The Seaside Hotel

by Agnès Ruiz

  Except she couldn’t stop wondering why he had come to find her. The same uneasy feeling stayed with her.

  Was he a sick psychopath?

  Out of the blue, she thought of Mélanie’s prolonged absence. Was Guillermo really worried about her or was he responsible for her disappearance?

  A gnawing anxiety grew deep in her stomach. She should at least try to see the young girls’ parents.

  After a lightening visit to the bathroom, she threw her bag over her shoulder then went down the stairs four by four. It was only at that moment she remembered that her car wasn’t there.

  Another detail hit her. Her keys weren’t in her bag, either. Guillermo had taken them.

  Was he really afraid she would get behind the wheel after drinking? She wasn’t reckless, she thought, annoyed.

  However, she refused to face Guillermo. He would give her a lecture, no doubt. But she wanted to be sure that Mélanie had gotten home. If she refused to come back to work at the hotel, she may as well admit it in person rather than play cat and mouse.

  Joanna went back up to her flat to find the copy of her keys then hailed a taxi to take her to her car. She found it in the right place, got in behind the wheel and started it.

  Mélanie’s parents received her with suspicion in the beginning. When she introduced herself, the mother opened the door wide.

  “Please, come in, Miss Gaspardin.”

  “Call me Joanna. I won’t be long.”

  “Can I get you a coffee or a tea?”

  Joanna opted for a coffee hoping that it would be better than her mothers’. Mélanie’s father watched her in silence as his wife bustled about around them.

  “Could I speak to Mélanie?” Joanna finally asked when she realised they weren’t going to suggest it.

  The man grumbled something then raised his hand vaguely before becoming returning to his silence. Joanna frowned at Mr Boudin’s attitude. Should she repeat her question? Mrs Boudin came back just in time with a tray. She served Joanna a cup and the young woman took advantage by reiterating her request.

  “I just asked your husband if I could speak to Mélanie. Is she in her room?”

  Mrs Boudin glanced towards her husband, pinching her lips for a few seconds before switching her attention back to Joanna.

  “You don’t know?”

  Joanna swallowed, an immediate feeling twisted in her stomach. Yet, she dared to ask:

  “Know what Mrs Boudin?”

  Once again, the silence seemed too long for Joanna to deal with before Mélanie’s mother explained, obviously uncomfortable:

  “Mélanie isn’t here. Well, I mean she’s not here anymore. We... she decided to leave.”

  Mrs Boudin’s hands were trembling and her eyes filled with tears. Perhaps the woman was fighting with herself inside not to let her mother’s grief carry her away.

  Joanna observed Mr Boudin’s reaction which seemed even more sullen than beforehand.

  Now, she suspected there had been an argument between the girl and the father. Perhaps that justified Mélanie’s long absence from the hotel... But she couldn’t allow herself to bring up such a delicate subject. Moreover, she wasn’t there for that. She just wanted to see Mélanie.

  “Do you know where I could contact her? It’s important...”

  “On her phone. That’s all we have.”

  77

  This time, Mrs Boudin left to cry, unable to control herself. Mr Boudin was annoyed and got up to leave the room after having thrown as many insults at Mélanie as he did at Mrs Boudin whom he thought too emotional.

  Joanna was staggered by his behaviour which was like a bear. However, she had to recognise she felt relieved that he was no longer in the room. Spontaneously, she approached Mrs Boudin and took her in her arms, incapable of knowing what she would say to her.

  Then the words began to flow.

  “Mélanie works hard at the hotel, you know. She’s a worthy employee who wants to learn.”

  “It’s true, she’s a good girl”, sniffed Mrs Boudin. “We had her late, you know... My husband doesn’t always have the patience with the young.”

  Joanna grabbed the box of tissues from a small table and held it out to Mrs Boudin.

  “I’ve already tried to contact her on her mobile phone. I had to leave several messages, but she never calls back.”

  Mrs Boudin confirmed with a long, sad nod of the head.

  “I know. Me too, I’ve tried, when my husband isn’t here”, she very quickly added, one eye on the place where he disappeared. “She’s not usually like that, my little Mélanie. But...” (There, she paused, her face still on the place where Mr Boudin had gone [did she fear he would emerge or come back to spy on the conversation?]) “There was a terrible argument between her and her father. Since then, she hasn’t given us any news. I’m so worried, especially since the man came this morning. He asked me questions about Mélanie.”

  “A man?” said Joanna, surprised.

  “Yes, a Mr Voily... He told me he stayed at the seaside hotel. And that he was searching for Mélanie. Do you know him?”

  “Yes, he is a guest, indeed”, confirmed Joanna, intrigued. “How did he seem to you?”

  “I don’t understand... A guest, you say?”

  Mrs Boudin seemed unsettled by this information. Joanna was just as much. How had Guillermo obtained Mélanie’s address and why had he come himself? Just because he was worried about the young girl? At least he wanted to cover his tracks... Mrs Boudin nevertheless said what she had felt about Guillermo Voily.

  “He seemed to me to be a very kind man. But, I must say I was more worried after he left”, she recognised. “I felt as though Mélanie isn’t doing well. And you coming here confirms that. We must absolutely find her. She couldn’t have gone just like that without even calling me at least. I’m her mum.”

  The woman began crying again and Joanna had to dig deep to find comforting words. She assured her that she would do what she could to find Mélanie. In between jolts, Mrs Boudin hiccupped:

  “You’ll tell me, eh, even if she no longer wants anything to do with us? I just want to know that she’s OK. That she’s safe. And if you see her, tell her that we love her. That we’ll always love her...”

  “Yes, Mrs Boudin, I’ll do what I can, you can trust me. And I’m sure Mélanie knows you love her.”

  Joanna thought it might be necessary to declare Mélanie Boudin as a missing person and go to the authorities. However she refused to come to such extremities today. That would throw Mrs Boudin into even more of a panic when she was already shaken up. She said goodbye to Mrs Boudin and held her for a long time.

  Outside, she thought of Guillermo again. He was also looking for Mélanie. Why? She wondered for the umpteenth time. To help Joanna? To show she could trust him?

  He was clear he had nothing to do with the young girl’s disappearance despite what she thought. If not, he wouldn’t have come here to find out.

  She got back to her car, worried that she hadn’t been successful.

  Where could she be? And what could have been so bad for Mélanieto leave following the argument with her father?

  She hadn’t remarked anything strange at the seaside hotel. Mélanie was smiley, very happy. Perhaps it was a very recent event. Perhaps she had run away?

  Joanna had to be sure. She couldn’t imagine not having news of her own daughter, even if she was turning 18 years old.

  Despite some resentment, she pulled over to one side and called Guillermo on her mobile. He replied at the third ring. They both found themselves making small talk, as if they desired sticking to non-stormy subjects. Then Guillermo asked her if she’d managed to get her car back. Joanna felt as though he was holding his breath.

  Was he afraid she would be angry or something like that?

  “I have a copy of the keys. I took a taxi and everything is fine.”

  Guillermo assured her that he would bring back her other bunch. Except if she wanted to go to the ho
tel.

  “Is that an invitation?” Joanna shot, her breath short and her heart thumping.

  Guillermo remained vague, not taking the bait thrown by the young woman. Joanna heard the sound of a siren ring out in the street before her. An instant later, she heard Guillermo tell her he had to go and he would call her shortly.

  Joanna hung up and watched a police car park a bit further, at a car park near the beach. Two policemen got out and met a third man who was clearly waiting for them.

  Joanna was dumbfounded. It didn’t take much for her to get back on the road and park nearby.

  78

  She watched the three men move around a car. The window of the driver’s side was broken.

  Joanna got out and approached.

  “The keys are under the brake pedal”, she heard one of the policemen remark.

  “Have forensics brought in, for them to take prints. It’s not a good sign all this. I’m quite afraid.”

  Joanna advanced even more and asked, in a flat voice.

  “What’s going on?”

  Guillermo Voily suddenly turned around.

  “Joanna? What are you doing here?”

  “You’re answering my question with another question...”

  They both remained reserved. Finally, Joanna went first.

  “Who are you, Guillermo?”

  “Sir?”

  “I have to go, Joanna. Wait for me, if you want?”

  The policeman claimed Guillermo’s attention, clearly caught between a rock and a hard place.

  He returned to his prerogatives without waiting for consent from Joanna. He gave orders to the two men and spoke on the phone at the same time.

  Joanna panicked when she heard him tell them to open the boot of the car. What were they hoping to find? Her mind imagined all kinds of scenarios.

  Finally, after some long minutes, Guillermo joined her.

  “You never told me you worked for the police”, Joanna announced, surprised to find her voice so calm.

  “It’s not exactly what you think”, he replied simply.

  Joanna began laughing briefly. But there was no joy in it.

  “Too complicated for me to understand, is that it?”

  “What are you on about, come on!”

  They looked at each other for a few seconds.

  “Why did you go to see Mélanie’s family?” Joanna attacked.

  “Who told you that?”

  “Mélanie’s mother. I came from their house.”

  “We could have gone there together, that’s for sure”, Guillermo agreed.

  “But you should have told me the truth about who you really are, in that case. I imagine you’d refuse.”

  “What truth?”

  “That you are a policeman. I don’t see why you wanted to hide it from me.”

  Then, Joanna admitted that she thought he might have been a criminal. Guillermo laughed, but Joanna didn’t feel like finding the situation funny. He had lied to her. Well, not really, but overlooking such an important piece of information, even by omission came back to the same thing in her opinion.

  “And you, Joanna, what are you doing here?”

  “I can go wherever I want as far as I’m aware. Have you got something to say?”

  “Don’t be so aggressive.”

  Joanna pulled a face at the comment. Guillermo was poised. A little too much so as she was boiling inside.

  “I’m just surprised that you’re here”, he precised.

  “Do you think I followed you? I have better things to do with my days.”

  She was about to dig that she wasn’t like him, tracing people thanks to his geo-localisation. She bit her tongue so as not to worsen the situation. It was quite tense between them. Wanting to move away from a delicate subject, she decided to change tactics. Pointing to the car in the car park with a finger, she asked:

  “What’s so special about this car? Is it a stolen car? Is this what your job is like?”

  Guillermo seemed upset at the question. Was he going to lie for every reason?

  “It’s Mélanie Boudin’s car”, he told her directly.

  “What? But... what’s happened? Was she attacked or something like that?”

  “I suppose you’re saying that because of the broken window...”

  Joanna confirmed; her throat suddenly dry.

  “The glass shards were scattered over the seat and around the pedals. It’s a break in. If not, the bits would be outside in the carpark.”

  Joanna didn’t like that detail. Guillermo didn’t even seem to realise that he was telling an outsider about his inquiry. Unless he wanted to put all the cards on the table. Whatever it was, none of this felt good... Joanna was afraid to ask the question that was burning on her lips. However, she closed her eyes for an instant before facing the reality.

  “In the boot... have you... you found...”

  “There was nothing in the boot”, Guillermo cut her off.

  Whereas an instant before, he was considerate, even going as far as to touch her arm as if to reassure her with her question. And there she was now, frowning.

  “What is it?” she asked in one breath.

  Guillermo played for time. Finally he seemed decided.

  “Why did you ask about the boot? Do you know something?”

  “What? No, but are you kidding, or what? Of course not. I don’t know anything. What are you imagining?”

  Joanna freed herself from Guillermo’s hand and stepped back, horrified by what he implied. Guillermo didn’t move. She had the impression she was facing a man who didn’t, or no longer, knew her. Was he in his investigator role, suspecting everybody?

  He scrutinised Joanna for a long time before concluding.

  “I don’t imagine anything, Joanna. I just ask questions.”

  “Stupid questions. Don’t you think I’ve been worried since Mélanie’s absence?”

  “You haven’t done anything to find her.”

  “Even better. Soon you’re going to say that it was me who broke the window in this car, perhaps.”

  “No, I don’t think so.”

  “Oh! How noble. Thank you for your honesty.”

  “There will be finger prints, anyway.”

  “You can take mine straight away if that makes you feel better. May as well get that over and done with, now.”

  “That won’t be necessary, Joanna.”

  “Not yet! But we’ll come to that.”

  “What are you doing here?” Guillermo asked again, obviously annoyed, also.

  “I told you. I’ve just come from Mélanie’s parents’ house. You should know that road leads to the car park.”

  Guillermo confirmed by observing the stretch of sand before him. The tide was out, hidden on the horizon. It was a menacing day, filled with gloominess, but there hadn’t been any rain for a while. That could be useful for the investigation, she thought. The car would have to be towed away as soon as possible there was no doubt about that. Guillermo knew there was a terrible storm due. The clues could disappear very quickly which would be detrimental to the investigation to find Mélanie.

  79

  The silence between Guillermo and Joanna was becoming embarrassing. It would soon be impassable. Joanna decided to give in, for a while, anyway.

  “We were on the phone, earlier, do you remember?”

  Guillermo turned his head towards her. She continued her explanation.

  “I heard the siren then the car drove past me to come to park here. Then, I saw you... and obviously, I had a load of questions.”

  “Oh! I see.”

  The elements were put out there. Guillermo nodded his head several times. He considered it before announcing:

  “In short, you were in the right place at the right time.”

  “You think I’m lying?”

  “No, Joanna. I don’t think so.”

  Joanna continued playing the victim, judging it wiser to remain calm. She needed information and who would be bet
ter placed than Guillermo to supply her with it until now?

  “What about the car... Are you sure it’s Mélanie’s?”

  “No doubt. We had launched a vast search in the region, helicopters and patrol cars. Nothing has been left to chance.”

  “Why not track her?”

  “Her mobile phone was an old model. There was no signal... So, we couldn’t research that part. Then luck shined down on us. We got a report of a car with a broken window.”

  “Oh!”

  “We found her phone. In the car. There are a lot of her personal items inside. As if she were sleeping in her car”, explained Guillermo, worried.

  “She was angry with her father.”

  Guillermo seemed not to know. Joanna was long-winded with her explications. She wanted to give them every chance of finding Mélanie. She was unaware that every minute could count.

  “There are the swabs, too. The forensics won’t be long and they are going to tow the car.”

  “Are you afraid for her life?”

  Guillermo didn’t answer. He asked her to wait a little more then went back to his team to give orders before coming back to her.

  “We should go to eat something somewhere. To talk.”

  “What do you want to talk about? Haven’t we said everything?”

  “There’s a chance I will commit some acts that you will not like over the next few hours.”

  “I don’t have anything against the police, you know. It’s just that I would have preferred knowing about it from you.”

  “Come, I spotted a restaurant a few streets away.”

  He was clearly not going to say any more. Joanna was compelled to go back to her car and Guillermo got in with her. He indicated the place and she parked in the parking spot reserved for customers.

  “It’s on me.”

  “If you want.”

  Joanna had no desire to fight. Especially for such a small detail when a long discussion seemed inevitable. They sat face to face and Joanna poured herself a glass of water without waiting. The place was quiet. There wasn’t a rush on just yet. Guillermo was about to start when Joanna interrupted him.

  “My mother’s bought a restaurant. Did you know that? Of course. You’re a police officer. I suppose you know everything.”