Bullets and Beauty

Chapter 3

        A few hours later, we arrive at the hotel. George informs us that clothing, toiletries, food, and anything else we will need has been taken care of and is waiting in our hotel rooms. We have a luxury suite booked for us, and we will each get our own room and bathroom. The suite has one kitchen and laundry room that we will share, but both are fully and amply stocked. We are on the ground floor of the hotel, for tactical and security reasons. As a result, the hotel pool is only a few dozen yards away from the small patio outside of our room. There is also a ten person jacuzzi and a grill in the back. George will be staying in the suite right next to ours. As can be imagined, everybody is more than ready to get to the suite and we look impatiently at George as he checks us in. George looks at our group of antsy teenagers and starts laughing. He hands us each a key, warning us not to lose them before he smiles and tells us to go inspect our suite. He has to go check up on hotel security to make sure everything is ready for the arriving diplomats. So with a warning to be responsible he leaves us, saying that he'll meet us at the suite later.

We all grin at each other before walking quickly to the hotel suite. Walking in, our jaws drop. The suite is huge, and it feels almost like a rental beach house instead of a hotel suite. The front door opens into a small hallway, and I see James nodding slightly in appreciation. The entrance would be easily defensible should the need arise, as any enemy agent would be forced through the tight hallway before being able to reach the main rooms. Further into the suite, the hallway opens into a small common area. There are two comfortable looking couches as well as as a nice armchair facing a small television with a coffee table in the center. Past the common area there is a roomy kitchen with a stove, sink, pantry, refrigerator, and plenty of cabinet space. A look around the kitchen shows us that it is fully stocked. There is even a variety of pots, pans, and assorted dishes and cutlery. A small alcove by the kitchen leads to the laundry room, which is also amply stocked with detergent and laundry baskets. There is a dining area to the side of the kitchen with a table that seats eight, and just past the sitting area there is the door that leads to the patio. To the right of the common room just before the kitchen, there is another hallway with four doors on each side. James and I automatically claim the rooms closest to the common room, with Annie and Liam taking the next two rooms, Rosaline and Peter taking the next two, and Juliet and Tommy getting the last two. An unspoken decision finds us all heading into our respective rooms, eager to see where we will be sleeping for the next week.

I smile as I walk into my room. The walls are a comforting shade of dusty purple with white curtains and a white and silver bedspread atop a deep purple bed. The walls are detailed with beautiful, sweeping dark blue and purple designs and there is a nice fluffy lavender rug next to the bed. I shake my head, George certainly knew what he was doing. I expected the others were also currently admiring rooms that had been decorated to their tastes. I step into the bathroom and am relieved to find it fully stocked with every hygienic necessity I'd be needing. Satisfied with the bathroom, I turn and walk somewhat hesitantly over to the large white and silver wardrobe that takes up the back wall of the room. I sigh before opening the door, pleasantly surprised to find clothing that actually looked comfortable. There were about a dozen pairs of jeans, as well as enough different shades of purple shirts to match. There were a few summer dresses and skirt sets, but they looked comfortable enough. A few bathing suits hang in the wardrobe, and I am happy to see that they are cute while still remaining modest. Further inspection reveals a few cozy looking pajama sets, and a quick peek in one of the bottom drawers revealed any unmentionables I would need. Closing the drawer, I turn with an internal grimace to the formal wear hanging in the other side of the wardrobe.

I tilt my head as I study the first outfit, surprised to find that it isn't actually too stuffy. It is a simple enough white skirt that will fall to just past my knees. A pretty, deep purple dress shirt with silver hemming and buttons goes with it. The next outfit is also simple enough, a purple dress with the same silver detailing as the previous outfit. It is belted at the waist and to my delight, it has pockets. There are a few more variations of the first two outfits, and I am assuming they are for the semi formal events such as dinners, informal meetings and whatnot. I grin slightly as I see the pair of dressy but not uncomfortable white cowboy boots that will go with each outfit. Reaching the next outfit, my heart sinks. It is a very formal, floor length purple dress with a very high neckline. It is elegant and classy, and it looks like it could stand up on its own. The next outfit isn't any better. It is another floor length dress, but this one is a light lavender and it shimmers and glitters in a way that makes my skin itch just by looking at it. The neckline is slanted and sweeps over one shoulder, continuing down the back like a cape with a large white gem pinning it in place on the shoulder. The waist is belted with a heavy looking bejeweled belt. The final outfit is a bit more practical, but still uncomfortable looking. It is a high necked white dress shirt that is hemmed with sliver and purple. A heavy looking purple skirt goes with it decorated with so many bedazzled gems, it looks like a unicorn threw up on it. My only comfort is that the shoes I have been given to wear with these outfits are not heeled. I have nothing against heels, but standing all day at a formal event in them is not my idea of fun. Not to mention the tactical disadvantages of high heels. Instead, I have been given a pair of white sandals as well as a few different pairs of sparkly flats.

I close the wardrobe, grabbing a pair of jeans and a t-shirt to change into. I place the clothes on the bad and glance around the room. I do a quick sweep to ensure that there are no hidden cameras or listening devices. Completing my check, and satisfied that there is no unwanted surveillance, I head to the bathroom. I take a fast shower, wanting to feel clean after the long drive, before dressing quickly and heading out into the common room. I am the first one out, and I can hear the various sounds of the others still freshening up. I decide to sweep the rest of the suite for surveillance devices while I wait for them. I completely sweep the common room and the kitchen, and I am finishing the sweep of the laundry room when my teammates finally start filing into the common area. I finish my inspection, satisfied that the suite is clean, before sitting down in the armchair as everybody else settles onto the couches. I glance around, everybody is dressed similarly to me in jeans and various colored t-shirts.

I take a moment to settle back into the chair before speaking. "Everybody checked their rooms for bugs right?"

Everybody nods and Annie says; "Of course we did Lina, we aren't amateurs. Everything seems pretty clean. Did you sweep the rest of the suite?"

I nod. "Yes. I found nothing. George got us set up pretty nicely."

They all grin at that, and Tommy says; "He sure did. My room is awesome! What about you guys?"

Jules laughs. "My room is pretty. It's a nice shade of pale yellow. It seems that George did a good job of making sure we're comfortable."

Annie stands, glancing around the room and grinning. "Comparing rooms is nice, but there are five huge pools about 12 yards away from us and an entire floor dedicated to entertainment somewhere in this hotel. We can sit around and chat later tonight, but let's go explore a little now before the dinner tonight."

We all laugh and stand up, in full agreement with exploring the hotel. After a quick check to ensure everybody has their keys, we head out. Stopping for a moment, I glance around at everybody. "Does anybody actually know where the game floor is?"

Everyone comes to a stop as they realize that we do not, in fact, know where the game floor is. The boys start laughing and Rosaline shrugs and says; "I guess we're going to the front desk first. We'll see if we can't get a few maps of the hotel."

We nod and adjust our course, heading to the front desk. After waiting in line for a few minutes, Rosaline asks if we could get a few maps of the hotel. The lady smiles warmly at us and hands Rosaline eight copies of the hotel map, telling us that the games floor is on level 14 and that there are a few restaurants up there as well if we are hungry. As Rosaline thanks the kind lady, my attention is grabbed by a group of about eight men checking in. They are well dressed in very expensive looking suits. It is likely that they are some of the visiting diplomats that have been arriving all day, but something about them makes my hackles rise. I am jolted out of my thoughts as Tommy bumps my shoulder, handing me a map of the hotel with an excited grin and says; "Come on Malina! We have the maps now, let's get to the game floor. We only have an hour before we need to meet George back at the suite."

I nod at him distractedly, turning to look back at the group of men. They have finished checking in, and one of them is tipping the doorman with a smile. I sigh, shaking my head. I'm probably just being paranoid. You can't even get into the hotel without an invitation and and proper identification. I take one last look at the men, before allowing Tommy to drag me into the elevator with the others. I shove the map in my pocket and make a mental note to mention my misgivings to George later before grinning as I watch Tommy and Annie bounce excitedly as the elevator approaches the game floor.