The Waitress He Pushed Into the Pool

Chapter 2 - What the Uniform Hid

Mara sat in the first-aid room while a paramedic checked her breathing. Her shoulder was bruising. She could not stop shivering, although someone had brought dry clothes.

Arthur waited outside until she agreed to see him.

He entered carrying the white towel. One corner was damp from the terrace, but the rest was neatly folded.

“You dropped this.”

Mara almost smiled.

“I noticed.”

He placed it beside her.

“Why were you cleaning?” she asked.

“Someone spilled a drink near the pool. I knew where the mop was.”

Arthur had started at the hotel as a porter before buying it decades later. He still kept work clothes in his office for mornings spent with the maintenance crew. Tonight he had been inspecting a troublesome drain before changing for dinner.

“It wasn't a test,” he said. “You weren't supposed to prove anything.”

Mara studied him.

“Would it have mattered if he'd pushed someone who didn't defend you?”

Arthur did not answer immediately.

“It should have mattered exactly as much.”

Outside, Nathan's voice rose and fell behind a closed door. Cole Hospitality was due to sign an agreement that night to operate three Bellamy properties. The announcement had been printed. The signatures had not been placed.

Arthur's call had stopped the signing.

It had not stopped Nathan talking.

The manager, Peter Shaw, entered carrying an incident form.

“We need your account, Mara.”

She looked at the page.

Employee lost footing while intervening in guest dispute.

“That's not what happened.”

“It's preliminary wording.”

“Then change it.”

Peter glanced at Arthur.

“There are insurance implications.”

Mara put the form down.

Three months earlier, her colleague Lena had been dismissed after a guest complained about her attitude. Mara had watched Lena leave through the service entrance, carrying her shoes because one heel had broken during the argument.

The official report called that a misunderstanding too.

“How many times have you written it like this?” Mara asked.

Peter reached for the paper.

Arthur stopped him.

“Leave the original. Give her a blank sheet.”

After Peter left, Mara looked toward the door.

“He's going to say I caused trouble.”

Arthur pulled up a chair.

“Then let's write down exactly what happened before anyone gets to decide what to call it.”