The receptionists were new. I exploited their inability to distinguish guests from staff.
Slowly, I approach their desk. A stranger desperate to bypass them without being checked will try hurrying past while they were attending to some visitors, and this usually aroused their suspicions. I’ve been observing all this from a distance.
And so, I learnt the trick. Which was to stay calm, relaxed, smile and greet them while passing.
Engaging a staff stepping out of the building was a bonus, as this gave the impression of being a coworker.
At first, my heart was beating. If I’m caught, it will be terrible. I had no reason to be loitering there at that time. Luckily, the tricks I learnt worked!
Hours of standing in the dark and observing had paid off.
Now I was in the building. My friend sneaked in my items the previous day.
I knocked on the door. My palms sweaty and shaky.
“Come in!“
The voice of my friend. Relief!
He was preparing to leave.
“Here.” he said, handing me the receipts.
“Your new name.”
I looked at the name, memorizing it in a few seconds.
As my friend left, I realized I had to exit the main entrance to the building several times to work on some important things before the D-day tomorrow. I cultivated a close friendly relationship with the receptionists to mask my suspicious movements.
Then came the awkward moment I had been trying to avoid…
Top administrative staff of the hotel were moving from room to room, knocking on every door, checking IDs against their records.
“Sweet Jesus!“ I gasped in horror, pacing in the room and wondering what to do.
They were next door now. Who had tipped them?
I looked through the window and saw policemen with bulldogs at the main hotel entrance. Someone was pointing to the window of my room.
“Damn!“
Who could have sold me out so cheaply?
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