Page 32 of The Missing Sister

‘If you are, so am I,’ said Mariam as she sealed the envelope. ‘Okay. I’ll give the concierge the letter, then should I call the limo to pull up outside?’

‘Yes, although I need to use the restroom before we leave.’

‘Sure,’ Mariam agreed as Electra went in search of it.

Walking in, she saw one of the stalls was occupied, and chose the furthest stall from the door.

‘No, they’re still there,’ came a woman’s low voice from the other stall. ‘The concierge told me on the phone my visitors were two Muslim women. But what would they want with me? I mean, you don’t think that... it’shim?’

Inside her cubicle, Electra had frozen.

Oh my God, oh my God, it’s her... what the hell do I do?

‘I came down to have a look at them. They’re both young, but no, of course I didn’t recognise them... I’m going to go back to my room now. I’ve decided to leave for London tonight, just in case – I’m too uncomfortable to stay.’

There was another pause as the woman listened to whoever it was she was speaking to. ‘Yes, of course I’ll keep in touch, Bridget. I’ll call Claridge’s now and tell them I’m arriving early, then ask the concierge to change my flight... All right then, my love, thank you and I’ll speak to you soon. Bye.’

Electra heard the woman open the stall door, the tapping of shoes across the tiled floor, then the main door to the restroom opening and closing.

Trying to think fast, Electra pulled off her top and head scarf, dropping them in a heap on the floor. Then she ran out of the restroom and along the corridor back to the lobby. She spotted a petite, well-dressed blonde, still holding a cell phone in her hand, standing with others as they waited in front of the elevator for it to arrive.

‘Oh my God! Is it you? I’m sure it is! Oh my God! YouareElectra, aren’t you?’ Long nails dug into Electra’s shoulder from behind.

‘Ouch! Can you get off me, please?’ she said as she turned round to find an overexcited teenager behind her. ‘Look, I’m not being rude, but I need to get into that elevator—’

‘Itisher, it’s Electra!’ shouted another woman waiting for the elevator, and instantly a crowd began to gather around her. She tried to walk forwards as the elevator doors began to open, but again she felt a firm grip on her shoulder holding her back and her path became blocked by people in front of her.

‘Please, Electra, I just can’t let you go until my friend takes a photo of us together. You were sooo great on TV the other night!’

‘Let me through!’ she shouted as she watched the blonde woman walk into the open elevator. She wriggled out of the teenager’s grip and reached an arm forward to try and stop the doors from closing.

‘Merry!’ she shouted desperately.

But it was too late, and the doors were firmly shut. Electra looked up at the panel and saw the elevator was already on the third floor. She swore harshly under her breath and turned round to try and find Mariam, but the crowd had grown thick around her.

‘Hey, Miss Electra, what are you doing here?’ asked a young man as he began taking pictures on his camera.

‘Yeah, we didn’t know you were visiting Toronto,’ called someone else. ‘Can I have a photo too?’

‘I...’ Electra could feel beads of sweat gathering on her neck. ‘Please, let me through, I have a car waiting for me outside. I...’

She was just on the verge of punching her way through the ever-deepening crowd when Mariam appeared in front of her and Electra gasped in relief.

‘Hey, everyone, can you all move back a little, give Electra some space?’ said Mariam in her calm, even tone.

‘Yeah, ladies and gents, can we ask you to move away; you’re blocking the elevator access, which could be dangerous.’

A man dressed in a black suit with an earpiece, which marked him out as security, appeared beside Mariam. ‘This lady has a car waiting for her outside,’ he said. ‘Would you be so kind as to let her pass?’

Eventually, after Electra had posed for a number of pictures and signed autographs because she didn’t want to be seen as mean or difficult, two hotel security guards escorted her and Mariam out onto the street and opened the limo door for them. It closed behind them with a bang. Inside, Electra groaned in frustration.

‘Are you okay?’ Mariam asked. ‘Why did you take your headscarf and smock off?’

‘Becauseshe– Merry – was in the restroom! She was in a cubicle and I heard her on her cell phone, discussing how the concierge had said there were two Muslim women waiting for her. She seemed frightened – talked about whether it was “him”, whoever “he” is. So obviously, when she finished her call, I threw off my disguise, hoping she wouldn’t run if she sawmeas me. But then I got recognised and I just missed getting in the elevator with her by a second. Damn it, damn it, damn it!’ she swore as the limo moved off. ‘Merry was right there, and I can’t believe I missed her. Do you think there’s any way the hotel would give us her room number? Maybe if we made up a life and death situation or—’

‘I’m afraid I already tried that,’ Mariam cut in. ‘All the concierge was prepared to do was to call her again.’ Mariam suddenly let out a chuckle. ‘I’ll never forget his face as he came over to see what the fuss was about, and recognised you standing next to me. He must have wondered what on earth was going on.’

‘I’m wondering what on earth is going on too,’ Electra said. ‘It’s now obvious that Merry is avoiding us. She also told her friend – who she called Bridget – that she was leaving a day early and flying to London tonight.’