Nathalie
After Alphonse’s ultimatum, I went back inside the hotel, wiping my eyes, ignoring the questioning look from one of the other maids. Bochette was sitting at the table and I had no desire to spend any time with her, so left, going straight back to work.
Chanel had already informed me she wouldn’t be at the hotel for dinner and was leaving mid-afternoon, so when I went to her suite at 5p.m., I knew it would be empty.
I tidied and cleaned the rooms as I normally would, ending with turning the bedcovers back, ensuring her nightwear was laid out for her, and that all the lotions and potions she liked to use were arranged in readiness for her return.
Once that was done, I crossed the room to the bedside cabinet. Surprised that my hand wasn’t shaking and I wasn’t feeling any nerves whatsoever, I opened the top drawer and felt to the back. My fingertips made contact with the hard metal and, after pulling it into the palm of my hand, I withdrew the small pistol that Kranz had pointed at me.
Remembering how Marcel had taught me, I checked the barrel to make sure it was loaded and, satisfied it was, I slipped it into my pocket.
On my way down to the laundry room, I went via the floor where Kranz’s room was, hoping to bump into Collette who usually cleaned his room.
‘Nathalie,’ she said warmly, but also with a degree of surprise, ‘what are you doing here?’
‘I’m on my way down to the laundry room. I’m staying out of Bochette’s way,’ I said. ‘I’ve just finished Chanel’s suite. She asked me to make sure there was wine in her room. I suppose that means Kranz will be back there tonight.’
Of course, we weren’t supposed to gossip about our guests, but we did, all the same.
‘He’s there so much. I hardly have to do anything to his room these days,’ said Collette.
‘It’s a wonder he hasn’t moved in with Chanel,’ I said, giving an eye-roll.
‘Well, he won’t be there all night tonight,’ said Collette, unwittingly giving me the confirmation I needed. ‘He’s got an early start and has requested his uniform be set out ready for him. He’s ordered breakfast in his room at six forty-five sharp, which means I’ll have to come in early.’
‘Oh, that’s annoying.’
‘Yes, especially as I’ll have to leave my little sister on her own an extra half an hour before my neighbour will have her. I hate asking her. She’s quite elderly and Cissy doesn’t enjoy going at the best of times.’
‘Look, why don’t I come in early for you?’ I suggested, trying to keep the excitement from my voice. This was a golden opportunity that I hadn’t expected. ‘I don’t mind. I could bring his breakfast up.’
‘Oh, I couldn’t ask you to do that.’
‘You’re not asking. I’m offering. All you have to do is say yes.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Perfectly.’
‘Thank you so much.’ Collette gave me an impromptu hug. ‘That’s so kind.’
I left Collette to finish her chores and congratulated myself on how much easier I was making this. Step two of my plan was in place.
Lost in my own thoughts and what I needed to do next, I let my guard down, and it wasn’t until I’d been into the laundry room to dump the towels and sheets and then walked into the staffroom to get my jacket, that I realised that the room was empty.
Empty except for Bochette, that was.
It was the sound of the lock turning that made me spin around. She was standing there with the key to the corridor held between her chubby fingers. She shoved her hands and the key into the pocket of her apron.
‘Here’s the little Resistance whore.’ She spat on the floor in my direction. ‘Been telling tales about anyone else? Been getting anyone else questioned?’ I hadn’t noticed earlier, but standing in front of her, I could see a bruise around her eye and a slight swelling of the eyebrow.
‘No more than you have,’ I retorted, determined not to let her intimidate me. The knowledge of what I planned to do in the next twelve hours gave me a courage I hadn’t felt before. ‘You’re the one who’s as good as sleeping with the enemies of France. Or at least wish you were.’
Rage filled her face and I realised I may have overstepped the mark. ‘You’ll regret saying that.’
‘I doubt it.’ I reached for my coat but made sure I kept my gaze trained on her.
‘You need to be taught a lesson. You need to be taught how to comply. I’m your superior and you need to be punished for speaking to me like that. Opening your legs for the Resistance. Maybe you should open them for your superiors.’
