Easts voice lowered. Look Fullbright, pull that French stuff with someone who hasnt known you since sixth grade, okay?
Pete Fullbright cursed once more, with emphasis, then sighed.
The entire meat shipment is bad. What the hell do you suggest we serve three hundred and forty-four guests today? Hmmm?
Call Antonellis Meat Market. Its just a twenty minute drive from here as opposed to the two-hour trip
from L.A. Have them deliver whatever they have thats freshest, and to hell with the cost. Well take it out of our regular shippers hide later.
Bien, bien, Pete said. Merci.
East grinned. Hey, Pete, you need to practice that accent a little more. It still sounds like youre saying mercy.
Go to hell, Pete muttered, then added, boss. Go to hell, boss.
Been there, done that, East said, and disconnected, turning his attention to the man on his couch. Now, whats up with you?
Foster Martin stood abruptly, his hands fluttering about his chest like a wounded bird trying to find the strength to land.
The computer is down. At least I think its down. Anyway, it wont come up and we have guests waiting to check out and guests waiting to check in. Ive already called our usual repair service and theyre on some emergency call on the other side of L.A. Said it would be this afternoon before they can get out here.
Then call someone else, East said, and headed for the kitchenette. Before any other disaster presented itself, he needed fortification in the form of caffeine.
But
East pivoted, staring sharply at the small, pale man and tried to remind himself why hed ever hired him. Then he frowned, remembering. He was the Attorney Generals nephew and he hadnt hired him. Hed just appeared one day with a letter of recommendation written on a letterhead he couldnt ignore.
Foster, is there a phone book in your desk?
Whyyes there is. Do you want to borrow it? Foster asked, anxious to please.
East bit his lip to keep from shouting. No, but I want you to use it. Find the yellow pages. Find someone who can work on our specific system, and get them out here, okay?
Yesyes, okay, Foster said, and bolted toward the door.
Oh, and Foster
He stopped and spun, his hands still fluttering. Yes?
About the guests wanting to check in or out, use a pen and paper and do it like we used to before computers were ever invented.
Yes. All right, he said, and shut the door behind him.
The ensuing silence lasted long enough for East to get his coffee made. As it was perking, he quickly dressed and made a trip to Room two hundred and fifteen to check on the expectant mother. To his relief, he found Doctor Butcher in the act of delivery and a couple of paramedics on their way down the hall, although the young woman was wailing at the top of her voice because her husband was nowhere in sight. It seems hed gone out for his morning jog and was missing the birth of their first child. At that point, East made a quick call downstairs to send a couple of staffers in search of the man. Once he was certain that everything was under control, he dashed back to his room. After a couple of cups of coffee and a shower and shave, he headed downstairs fully expecting to find chaos at the registration desk. Instead, the desk was almost empty and only the normal ebb and flow of traffic was moving through the lobby. Mildly surprised, he moved behind the counter then into the staff room where the mainframe computer was housed.
Ally looked up from the chair in which she was sitting. Good morning, she said, then returned her attention to the computer terminal in front of her.
Easts mouth dropped. This area is off-limits to the guests, he said, then remembered who he was talking to and changed the direction of his questions. What are you doing?
Her fingers paused on the keys and the look she gave him was just shy of a smirk.
I think my security clearance is high enough that I can be trusted, she drawled, then tapped a couple more keys, hit the Save button, and leaned back in her chair with a satisfied smile. There, that should do it.
Do what? East said, moving to look over her shoulder.
She stood. Keep your system up and running for a few more years.
You fixed it?
She nodded as she moved toward the door. Im going to get some breakfast now. Thats where I was going when I saw all the commotion. I offered to help and your assistant, whats his name?
Foster. Foster Martin.
Oh yes, Foster. She grinned. Hes not exactly cool under fire, is he?
East sighed. Was spit dribbling from the corners of his mouth?
Her grin widened. Only the left one.
Great, East muttered, then shoved a hand through his hair in frustration. He glanced at the computer, which seemed to be running normally. What did you do to it?
Her smile stilled and she shrugged. Ohjust dug around a little on the hard drive, punched in a few commands and gave it a new lease on life, so to speak.
Thats impossible. There are passwords.
She folded her hands in front of her like a child
about to recite.
No, its not impossible and yes, I know.
He arched an eyebrow. So your line of expertise for SPEAR is in computers?