<div class="floatleft">(https://0themastercylinder0.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/740full-sybil-danning-2.jpg?w=384)</div><hr/><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 16pt;"><strong>MARTA LINDGREN | 25 | NURSE </strong></span><hr/><br/>Marta had taken the opportunity to bathe and change clothes in between their arrival and lunch.  She was a bit late to join the others in the parlor before the meal, lingering over indecent thoughts and her own struggle to control them as the warmth of the water soaked into her every muscle.  Her new dress was simple and practical, as most of her clothes were.  Unlike most fashions of the time, it made no attempt to flatten or hide her figure, rather subtly enhancing it by the layers of fabric she wore; undergarments under a shift under a petticoat under a longer petticoat under the dress.<br/><br/>The time in the parlor and even lunch itself was pleasant.  Small talk was safe talk, for the most part, and she found the company skilled enough at it or enjoyable in and of themselves.  Even that harlot was quite amiable.  If she remembered Marta, she'd given very little sign of it.  Perhaps that was for the best.<br/><br/>Marta was pouring fresh glasses of wine for those in the company that wanted them when the hotelier entered.  "Scotland Yard?  Wha-"  Whatever the question may have been, it was lost to possibility as the armed men surged into the room, spreading out.  "What is the meaning of this?"  She moved as if she meant to block the men's entrance to the women's room but the sight of the weapons made her pause.  There was the sound of objects being moved, bags thrown open, and she could see from her place standing by the table that the men's possessions were being quickly searched.  The sounds from the room given to the women indicated the same was happening there.  "How dare you?"<br/><br/>Her protestations were ignored and the bobbies were gone as soon as they had come, an older man with a sour expression and dark eyes, his hair streaked with gray.  Marta crossed her arms under her breasts, "Before I answer<em>any</em>of your questions, you will explain what this is about.  You've not presented us with any reason to do so, and I, for one, fully intend to seek restitution for any of my property that was damaged with your armed hooligans charging in and tossing our things about without any word or even knowing who you are!"  She tossed her blond hair back and glared down at the man, putting her abnormal height to work.  "We are clearly to assume that you are with Scotland Yard but I've seen no proof of it.  For all we know this is a smoke and mirrors show where your<em>gang</em>goes through out things for valuables and you cut in the hotel in on the spoils."<br/><br/>If was likely unwise to speak this way if they were genuine authorities.  But if they were, she'd expect them to act better.  And perhaps her nerves were not so settled form the many shocks they had received this day, after all.