Cormoran Strike, in his BMW, follows Mrs Two-Times in an Uber from her home in Chelsea to The St Martin’s Lane Hotel, London on Friday 24th March 2017
“The spacious white-floored lobby … decorated with such objects as giant chess pieces and a sofa draped in fake fur” (Ch 88)
The hotel was designed by Phillipe Starck in 2001.
Strike searches for Mrs Two-Times in the hotel before being informed there is a “ Secret bar, admittance to which was gained via a hidden white door with an outstretched golden hand as a handle.”
Strike watches Mrs Two-Times from a booth through a mirror, “the room inside was long and so dark he nearly fell on his face by snagging his fake foot on the edge of a rug.”
He orders a double measure of Ardberg whiskey and searches for the address of Nancy Jameson on his phone.
During his third double measure of Ardberg he is phoned by someone purporting to be Rupert Fleetwood, during his fourth another unknown caller asks to meet him at The Golden Fleece.
Subcontractor Kim Cochrane, with injuries to her face, arrives to take over surveillance of Mrs Two-Times.
She tells Strike about her sad and convoluted personal life whilst drinking two double measures of Ardberg whisky and he is eating a meagre portion of calamari and chips. Her flirting with Strike is ratcheted up a gear by the revealing of a nude photo on her phone. Strike reacts forcefully.
“Enough,” said Stike, whose tongue felt far heavier than it should have, but whose anger at himself, and the mess he’d made with Robin, had at last found a target” (Ch 88)
He leaves, “ … and only by miracle of luck did he avoid tripping over the rug for a second time.” (Ch 88)
The music playing in The Blind Spot and quoted in the chapter is The Small Faces “Itchycoo Park” from 1968, Francois Hardy’s “Tous les garçons et les filles” from 1962 and Johnny Kidd and the Pirates “ Shakin’ All Over” from 1962. Find all the music featured in the Strike and Ellacott books here: https://strikefans.com/music-of-the-hallmarked-man/
Find St Martin’s Hotel on the map below:
