Authors note. Sorry for taking so long to update, life can be… Busy at times.
While Eddie was away the children stayed with Susanna and Kolkov in the Hotel, the girls went with Susanna into the kitchen/back room and Klaus stayed with Kolkov behind the desk in the lobby.
"If you don't mind me asking sir-"
"Don't call me sir, call me Kolkov we are friends. Da?"
"Umm… Da?" Klaus asked nervously.
"Sorry. Da means yes in Russian." Kolkov said as he sat on a chair. He waved his hand towards another one offering it to Klaus, who accepted it.
"So may ask you a question…. Kolkov?"
"If you ever have question ask me, I will probably have an answer for you."
"Um. Okay, how did you and Eddie meet?"
"Ah, well after marrying Susanna I got a job helping out at the hotel she worked at and we decided we wanted to own one of our own, so we saved up money and after many years we were getting on in our age and the great war was going on, so I decided to help in the war effort by building ships, so I went to Mobile Alabama looking for work and I come across this sailor being attacked by 3 sides and I think to myself.
"Kolkov, there is man serving country and yet he is being attacked by men in his country." So I grab a large rock run into the fight and knock one of the men out cold. One of them turns on me and Eddie who was the sailor hits him in the back of the head knocking him out.
And then the third man turned and left. We introduce each other and I asked why was he being attacked and Eddie said it was problem from when he was a dock worker in this city.
We then became friends and every night we would get a few drinks, then one day he says he has to ship out and to repay me he gives me key and tells me to use it on a locker in bus station. After working the next day I go to the bus station, there I find a small satchel containing explosives and 3 thousand dollars. After that I finish building a liberty ship and head to home, there with the money we saved plus the money Eddie gave us, and by selling the explosives on the black market we were able to afford this. We had to fix it up some but we managed."
"Interesting." Klauss said, still not use to this strange Russian.
"Enough for a Russian and his southern wife." Kolkov said with a wink and a smile.
In the back room/kitchen Susanna and the girls were sitting around the table where they ate breakfast talking. "Would you mind a soda?" Susanna asked. "We don't want to bother you." Violet said and Sunny agreed with a nod.
"If it were a bother I wouldn't have offered. Susanna said. "Now would you like a coke or a root beer?"
"Um… Coke please." Violet said.
"Root beer." Sunny put in.
"No soda pop for babies or toddlers." Susanna said as she walked into the kitchen and got 2 cokes from the fridge and a glass of water for Sunny.
"I'm not a baby." Sunny said.
"Oh yes you are, you may not think you are but when you get to be my age, don't ask what it is, you'll see you were."
"But.." Sunny started,
"Don't talk back Sunny it isn't polite." Violet admonished gently.
"Oh, don't mind her, if you don't argue then you will just stay in the same place you have always been." Susanna put in after handing the girls their drinks and then taking a drink of her own.
A few seconds later they heard the bell above the front door chime.
"Is that Eddie?" Violet asked.
"No way to tell but knowing him probably not. He usually doesn't come back that early. More than likely a guest coming back from breakfast." Susanna then added thoughtfully. "We don't get much business this early in the day."
After a few moments hearing some murmured words then the raised voice of Kolkov Susanna got up saying she'd better diffuse the situation. And then a very loud boom. "Dammit! That Kolkov just shot at another guest!" Susanna said as she rushed to the front desk.
- 5 minutes earlier -
As Kolkov and Klaus talked a man and woman walked into the hotel lobby.
"Not the accommodations we are used to my dear, but it will make do." The man who was wearing a long trench coat and a top hat said to the woman next to him who was wearing a fur coat and what looked like expensive jewelry. Klaus nervously stepped back and somewhat behind Kolkov.
Kolkov, noticing the strange behavior whispered to Klaus, "What is it boy?"
"That's count Olaf, the man I was telling you about earlier."
"You sure? There are a lot of people in this city."
"Positive. And that's Esmè"
"Okay, I'll take care of them…"
After saying that Kolkov turned back to them as count Olaf loudly rang the bell.
"What can I do for you?" Kolkov said with a forced smile as he slowly reached under the desk.
"We are going to be waiting here for some frie… Ah, I see you have met one of them. That boy behind you is the son of a friend of ours. Could we perhaps get a room next to his?" Olaf said.
"That is impossible." Kolkov began.
"WHAT!" Olaf blustered. "You're telling us that we can't stay next to some friends? Is it because the rooms near them are booked? If so I would like to buy the nearest one out."
"No, you see that is impossible because this boy is sadly an orphan. And I will not have your type in my place of business."
"What do you mean our type!" Esmè exclaimed. "I will have you know I am one of the most in people in this country."
"And I will have you know I couldn't care less. Now leave."
"No," Olaf humphed, "I am a very important person and I will not have some stinking Russian drunk tell me what to do!"
"I SAID GET THE HELL OUT OF MY HOTEL!" Kolkov yelled as he brought up a double barreled sawn off shotgun.
"No-ow look he-r-re." Olaf stammered looking at the shotgun. Then Carmela Spatz walked in yelling. "I am tired of waiting in the car! Get a room for me now!" She then stomped her foot onto the floor.
"I said get out now!" Kolkov said to be heard above the irritating little girl.
"You can't tell me what to do!" Carmela said purposefully sticking her chin up.
"Kolkov getting tired of this then fired a shot past Olaf's head and into the wall. Olaf and Esmè getting the message turned and grabbing a protesting Carmela ran outside.
Susanna then ran into the space behind the desk, slapped Kolkov, and said. "Why did you have to blow a hole into my nice wall? You know you're gonna fix it right?"
"Yes dear." Kolkov said hanging his head down and winking at a rather terrified Klaus.