Hostel

Chapter 2
Chapter 2

Chapter Description: Irving continues his questioning and find the ilustrious Mr. Aver.

The Constable went into the kitchen. It was shiny and white. Racks of pans lined the wall above the stove and an old chef stood before a hot stove, making what appeared to be eggs and pancakes. A burly man sat at a small dining table that occupied the right end of the kitchen. Irving went and sat across from him. The menacing man looked up.

“Bob, I presume?” Irving guessed.

Bob growled. “What do you need?”

“I’m a detective working on the case of several missing teenagers. Do you know anything abo-“

“No.”

“But I just wanted to-“

“No. I have no time to play fuzz games. Goodbye detective.”

With that, Bob stood up and lumbered out of the kitchen. Irving sat, astounded by the giant’s bluntness. He would have to come back to him later. Instead, the Constable decided to talk with the owner, Mr. Aver.

Irving stood up and strode over to Mr. Aver’s office. He passed wooden walls, portraits of landscapes, and even a small stone statue. Irving figured this was unusual for a middle class youth hostel. He knocked lightly on oak door. A gravelly voice gave Irving permission to enter. He opened the door.

An old wrinkled man with dark gray hair sat at a simple wooden desk. He set his book down on the desk and beckoned, “Come in! It is not often that I get company.”

Irving walked in cautiously. He sat in the cushioned chair that stood before Mr. Aver’s desk. “Mr. Aver? I am Detective Constable Irving, sent to investigate the disappearances of seven teens. They have all come here at one point, which is the one link between them. This is why I’m here. Mind if I ask some questions?”

Mr. Aver snorted. “I can see why this is suspicious, detective, but realize that a lot of people come here. Could it all be a coincidence? I don’t want the reputation of this establishment to be hurt by this.”

“Mr. Aver,” Irving began, “If one of your employees is kidnapping these kids, it could do a lot more than hurt the reputation of your business. Now, all of the kids disappeared within the past months of April and May. If your records of who stayed here do not correspond with this time frame, than you’ll be in the clear. Do you have them?”

Mr. Aver nodded and opened up a file cabinet that sat behind him. He went through several file folders before fishing out the correct one. He showed them to Irving. Irving went over them, looking for the names.

After several minutes of note-taking, Irving looked up. He sighed. “Well, only two of these kids match the records, but I think I’ll stay the night here, if that is alright with you, Mr. Aver?”

“Of course! We are not just a youth hostel, after all. Talk to Tiffany so she can set you up with a room.”

Irving nodded and stood up. He left the room. The record that he had scanned seemed a bit too convenient to him. His gut told him that the good old Mr. Aver was hiding something, and he wanted to find out what. Tiffany smiled once Irving entered.

“Hello again, Detective.”

“Same to you. I would like to take up your offer on a room.”

“Certainly. You will have more room tomorrow, for the residents must vacate.”

“Why is that?”

“Every Sunday, all temporary residents must be packed up and out of here by midnight. If we didn’t do this, we would simply have no room. We’ll make an exception for you of course, Detective.”

“I see, good to know.”

“You have Room 4, our smallest room. I apologize, so here’s the key.”

“Quite alright, I prefer a smaller room.”