Man at War – Excerpt No. 302

That meant more work for her in reconnaissance, sabotage, and assassinations. Grace had the added benefit of being dismissed out of hand due to her physical age. Oddly enough, it turned out that the uniform of a maid opened more doors for her now than it did when she lived as a comtesse. There are rooms and complexes in The Grand that I can’t even begin to fathom a use for.

So far Grace was not required for tasks beyond security and intelligence. This left her to her own devices to explore and determine the viability of The Grand as a haven. Cecil certainly seemed to have a handle on cleaning up the messes guests and staff left behind. However, Maximus, the night concierge, was far too invested in ensuring the rich, powerful, and connected got away with literal murder. There’s politics wherever you go.

A dramatic black-and-white vintage-style photograph with torn paper edges, depicting a tense 1915 night scene in an elegant hotel lobby. A uniformed night concierge stands behind the polished reception desk, calmly conversing with an elegantly dressed socialite in a long dark gown, hat, and gloves. A dead man’s body is crudely crammed and partially visible in the cramped space beneath the counter. The image has heavy film grain, deep shadows, and high contrast, enhancing the unsettling, matter-of-fact horror.

Disclaimer: This novel is an work in progress and readers may encounter grammatical errors and inconsistencies. Please view this a draft and not a published work.