"But still, it's appalling. The cozy house out on the jetty."
They ran through the corridor and down the stairs to the lobby. It was full of conference participants and already chaotic.
"Do you know what happened, Rebecca?" Miranda looked at the pale receptionist, who was trying to answer questions from several guests by the counter.
"No, we just heard an explosion. Oscar in the bar called the fire department."
The local chief of police, Alfred, came toward them, red-faced and sweaty even before he'd done anything. She told him what little she knew, which was basically nothing.
He scratched his bald head. "Hmm, how strange. I'll make sure people stay away. I hope the fire truck arrives soon." He disappeared out the door again.
Miranda noticed Mrs. Wilhelmsen sitting at the bar with a drink. The older woman looked about to pass out any second.
"There you are," she said in a shaky voice. "What's happening? The beach house is burning to the ground. Imagine if we were in there now."
"Fortunately, you're all okay. We must be grateful the building was locked. Regrettably, I don't know what went wrong, but I can hear the fire truck now. Sit here and relax. Oscar will refill your glass, and everyone else's too," Miranda said, and caught the eye of the bartender. She went over to him. "Thanks for acting so quickly and calling the fire department."
"No problem."
"Let the guests have drinks on the house, it's the least we can do for them. And tell the kitchen, in case someone wants drinks in the restaurant," she said.
Oscar nodded, and they hurried out on the terrace to get an overview. The firefighters were already pulling fire hoses, and there was nothing they could do but watch. "It's just a house," Gabriel said, consolingly. "We can easily rebuild it."
Miranda looked at him sadly and knew it wasn't that simple. It would take time to put up a new building. Moreover, she was worried about the hotel's reputation. What if the customers stopped coming? Setting up this business had been a lot of work, and she didn't need more complications.
"Who wants to stay at a hotel that explodes? I'd think twice before booking a room here." She watched the firefighters working hard to extinguish the raging flames reaching for the sky. They had a complicated task at hand, since the beach house was built on poles made of wood. The firefighters stood as far out on the jetty as possible, trying to stop the flames from spreading. The water was several feet deep around the building, so wading into the sea to put out the flames wasn't an option. What they needed was a fire boat.
"Don't worry about it now."
Several curious people had joined them on the terrace. It wasn't a pleasant place to be, so Miranda guided them into the restaurant and suggested they sit by the tables. They still had a view of the jetty, but at least they had something to drink.
Kitty came tripping toward them with a nervous King in her arms. "What's going on?"
Miranda hugged her grandma. "I don't know. But it's better for you to have a look from your suite, or Elvira's." She eyed the dog, who was trembling, either from cold or the frightening flames licking the sky. Probably the latter.
"You're right. I'll inform Elvira and Neil," said Kitty.
They remained standing, watching the firefighters working furiously to control the blazing fire. The sun had set, but the sky was orange mixed with gray-black smoke. Seeing what was happening down there wasn't easy, but they finally seemed to gain control of the situation.
Police chief Alfred came over to them. His chubby cheeks were red from the heat, and he was more breathless than expected. His gray mustache glistened with moisture. "There's been a tremendous explosion. Propane heats the beach house, and there were propane stoves in the building. Most likely, the gas exploded. We don't know the cause of the fire yet. I'll close off the area and start investigations tomorrow morning. The firefighters will finish shortly."
She nodded sadly. "Thanks for your help. I'll take care of our guests now."
They went back inside and explained the situation to those still present in the restaurant and bar. It was late at night, and the guests had calmed down, thanks to the drinks they'd been served. Their meetings started early the next morning, and even Mrs. Wilhelmsen seemed ready for bed.
"Thanks for handling this in such a good manner," the older woman said while leaving.
Miranda and Gabriel sat down in the restaurant. It didn't feel right to leave before the firefighters and the police had gone.
"What an awful evening," she said, looking at Gabriel's solemn face. "I'll text Isabella, Celine, and Tony, so they're aware of what's happened. I can't face explaining it to them now. As you said, it's just a building."
"I agree, you can talk with them tomorrow. There's nothing they can do anyway."
"Alfred is securing the area now. I think it's time to go home. I doubt the children have gone to bed on their own. They'll be happy to play longer than usual."
Gabriel smiled. "It's handy they're big enough to care for themselves."
They locked the offices and talked to Oscar and Rebecca before getting in the car to drive home. The streets in the center were quiet, and there were no people in sight. Solvik wasn't a place buzzing with life late at night. When the restaurants closed, people obediently went home. There was nothing else to do around here. It was rather lovely.
Gabriel stopped outside her house.
"I'm glad you were with me tonight," she said sincerely. It felt good to have a reliable man by her side.
He leaned forward and kissed her mouth gently. "See you tomorrow morning. I know you'll be off to the hotel. I'm going to check the key system to see if I can find out what happened. We never got around to it."
She smiled in response. Of course she had to go to the hotel. She was relieved that both Sofie and Noah had plans with their friends in the capital this weekend.
Sofie was in the kitchen getting a glass of water when she entered.
"Mom, what happened? There was a huge firework or something, not far from here."
Noah sat on a kitchen chair. "I heard it too. It was more than an ordinary firework, Sofie."
"If you say so." She glared grumpily at her brother.
Miranda couldn't face an argument now. The evening had been way too exhausting, and she was ready for bed. "There's been an explosion at the beach house. You know, the building standing on poles in the water?"
The children looked at each other, amazed. "Wow. Is everything okay?" Sofie asked.
"No, most of the house is burned down. But it was closed, so no one got hurt. We've got to be thankful for that." Miranda switched off the ceiling light. "It's bedtime now. I'll pop over to the hotel in the morning. I guess you'll leave when you wake up?"
They both nodded.
"I'll see you in the evening then."
***
Miranda sat at the breakfast table the next morning, with a cup of tea and a slice of bread with a fried egg. She'd slept poorly and had woken several times. Not only because she dreamt about the blazing fire, but just as much due to Vidar not being in the house, which was unusual.
She looked at the blue sky outside the kitchen window. It was a beautiful day and mild, even though it was early. Summer was around the corner. How she yearned for the long, light evenings and pleasant temperatures. Solvik came to life this time of year. She looked forward to experiencing this little town full of tourists.
It was seven thirty when Miranda locked the door and started walking to the hotel. The town was silent, and she relished the calmness. She wondered where Vidar had moved to. She hadn't heard a word from him. His suitcase didn't hold much, so he'd contact her soon to pick up more clothes. They had to agree on how to divide their belongings. They were still friendly towards each other, despite everything that had happened, so it wouldn't pose a problem. They also needed to come to an understanding of where the children should live. That was a much harder challenge, and something she dreaded, but she decided to take one thing at a time. Right
now, she had more than enough with the explosion and all the fuss it had caused.
Miranda opened her office door, hung up her jacket and made a cup of tea. She stood by the window, looking at what used to be the beach house out on the jetty. It was a sad sight. All that was left of the building were the blackened, charred remains of the roof and walls, and from here it looked as if they were in danger of collapsing at any moment. It would be a complicated task for the police to investigate the ruins of the fire. The jetty was partially burned. How were they to get out to the building?
"Are you here already?" Gabriel came over and hugged her.
"Such a miserable sight. I wonder how the police are planning on getting out there. By swimming?"
"Good question." He made a cup of coffee.
At that moment, the police chief Alfred came walking toward the beach, accompanied by two policemen. "He's got assistance from Oslo since he's all alone at the office in Solvik," Gabriel explained.
"I see. There's no need for more than one on a daily basis. The crime is low here, from what I've heard."
"Yes, it's a peaceful place in every way."
"Let's go down and talk to them." She put her jacket back on.
The restaurant was still serving breakfast and was full of chatting guests. They went out the main entrance and around the hotel. The large swimming pool was mirror-like, tempting them to take a dip. Rows of sunbeds lined the jacuzzies, but the thick mattresses were not yet in place.
They continued down the slope to the water and the policemen. They greeted each other, and Miranda looked at them expectantly. "What's your plan?"
The police chief cleared his throat. "It's not simple to access. We're waiting for a police boat to take us out. We'll check if it's possible to use the jetty. It would make the job much easier."
Then they heard an engine. The police boat approached and moored at the guest pier.
"It'll take time," Alfred said. "I'll inform you when we know more about the cause of the explosion."
Miranda nodded. It sounded reasonable. "I'll be in my office, but you've got my phone number as well."
They went back inside and met Celine in the lobby. "How is the conference progressing?" Miranda inquired.
"It's sad to hear about the beach house. Mrs. Wilhelmsen is fine. I think she got a shock last night. The meetings are in full swing now."
"Good. The police have started examining the building, so we'll see what they find. I'll be here all day working, just let me know if there's anything you need," said Miranda.
"Thanks, I appreciate it."
They went up to Miranda's office and watched the police boat as they checked the jetty.
"Don't you find all the incidents we've had from the start rather odd? The hotel has only been open for a month, and we've already had sabotage, explosion, and two resignations. And Vidar has been involved in most of it. I'd expected some challenges in the beginning, but nothing of this kind," she said.
His smile resembled a grimace. "You deserved a better start than this, but you must look forward."
"You're right. The worst is over. When they've finished out on the water, we'll rebuild the beach house."
"I'll deal with the insurance company and the paperwork," Gabriel said.
"What would I do without you?" She thought of how much more there was to the question.
"That's my job," he said, winking. "But now it's time to find out what happened to the key system. Again. It feels like I just did it, but there are endless problems with locks and keys in this place."
Miranda sighed and agreed. "I hope you'll figure it out." She sat down by the computer to get some work done. She might as well do something constructive while she waited anxiously for the results of the investigations outside. But it was impossible to concentrate. Her thoughts were drawn toward the eerie incident by the beach. Explosions usually took place in old ramshackle buildings, didn't they? With worn out electrical systems, which should have been replaced last century. Surely, it shouldn't happen in a brand-new building, where the paint was barely dry.
Miranda decided to learn how Vidar was doing. He'd probably found an apartment long ago, there were many to choose from. They needed to talk and decide on an arrangement regarding the children. It would be best if they reached an agreement tonight. She could no longer stand the uncertainty, so she called his cell phone. It didn't ring, and it appeared to be switched off. She looked at her watch. Just past ten in the morning. It was Saturday, so he may still be asleep. She'd try again later.
Restless, she went over to the window again. One of the policemen was walking on the jetty. They were testing it, to see if it could be used instead of the boat. She recognized Alfred. He was heavily built, and she guessed he was getting close to retirement. Oops, he went straight through one of the boards and fell into the water with a massive splash. Miranda burst into laughter at the sight and covered her mouth. It wasn't nice to laugh at him, but she couldn't help it. The water was too deep for him to reach the bottom, so he struggled through in his impractical police uniform and heavy boots. But rescue was in sight. The police boat was already on its way to fish him out.
"What's going on? I heard you all the way to my office." Gabriel went over to her. "Good grief." Astonished, he stared at the scene outside.
Miranda guffawed. "I can't stop." Alfred's arms were waving, to avoid drowning. Who could swim with boots on? It was a tough job to hoist him onboard the boat. Alfred was no lightweight, and the two policemen struggled until their faces turned red. They grabbed one arm each and pulled with all their might. Alfred's pale back came into view, so did his even paler plumber's crack. His pants threatened to sink together with his boots and the rest of the man, and the whole scene was hysterical. She looked at Gabriel, who was laughing just as much as she was.
At last, Alfred was rescued and sat in the boat, trembling and freezing. He hurried onshore when they arrived at the pier, and almost ran to his car.
"I hope he takes a hot shower," she said, drying her tears. "Good thing I'm wearing waterproof mascara."
"You're looking great. By the way, are you hungry?"
"Is it eleven already?" Her stomach rumbled. "Should we eat up here, or do you want to go downstairs?"
"It doesn't matter. I can pick up the food if you prefer eating in your office."
"I think so. That way, I'll avoid questions I can't answer." She opened a drawer. "Here's a menu. What do you fancy?"
"Same as you. Everything's tasty."
"Grilled salmon with green asparagus, cannellini beans, and chipotle hollandaise?"
"Sounds more like dinner than lunch, but why not? We'll eat when we can, and right now Alfred is at home changing, and the others must've taken a break after the exertion," he said.
Miranda saw the sense in this and called the restaurant and ordered.
"Did you find out anything?" she asked Gabriel.
"Only that the keycard has been tampered with again. It's possible to program it so the doors can't open."
"How weird. That must be the reason Mrs. Wilhelmsen didn't get in. Is there any connection to Vidar?" Miranda looked at him, anxious.
"Not that I've found. He's gone, as you said. He's vacated his office. But I can continue searching to see if I can find out more." He got up. "I'll run down and pick up our food first."
Miranda glanced out the window when Gabriel left. The police chief came walking, wearing dry clothes, accompanied by the two policemen. Their break must be over, and they were ready to continue. They jumped into the boat and headed toward the remains of the beach house. They'd have to work from the sea, with all the challenges it presented. She was glad she didn't have their job.
After they'd eaten, and the policemen had worked from the boat a couple of hours, they decided to go outside and have a look. Two of the men were ashore, and she hoped they'd made some discoveries. In the lobby, she heard some familiar voices. It was a mixture of laughter and chatter, and she smiled to herself.
/>
Patricia came carrying King, and Kitty was, as usual, dressed for partying. "Where are you heading?" Miranda asked.
"Oh, you know. I have my daily appointment with one of the girls in the beauty parlor. Today Patricia is joining me to have a manicure. We're very excited," said Kitty.
She looked up from the dog she was cuddling. "I'm going to get a new nail polish. What color do you think I'll choose?"
"Lilac?"
Patricia beamed. "How did you know?"
"Because that's my favorite color, too. I like lavender the best," Miranda said.
She nodded, eagerly. "Mom has loads to do today."
"Yes, it's good she doesn't have to work on the weekends, usually. But how great you can be with Kitty while Mom is busy," Miranda said.
Patricia took the elder's hand. "I love Great-grandma."
"And I love you, sweetie. Come on, let's go, or we'll be late for our appointments," Kitty replied.
Miranda was touched. "I'm happy they've found each other," she said to Gabriel.
"They seem to share the same interests."
Miranda grinned. "So true."
They went outside and walked down to the beach. The weather had turned warmer, and she could feel the sun baking her face. How gorgeous it would be to lay on a sunbed and forget everything for a while. She noticed the policemen and could tell by their looks that something serious had happened. She didn't know what, only that she was about to find out.
31
The police boat was moored by the guest pier again, and the police chief was approaching. He was robust and breathing heavier than a policeman ought to. Apparently, he had regained his normal body temperature after his involuntary swim, as he dried sweat from his forehead again.
"Er, this is a graver situation than expected." He cleared his throat and looked at the other policemen for help, but none came. Announcements were left to the one in charge of Solvik.
"What do you mean by that?" Miranda looked at Alfred, uncomprehending.
"As you know we've been working all day." He turned pinkish, even if he had no way of knowing she'd seen him struggle in the water. "We thought this was an explosion."
Time for Surprises Page 20
