La Photographie Moderne

by Neil Crenner

on the cart.

  "Although, I don't just have them at my convenience. They are random and I have not had one for awhile."

  "I shouldn't have brought it up."

  "No, no, that's fine. I don't mind talking about them. They happen so infrequently that I even forget I have them. They make me very tired as well."

  "Well then I hope you don't have one before dinner," Catherine said with a smile.

  "I am not worried about that," Reason said as he pushed the cart.

  "I can grab that," Catherine grabbed her two suitcases and carried them to her door. "Call me when you're ready to go eat," Catherine remarked as she pulled her luggage into her room and closed the door.

  Reason thought that was a bit odd. She just left him there and didn't seem to want to talk anymore. I wonder if she felt awkward about asking about the visions. Reason took his luggage into the room and found a luggage rack in the armoire. He set it up and placed his luggage on it. He then took the cart and pushed it back to the lobby. There he saw a young couple checking in. He was relieved to see other people there.

  Empty hotels do remind him of Psycho, especially on the California coast. He went back to his room and unpacked his toiletries and hung his shirts up in the armoire. He sat his book next to the bed and then picked up the phone and called Didier.

  "Hello, how are you doing babe?"

  "Hello, and I am fine, how was the drive up?" Didier asked.

  "It was surprisingly short and Catherine slept half the way."

  "Are you at your hotel, how is it?"

  "It's very quaint, reminds me of King's Cross."

  "Oh really, that's nice. I miss you."

  "I miss you too. You didn't work late?"

  "Nope, I was tired so I thought I would get up early tomorrow and work. I just wanted to get home at a decent hour."

  "You should relax then. Read a book, turn in early."

  "I was planning on that. I found a book, it must be yours, says it's a mystery, Dead on your feet by Grant Michaels."

  "I am half way thru that one and it's good. An enjoyable read."

  "Colbert is fine, she's laying here at my feet, and I'm in the kitchen."

  "Glad to hear it. We are going to go get some dinner and then turn in early ourselves."

  "I am sure you're tired after that long drive. How was it driving the Jaguar?"

  "Catherine loved it. It made the trip seem shorter. I set the cruise on and we never really hit any traffic."

  "So you excited about tomorrow?"

  "I can't wait, it's like when I was a child and I was going to go to the carnival and I knew when it was coming to town, I was so excited."

  "Something wicked this way comes."

  "Don't tease like that, you know I loved that book."

  "I hope you find the Will or something that will lead you to it."

  "Catherine asked me about having a vision."

  "Oh." Didier said slowly.

  "I told her it was no big deal, and that I didn't mind discussing it."

  "Well good then, I thought it might make you feel uncomfortable."

  "Not in the slightest bit. It's something I have come to realize might happen and when it does I'll deal with it then."

  "Don't you think your vision led you to me and all this?"

  "I have not really thought about it, but yes I do think so. It was some destiny. I still had to act upon it, it didn't just happen."

  "Yes free will to choose your fate. I do agree with you there."

  "Well I will let you go and call you when we get back from dinner. Love you."

  "Love you too." Didier hung up the phone. Reason had laid there on the bed and heard it click. He sat it back in the cradle. He got up and grabbed his room key and headed over to Catherine's room.

  It was odd that he brought up Colbert. It didn't matter, he knew Didier missed him and he missed Didier as well. He knocked on the door. Catherine came to the door and handed Reason a glass of red wine, "Cheers," She said.

  "Where did you get this?" Reason exclaimed as he followed her inside.

  "I brought it with me, how do you like it?"

  "It's delicious. What is it?"

  "A Petite Syrah I picked up at Trader's last week. I thought I would surprise you."

  "Well this will take the edge off, just what I needed.

  "Wine always makes me relax and I am loving this Petite Syrah."

  "You have good taste in wine," Reason lifted his glass up and then thought to himself, maybe she does need to live at the winery. Catherine was telling him the year but he was lost in his thoughts.

  "It's very good, just what I think wine should taste like."

  "Glad you like it. When we are finished let's go eat. I am getting a bit hungry and I don't want to keep an empty stomach too long, I'll get sleepy," Catherine admitted.

  "I am getting that warm, cozy feeling from this one glass," Reason exclaimed.

  "It's good wine then. I hope you have a place picked out for dinner or are we just going to wing it.''

  "I thought we would ask at the front desk," Reason said tipping the glass up for the last sip.

  "That's a good idea. Let's go." Catherine gathered her sweater and purse and headed for the door, Reason following. They walked to the lobby and the front desk clerk was speaking to a business man, telling him directions. When he was finished he looked over at Reason and Catherine, "Can I help you?"

  "Yes we were looking for a restaurant for dinner, do you have any suggestions?"

  "I was just telling the gentlemen there is one close by, just head out and take a left at the first light and go about a mile and you'll come to an intersection and it's on your right hand side, it's a dinner house, steaks and such."

  "Oh it's sounds fine, thank you very much," Reason said as they turned to leave.

  "Steak sounds wonderful and another glass of wine," Catherine piped up.

  Chapitre 47

  2 hours later.

  Reason laid down in bed, and picked up the phone, it was almost nine. He dialed Didier and listened to the rings. "Hello."

  "Did I wake you?"

  "No, no, I was just laying here reading. This book is very good, entertaining character, Stan Kraychik."

  "I thought you would like him."

  "So how was dinner?"

  "We went to this really nice Dinner house and had steak and wine."

  "How lovely."

  "I had the New York Strip and Catherine had the Filet. That cut is just to tender for me, I like to have something to chew."

  "We can agree on that, and what kind of wine?"

  "We had this delicious Petite Syrah, it really went well with the steak. They had sweet potatoes and squash, and it was wonderful."

  "What about dessert?"

  "Key lime pie."

  "My favorite, go on.''

  "The pie was homemade and really light and tasty, almost like a mousse. You would have loved it."

  "The next time I come up there, then I want to try it and the steak. Well I had some leftovers and a Heineken. Colbert is in her bed and asleep already."

  "That's sweet. Well I am going to read a bit and then am off to sleep. I love you."

  "Love you too."

  "Good night then. Sweet dreams."

  "You too." Reason hung up the phone. He opened the book and began to read, Tornado Alley by William S. Burroughs. A collection of short stories. He enjoyed short stories because they could be read quickly and he read for about 15 minutes and although he was enjoying the story, he began to feel sleepy and decided it was time to shut the lights and go to sleep. He begin to pray and drifted off.

  The next morning.

  Reason woke up to a knock on the door. "Who is it?"

  "It's Catherine, I have coffee for us. Open up."

  "What time is it," Reason asked himself as he got up and put his slippers on. He had sat them there the night before. He went and opened the door and Catherine rushed in.

  "It's freezing out ther
e. I know it's a bit early but I couldn't sleep and I thought it would be nice to wake up to coffee."

  "That is sweet. It's not too early, almost 8:30," Reason took the cup and sat on the bed. Catherine sat on the chair by the window.

  "I was just so excited about today. It may be a wonderful day."

  "I hope it is as well and we find the Will."

  "If we do find the will, who do you think it has been left too?"

  "I am sure to his next closest relatives."

  "That would be Didier and I."

  "This coffee is wonderful. Just the way I like it."

  "They had a lovely spread with fresh croissants out by the coffee in the lobby. It is very elegant, with some jams, butter and cheeses, of all things. I had a taste of them and they were so good."

  "Well do you think I could wonder over there in my pajamas?"

  "I don't see why not. I am about finished with my coffee and need a refill."

  "This is so fun," they headed out towards the lobby. When they arrived, there was this elaborate spread that had several soft and hard cheeses, butter pats, jams and honey in small bottles. The croissants were still warm. They had coffee in a silver pot. "This is so delightful. For some reason this cheese is so good with coffee."

  "I am telling that's what I thought. Maybe that's why I love cheese Danish so much. Especially warmed up."

  "I love that as well," Reason said as he filled up his small plate.

  "Ready, or do you want to sit here and eat it."

  "If you don't think I am being to scandalous sitting here in my pajamas?"

  "You are perfectly fine," Catherine assured Reason as they walked over to a small table with two chairs. "Have a seat."

  "We can see out the window, it's going to be a nice day."

  Chapitre 48

  One hour later.

  They drove up to the lighthouse and this time parked right next to it. They got out and headed for the cliff. "I hope that we are here and it's low tide."

  "Me too." They climbed