A Tale In Every Tone

Chapter Two (Part Four) Blame It On The Rain

    Alvira looked rather disappointed. "Your best friend must be really understanding."

   Yeah,quite.But sometimes he's a total jerk. I smiled sheepishly at the thought of him.Alvira looked at me suspiciously,but I shrugged it off.

                         ***

   "This is quite a fancy hotel she's staying in." Alvira said.

   Too fancy I thought.Chandeliers hung from the ceilings,which sparkled brightly and caught me breathless.

   "Let's ask the concierge."

We approached the lady and she noticed us from afar.

   "How may I help you,Ma'am and Sir?" she addresed us first.

   And that caught us unaware.I clutched my Chinese dictionary,looking for words to say.Looks like I don't need it anymore.I slid it in my pocket and proceeded to talk to the lady.I swear I heard Alvira snicker.

   "Um..." I stammered. "I kindly need your help,on finding this woman." I showed the lady a picture and a sheet of paper full of details about Vanessa."I know she's here.I want to meet her."

  The lady didn't even took a single glance on the picture. "I'm sorry,Sir.We don't give details about our clients.We protect their privacy,most of all." she said. She stretched her hand,directed to the doorway,signalling us to get out of this place.

   "Please,do me a favor.This girl,here in this picture,she's my girlfriend.I've been searching for her for years." I pleaded.

   "I'm really sorry,Sir.If I do that,I would probably lose my job.Giving even a minor detail about our client without their permission isn't allowed here.Please respect our rules." she said.

   "But," Alvira butted in. I grasped her shoulder to stop her.

   "Do you still need anything,Sir?" The lady had plastered a plastic smile on her lips. Alvira looked away in disgust.

   "Let's get out of here." I whispered in her ear.

                     ***

   "Why did you let that pass?" Alvira asked. "I thought you wanted to find her.She.could just be there,in one of those hotel rooms,hiding."

Alvira looked across the window.She had her fist stuck under her chin.We're now in a bus,off to the detective's office.We should try our luck in there.

   "The security looked like they wanted to drag us all the way out of there,so I figured we'd have to back out.

Alvira let out a snarl.I know she's uncomfortable with all this,and it's making her anxious.

   "Do you still want to go with me?"

Alvira gave me the look as if it's the silliest thing she's ever heard. "Of course." she said,then returned on staring at the window. "I just wonder,why is she doing this to you? You don't deserve this."

   I kept silent.I hated admitting that fact.

Vanessa . . .Why does she have to make this so complicated?

   The bus halted on the side.Alvira and I were dropped in front of a building,which must be the detective's office.A few steps,and they let us inside.The air and their breaths reeked of tobacco

   We asked some questions,seems like they couldn't comprehend what we're saying.Instead,they made us sit in two chairs in front of a desk. "I assume they have an interpreter." Alvira said.