stairs and the bill will be sent to the Polancco's expense account. Would you like that instead?", the operator explains and asks.
"Yes. I would, please.", Tammy answers.
"OK. How many in your party?", the operator asks.
"Just me.", Tammy answers.
"OK. One.", the operator says. In the background the sound of a computer keyboard clicking is heard. "Done. You have a reservation for one under the name of Polancco at the Hotel Restaurant. Its good for the next hour."
"An hour? I'm going in a few of minutes after I get dressed.", Tammy says.
"Not to worry, Miss. You have plenty of time. Anything else I can help you with?", the operator says and asks.
"No. But thank you. Thank you very much.", Tammy tells her.
"Then you have a good day.", the operator replies before disconnecting the call. Tammy could not do much but look at the phone for a second and then hangs it up. She then looks at the two bedrooms for a moment before picking the smaller of the two to take her stuff into.
Taking her backpack and helmet with her inside it on the bed; she opens the backpack and spills out her clothes on the bed sheets. She looks around for a nice looking dress or shirt and blouse combination, compared to the blouse and jeans she is currently wearing. She sits there looking and putting things against her to see how they would look on her. She takes a light blue blouse along with a darker blue knee high skirt. Black low-heel pumps add to her attire. Though she does not carry a carry all purse, she stuffs her important papers, credit cards and money inside. She gets up from the bed and stands up to a nearby mirror, checking herself out on it front and back.
Tammy gets on the bed and pulls out her hairbrush, giving her hair a couple of dozen strokes to set it in place. She takes another check with the mirror before she starts to walk out the door to the main room. She then takes her keys and stuffs them into the purse. She stops by the door to the main hall and goes through her things, Except for the mess she made in the smaller bedroom; she thinks she has everything she needs. She then steps out and heads for the elevator at the end of the hall.
The elevator takes a minute to get to the lobby. She walks over to the information and registration desk where she gets the same clerk from before.
"Hello, can I help… hey! You look a lot better than you came in. Need anything?", the clerk asks.
"Well, yeah. Where's your restaurant?", Tammy asks.
"Oh, that's simple.", the clerk says and leans over her counter. She then points to the far end of the lobby, "Its over there, past the conference rooms."
"Thanks.", Tammy asks, before she heads to the area the clerk mentioned.
In a couple of minutes she enters a waiting area with a maître d' in front of a podium. She walks up to him and he looks at her with a snobbish gaze past his nose.
"How can I help you?", he says in his best English.
"I have a reservation for one under the name Polancco.", Tammy answers.
"I doubt we have such a reservation, we do not serve just one.", the maître d' says.
"Please look?", Tammy asks.
To humor her he does, finding Polancco on the computer screen in front of him, with a note under the name, 'relative of Joseph Polancco under his family's care.' His jaw drops, and he tries to recompose him self quickly before turning to her.
"Right this way.", he looks at her, trying to suck up to her. "Pick any table you want. The place is yours.", he adds on.
"I just want a small table, please.", Tammy says.
"Then right this way.", the maître d' says, leading her to a window seat at a medium sized table. He takes the seat and pulls it back for her. "Sit down right here and enjoy the meal.", he tells her. She sits on the seat, surprised that he would push it in place for her.
A waiter comes and hands her a menu as another waiter puts down a glass on the table and fills it with water. Tammy takes her time going over the menu, trying to make out what is said as speaking Italian and reading Italian are two different things. She figures out the basics, and ask for the roast beef with pasta and vegetables. The waiter asks if she wants wine with her meal, which she declines. Juice would be more in order for the meal she orders.
She thinks and waits for her order, with little to do, as she does not have those things that would have entertained her. She thinks about what she had found out, the date she has with Johan, and the things he had given her. She also thinks about the café, Fernando, dropping out of the EMT program when she could have passed with his help. What Fernando must be thinking about this? But finding her family is more important. She then wonders if anyone in the café misses her.