Training Days Read Online Free PDF

she heard more muffled love coming from the other side of the door.
    “Can I help you?”
    Ally turned. At the far end of the corridor was the woman Ally had seen at the baggage carriage. She was approaching fast and walked with the same purposeful manner that Ally had witnessed earlier. Remembering the effect the woman had on the station representative, Ally surmised that, even though she wore no visible signs of identification, maybe she was associated with the train.
    “Actually, I was looking for a guard,” Ally said. “I seem to be having a bit of trouble getting into my room.”
    The woman arched her eyebrows. “This compartment?”
    Ally didn’t like the suspicious look the woman gave her. What did she think, that she was a burglar trying to break in? “Yes. This compartment.”
    “You must have made some mistake.”
    It seemed forever since the train had pulled into the station. Ally was tired, her patience was wearing very thin, and despite having only had contact with her for less than a minute, this woman was already beginning to grate on her nerves. “Look.” She tapped her ticket. “Carriage eleven, compartment five.”
    The woman studied the ticket for what seemed a very long time. “There must be some mistake,” she repeated. “This compartment was booked for one person only.”
    Ally had been on the verge of being convinced the woman was not staff. If she was, then surely she would be doing something to help Ally find her quarters instead of standing around being argumentative. But then, if she wasn’t staff, how did she know the booking status of this compartment? “If that’s the case, could you please check the passenger list and tell me where I’m supposed to be?”
    “Oh, I’m not with the train.” The woman waved away the idea and smiled for the first time. Ally saw through the smile and sweet tone in a second. “But I’m traveling with Morgan and I can assure you, she is not sharing this compartment with anyone.”
    “Then can you please tell Morgan,” Ally replied just as sweetly, “that she should do what she’s doing . . . alone . . . a little more quietly.”
    “Excuse me?” The woman’s smile fell from her face.
    Ally tipped her head in the direction of the door, shrugged and turned away. “I need to find someone who can tell me where I am supposed to sleep tonight.”
    She didn’t look back as she retraced her steps, but even before she was halfway to the carriage exit, Ally heard the woman hiss urgently, “Morgan!”
    Five minutes later and Ally was beginning to wonder what sort of weird ride she’d booked herself on. Once the guard she found a few carriages farther down had checked her ticket against the passenger manifest he turned bright red and told her that he “needed to speak with his superior.” He then mumbled into his walkie-talkie and within a minute the chief guard had arrived. The chief also scrutinized her ticket then hurried away to the station. He returned quickly enough, his face impassive and unreadable.
    “My apologies for making you wait, Ms. Brown,” he said, nodding a dismissal to the other guard, who looked immensely relieved to make his escape. “It appears there has been a little mix-up with your booking.”
    “What sort of mix-up?” asked Ally, alarmed.
    “Well, it seems the place you were assigned was not actually available.”
    “What!” Ally spluttered. “But I was told . . .” An image of having to again board that outrageously small plane made Ally’s stomach turn. Surely this was not happening to her. “How . . . ? The man I spoke to said there was a vacancy in one of the sleepers.”
    The guard cleared his throat. “I’m dreadfully sorry, Ms. Brown. It was a mistake by our booking office. The compartment you were booked into is for single occupancy only on this trip. There are, however, a few upright seats available, of which you can have your choice. Of course you will be fully refunded and all your meals will be