I made my way through the strange little town I found myself in, past the colorful drunks in the street surrounded by Johnnie Walker bottles until I came upon John Finnie street (
John Finnie Street was opened in 1864. It has some of the finest architecture in Kilmarnock. One of the specifications was that the buildings were to be constructed of red sandstone. This still remains to this day with only two of the buildings being white sandstone. The street is named after Kilmarnock born John Finnie who put up the money for the street to be constructed. Must be nice to have money....ED. history) I found the train station - the Kilmarnock Train Station, I had a town name now - and asked the wizzen-looking conductor when the next train to Ardrossan was. He mumbled that the train leaves about 3pm and shuffled off to find his personality. The clock on the platform wall showed it was 9am through the dirt, so I had a few hours to kill.
I strolled down a couple streets, taking my life into my hands, when I reached a dreary place called the Portmann Hotel. Pushing aside the doorman I went to the clerks desk and signed for a room. I needed to re-charge and prepare for the next step in this crazy carousel of a case. Reaching my room (what with the plastic flowers and the smell of potato bread that seemed to stick to everything.), I was about to head for the bathroom when a knock came to the door.
Remembering the last time someone came to my room, I grabbed a thin lamp that was sitting on a small table next to the door. At least it was daylight- I'd see what was coming. A second knock. Gripping the lamp, I answered, "Whose there?"
"Room Service." was the reply in a smallish voice.
I wasn't falling for that again. It might be her sister!
"No thanks, I gave at the office." I said.
"Please sir, may I come in?" she said.
There are times when I question myself as to why I do the things I do. This was one of those times. I opened the door slowly, with the lamp held tight, ready to swing.
But it wasn't Mamu.
A thin, beautiful brunette sheepishly walked into the room, and smiled. Stunned, I let the lamp drop from my hand and it crashed to the floor.
"Oh!" she said.
"Bill me." I replied.
"Sir, I'm here as your room service. Is there anything I can do for you? Anything?" and the smile melted me.
"Well," I started, "What's a nice girl like you doing with a face like that?
She blushed and stood up a little taller. I relaxed and closed the door after her.
"This is just a service we provide to our new residents." she said.
I sat down on the bed, trying to look as cool as possible. Talk about getting lucky!!
"That outfit would look great in a crumpled heap next to my bed." I said.
"Really?" she replied and started to remove the buttons of her shirt.