Sometime earlier the rig carrying Philip Olsen and his wife had moved slowly along Garnett’s main street, coming to a halt before the hotel.
Releasing the waterproof side-hoods, Olsen climbed out and deposited two large handgrips on the boardwalk. He turned back to the rig and gave Victorene a hand down. She walked straight into the hotel, leaving Olsen to follow her, carrying the bags.
Half-angry he dumped her bags by the desk. He was wearing a bright yellow slicker and he was sweat-sticky beneath it.
Behind the desk the clerk straightened his collar and put on a fawning smile as he moved forward. ‘Good morning, Mr. Olsen. Mrs. Olsen. You require a room?’
‘My wife does,’ Olsen said, his tone indicating that he was in no mood for trivial niceties.
‘Of course.’ The clerk made a quick check of his vacancy book. ‘Number 38, on the top floor. It has a large bedroom and an adjoining sitting-room.’
‘That will do.’
‘How long will Mrs. Olsen require the room?’
Olsen stiffened, but Victorene smiled gently. ‘For some time I think,’ she said pleasantly.
‘A pleasure to have you with us, Mrs. Olsen.’ The clerk turned the book for her to sign.
Pen in hand Victorene leaned towards the book. Then her breath caught in her throat, her heart pounded suddenly. She forced calmness on herself and quickly signed her name in the empty space below the book’s last entry. An entry which read: Room 35, and was signed Frank Spode. Victorene replaced the pen on the desk and smiled at the clerk. She hoped her feelings were not showing, for despite herself her face felt hot and her heart was hammering wildly. She turned away from the desk and made her way upstairs, Olsen close behind her.
He saw her settled in her room, and it was obvious that he was impatient to leave. Victorene realized quite calmly that her marriage to him was over. She found no sorrow in her heart, for herself or for him. It was as if they were complete strangers, as if they never had been married.
‘I’ll have the rest of your stuff brought into town first chance I get,’ Olsen told her.
Victorene nodded. ‘Very well, Philip.’ She crossed to the window and watched the rain falling.
‘You’ll take things from here, then?’ he said, and she thought, he even does this like a business deal.
‘Yes,’ she told him, and her voice had an edge to it that she was unable to conceal. ‘Now if you don’t mind . . .’
Olsen opened the door, almost eager to be gone. He glanced at her as if to speak, then changed his mind. He stepped outside and pulled the door shut.
Victorene went to the bed and took off her coat, then returned to the window and watched until Olsen came out of the hotel and climbed into the rig. She watched him turn the rig and drive on up the street to the bank. He got out of the rig and went into the bank.
Once he was out of her sight Victorene put him out of her mind. She went across to the dressing-table and tidied her hair, then left her room and walked down the corridor to the door that carried the number 35. She hesitated for only a moment before she knocked lightly on the door. She was about to knock again when the door opened.
‘Hello, Frank,’ she said, and, surprised at her own boldness, she stepped into the room.
Frank Spode closed the door. ‘How did you . . . ?’ he began, but Victorene gave him no more time to talk. She came against him eagerly, her arms going round him and her lips seeking his. Spode pushed his questions aside, gave himself over to the emotions that demanded satisfaction. For a time they held close until their held-back desires could be checked no longer. Words were not needed now, and they gave themselves wholly to each other until they were spent and utterly drained. And then they lay together, bodies close, enclosed in their own world of togetherness. Victorene told him then what had happened, that she was parted from Olsen for good, and for a time it was a hard thing for Spode to realize, but when he did he held her warm, naked body tightly in his arms and made her the promise that he would never leave her alone. Never, he promised, and made the vow that he would kill any man who tried to take her from him.