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JOHN PAUL MARCEL HAD been the general manager at The Windsor for five years, and it had been a very enjoyable job until recently. He had always admired The Windsor, and when the job opening became available, he jumped on it. The original owner was quite meticulous in his decorating. From the gorgeous antiques throughout the hotel, the fabrics, the room furnishings, even the pool and courtyard were all exquisite. The hotel was ahead of its time when it initially opened.
Stepping into The Windsor was almost like stepping back in time. The gold-hued walls, dark hardwood floors, plush rugs, sofas and chairs upholstered in rich burgundies, tapestry pillows, majestic curved staircase leading to the second floor, mirrors, artwork and antiques, all blended harmoniously to give guests the feeling of walking into an exquisite plantation home.
The only hints of the modern world were the computers and phones located at the front desk. A hallway led to the business center made available to guests, as well as a lounge with vending machines, coffee and a TV. There was also an up to date fitness center.
The antique furnishings were a mixture of genuinely valuable pieces as well as some inexpensive pieces that came from estate sales and local antique shops. The shutters that framed the exterior windows had come from an old Louisiana plantation.
He learned that running a hotel was demanding work. Currently, he was trying to do damage control to the best of his ability. These recent murders were already hurting a strained tourist season. Thankfully, even with the murders, the hotel still had bookings.
However, he continued to worry about the financial security of the hotel. The cash flow situation wasn’t dire, but it wasn’t great. He constantly worried that the hotel was an easy takeover target. If a large company came in and took over, he believed the hotel would lose some of its integrity.
At one time, The Windsor was one of the most prestigious hotels in Stewart. Located in the heart of downtown, it was once popular with all the dignitaries that traveled to Louisiana. Despite its location and elegant accommodations, The Windsor had been leaking money the same way a freshly hit well spewed oil. Now, with guests being murdered here, he has had quite a few sleepless nights. Every night he feared he would get another call informing him of a death. He could only imagine what the other employees were saying. He had lost several valuable employees, all fearing they would be the one to find a body.
He had known for several years that Rick, the night concierge, had been arranging “dates” for several of the more prominent male guests. He asked Rick to curtail those activities for now because he heard rumors that it may be a call girl or escort committing these murders. It would be detrimental to their business if it became public knowledge that The Windsor turned the other cheek about escorts using their hotel for business. But it would be the kiss of death if it were discovered that the hotel’s concierge was the one arranging the escort who was murdering their guests.
If the hotel weren't already having financial problems, he would consider hiring extra security at night.