The second room was smaller and had two pool tables. The table nearer the door was slightly bigger than the other one; used for snooker no doubt. That would make the other table the true pool table. There were eight cue-sticks hanging on the wall next to the door.
“If you’re looking for the billiards, they’re in that small cabinet over there,” Shanice said, seeing Adrian look around.
The cabinet she’d mentioned was at the corner of the room, next to six lockers. The other six lockers were on the opposite side. Adrian noticed that the names on the lockers were in the same order as their rooms. On one side was Hwang’s locker, then Richard, Adrian, Tharonby, Raven and Hunter’s. On the other side were Raj, Kel, Akiko, Eun-Kyung, Antoine and Shanice’ lockers. Hwang was busy putting her swimming costume inside her locker.
“It’s the same as our rooms isn’t it?” Shanice remarked. “Also the same as the way we were seated in that room where we woke up.”
“I wonder if it has some significance,” Hwang said closing her locker.
“Do you suppose it’s the order in which our host plans to kill us?” Adrian asked. But he knew that wasn’t the case. That would place him on third when he was actually the last in line.
“I sure don’t hope so,” Hwang remarked. “That would make me the first victim and I do not wish to die.” She waved at them both and left the room.
“I don’t think that’s it either. It would very obviously implicate me as I’m the last one on that,” Shanice said. “Although, the Italian guy would be implicated too but I doubt it’d be as easy as that.”
“No, it wouldn’t,” Adrian said. Something about the way she spoke didn’t sit right with Adrian. What was she again? That’s right, the owner of a grocery shop. She sure didn’t speak like one. Rather, she sounded like a … Adrian wasn’t too sure. Someone who’s used to speaking to people. Professional people.
“Why’re you staring at me like that?” Shanice asked.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I wasn’t staring … I was thinking … about something,” Adrian said.
“You were staring at me similar to the way that Indian guy was staring at you when you walked in here,” she commented.
“Was he?” he asked innocently. He knew Raj had been staring at him. Did Raj consider him the kidnapper, he wondered.
“So, where in this country are you from?” Shanice asked, ignoring Adrian’s previous question.
“Oh, the capital city,” Adrian answered. “I was born there actually.”
“Well, same goes for me. I was born in Ottawa but I spent the majority of my life in Toronto with my grandparents,” Shanice said. “And yes, I do know French.”
“How did you know I was going to ask?”
“Everyone does.”
At the moment, Kel Brady walked in. Adrian could see that the Somalian had just washed his face. He glanced at Shanice and then at Adrian before speaking.
“When I saw the label with ‘pool’ written on it, I did not expect a swimming pool,” he commented.
“Did you just wash your face with that water?” Shanice asked with amusement.
“Oh, no. No. I washed it in the bathroom upstairs. Besides, I would not go near that water. I do not know how to swim properly, you see. You know, I have never seen a place like this,” Kel said.
“I thought you’d have seen a lot of place like this,” Shanice commented.
“Yeah, since you’re an auditor and all. Don’t you get sent to places around your country on auditing jobs?” Adrian added.
“No, what I meant was …” Kel hesitated. “I meant I’ve never seen a wooden house on this scale in Somalia. We usually have cemented buildings. And in villages, you mostly see huts.”
Nice save, Adrian thought. But that slight hesitation was enough for Adrian to suspect that Kel was lying about being an auditor. Glancing at Shanice, he saw her crack a small smile from the side. Did she suspect the same?
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