Then Lizbet realizes that they do have one free room: Xavier’s suite, which is awaiting his arrival on August 24. Richie has asked Lizbet why she doesn’t rent the room out, since they know Xavier’s dates, and Lizbet said she wouldn’t feel right. Xavier asked her to hold it for him; he’s been paying the nightly rate all summer. Lizbet is certain that the day she agrees to let someone take Xavier’s suite, Xavier will appear out of the blue for a surprise visit.
But Shelly Carpenter is a special case. I bought the hotel to impress two women. If Lizbet doesn’t offer Shelly the owner’s suite, she reasons, Xavier will be furious.
“I can upgrade you to the owner’s suite,” Lizbet says, and she watches Claire/Maybe-Shelly’s eyebrows lift.
“Excellent, thank you,” Claire/Maybe-Shelly says. “I also have these requests.” She slides the piece of paper across the desk.
Thursday 7:30 p.m. Pearl bar seat
Friday 7:00 p.m. Nautilus bar seat
Saturday 8:00 p.m. Blue Bar bar seat
Four-door Jeep Wrangler hardtop Saturday, please also arrange pickup of charcuterie platter from Petrichor
Stand-up paddle lesson, Friday noon
Tour of Cisco Brewers, Friday 5:00 p.m.
Yoga class before 10:00 a.m. Friday through Sunday
“I’ll handle all this right away,” Lizbet says. She’s relieved the Deck isn’t on Claire/Maybe-Shelly’s list. “Do you have any other luggage? I’ll have Zeke, our bellman, bring it up to you right away.”
“No,” Claire/Maybe-Shelly says. “Just this.”
“Well, then, give me a few minutes to have housekeeping prepare your room and I’ll walk you up myself. We have complimentary Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee in the percolator.”
“Fantastic!” Claire/Maybe-Shelly says. “I missed my coffee this morning. And I love percolated coffee. It’s such a nice touch.” A cheer goes up from the chess match: Louie has beaten Mr. Tennant. Lizbet takes this as a good omen. The hotel will win Claire/Maybe-Shelly over. They will get the fifth key.
What’s not a good omen is the icy silence on the other end of the telephone line when Lizbet calls Magda to tell her to prepare the owner’s suite, 317, for a guest checking in.
“That’s Xavier’s suite,” Magda says.
“Mr. Darling’s, yes,” Lizbet says. “But since he’s not here…”
“I would strongly advise against putting anyone in Xavier’s suite,” Magda says. “He’s paying to keep it empty.”
“Shelly Carpenter is here,” Lizbet whispers. “She asked for an upgrade.”
Magda clears her throat. “You’re sure it’s her? Beyond a shadow of a doubt?”
“No one is ever sure. But there’s been more than one indication.”
“Fine. Give us fifteen minutes to stock the minibar, dust, and plump the pillows for Ms. Carpenter.”
“You need to do more than that,” Lizbet says. “You need to run through the checklist. What if there are cobwebs? What if the windows stick? What if the sound system is doing that funny stuttering thing? And make sure the pens work and that the sink drains properly.”
“Perhaps you’d like to come up and do my job for me?” Magda asks, and Lizbet presses her lips together. Lizbet suspects that although she is Magda’s boss, Magda sees it as the other way around.
“Not at all, Magda,” Lizbet says. “Thank you.”
She has quietly informed the staff that the woman posing as Claire Underwood who is staying in suite 317 might very well be Shelly Carpenter. Lizbet has also told the staff not to overdo it. The last thing they want is for Claire/Maybe-Shelly to think her cover is blown and figure out she’s receiving special service. If that happens, she won’t write the review at all.
From the looks of things, Claire/Maybe-Shelly is having a wonderful time. She drinks the percolated coffee in the morning, takes an interest in Louie’s chess matches, raves about her yoga class with Yolanda, rides one of the free bikes into town to shop and get lunch at the Beet; she lounges by the adult pool, takes her tours and lessons, and heads out for her solo dinners stylishly dressed （Lizbet’s favorite look is white jeans, a sleeveless black bodysuit, and leopard-print wedges）。
Late on Saturday afternoon, Claire/Maybe-Shelly stops by the front desk and says, “Where did you source those blue cashmere blankets? I’d like to get one to take home.”
“Nantucket Looms,” Lizbet says. She checks the time. “They’re closed now but they open tomorrow at ten.”