Who's Got a Key? May 25, 2001
"Who's got a key? Who else has a goddamn key?" When you rent an apartment, a condo, a hotel room, you know there are others who have a key. The property managers, the maids, the owner, former tenants? There could be a dozen other keys out there.
We're in a condo this week, and last night the phone rang. The phone's in the living room. It was midnight. I didn't hear it, but it woke Dick. Four rings, he says. Too few rings to actually get out of bed and get to the phone, at least if you're in bed sleeping. Anyway, no one has our number, so he ignored it. For me it was easy, I slept right through it.
But then I do hear Dick say "Who's there?" Even through my sleepy haze I know he's talking. Is something happening? What's he saying? "Who's there?" Has someone knocked on the door?
Dick's out of bed now and in the hall near the door. It's just after midnight. "Who's there?" he repeats.
Well apparently there was someone there! The light in the outside hall is on. Dick, still awake from the phone call, had heard the door being unlocked, and the door is now open! And he just heard footsteps going down the stairs.
Someone HAS been here!
Now what?
We're in Portugal. Call the Police? Call the security guard at the gate to the complex? Good ideas! Neither phone number works! At least I can't figure out how to get through.
Deadbolt the door. Another good idea. Unfortunately there is no deadbolt. (Clearly this is not an American Automobile Club-certified rental.)
Well, whoever it was is gone now and not likely to return. They're probably as scared as I am.
Was it a thief looking to steal our stuff? What a mess that would be -- no tickets, no passport, no computer, etc. Too miserable a thought to dwell on.
We were supposed to have checked out today. Instead we're planning on staying another three days. Maybe it was the condo owner, thinking to spend the night, not having got word of the change in plans? Or a friend of the maid's? Given the options, these are somewhat comforting thoughts. At any rate, we'll likely never know.
Tomorrow we'll report this "Incident" to the rental agent. But it puts a bit of a damper on the holiday. Should we change units? What a hassle. Maybe ask to have a deadbolt installed? Or have the locks changed? Or just ignore it and hope for the best?
Unfortunately, whenever one rents, there are always strangers with a key...