Henry Dobbs went into work a good hour earlier than his starting time the next morning. He went about his rounds, checking that all was well in all places: reception, restaurant, and kitchen, and walked along the floors of the three levels housing the guest’s bedrooms. All was well as usual, but he was feeling uneasy. He walked briskly down to reception and met Alec Blaine, the young duty manager just going off duty.
‘I’m just going out for a smoke before it all kicks off in here,’ he told Dobbs. ‘Care to join me?’
‘I thought you were off home,’ Dobbs asked.
‘I wish. I got reams of paperwork to catch up with.’
Dobbs pulled a face. He went outside with his colleague thinking that he would be occupying the manager’s office and that would interfere with his and Joanne Wilson’s plans.
Hen
