Strangers: A Novel(14)
I can still picture her right in front of me, staring at me in disbelief. I think it was in that moment, if not before, that I fell irretrievably in love with her.
After she furiously turned away from me, I had run after her. When I’d cut off her path and stood in front of her, I was scared she’d hit me in the face, that’s how angry she had been. But then I held up the box, out toward her. Her eyes had widened in surprise. I said I’d bought it for her. At first she had seemed to want to …
Someone’s car horn is blaring behind me again. I’ve had enough of these damn horns now. I step on the gas pedal so hard that the car bounds forward.
Just a few minutes later, I arrive at the hospital. I find a parking space near the entrance. Taking swift steps, I hurry toward the revolving door and glance at my wristwatch. Joanna leaped out of the car just over twenty minutes ago. So maybe she’s already here.
I know the way to the lab. Down the hall, past the elevators, then through the door on the left. Up some stairs, through the next door, then one more turn, and I’m there. My pulse quickens as I walk the last few steps. What awaits me now?
I knock, open the door. The young, dark-haired woman in the lobby gives me a friendly look past the side of her monitor. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.” My voice sounds hoarse. “I’d like to see Ela Weisfels, please.”
A hint of sympathy settles over the friendly smile.
“I’m sorry, Ela left already; she was on the night shift.”
“OK, thanks,” I say, and am about to turn away as something occurs to me.
“Oh, I was meant to meet my girlfriend here, we wanted to surprise Ela. Maybe she was already here?”
Now the smile disappears completely. “Yes, about five minutes ago there was a young lady here who wanted to see Ela as well.” She fiddles around with something on her desk, then gives me a strange look.
“Not that it’s any of my business, but is everything all right with your girlfriend? She seemed somewhat … distraught.”
7
I run like I’ve never run before, not because of panic, but because the sensation of my regained freedom spurs me on with every step I take. The first street on the right, then the next left. A glance over my shoulder—no, he’s not following me, but I keep running regardless. I’ve been given a chance, and there’s no way I’m going to let it slip through my fingers.
Only once I’m gasping for air do I stop in a doorway to catch my breath. I ignore the surprised glances of two stroller-pushing mothers walking past. I’m not far from the pedestrian zone, and there’s a police station up ahead on the corner. My hand is already on the door handle before it occurs to me that I can’t provide any ID. My papers, my visa—everything’s in the house, and I don’t have the key anymore. That’s the first obstacle.
The other is how hurt Erik had looked before, when he spoke about his dead parents. As hard as I had tried to fight it, his disappointed gaze had moved me.
Of course I’m still going to report him, though; I don’t have a choice. If I want my life back, then he needs to disappear from it.
But I want to have someone here with me who can confirm my story.
The knowledge of how easy this would be if I just had my phone with me almost makes me storm angrily into the police station anyway. Soon, I reassure myself. A few minutes won’t make a difference, and the hospital where Ela works is just over a mile away at most.
I set off, taking care to avoid the main streets, but still give a start every time a silver car comes into view.
Would Erik grab me on the street and pull me into his car in broad daylight? Is that plausible?
He would have to be very sure of himself if he did, because of course I would call for help. And resist him with all my strength.
Does he have an ace up his sleeve that would allow him to take the risk?
At the end of the street, the hospital comes into view, towering over all the buildings in the vicinity.
Five minutes later, I find out that my detour was in vain. Ela was on the night shift and went home at seven this morning, the laboratory secretary informs me. The disappointment, paired with the stress of the past twelve hours, pushes tears to my eyes.
“Has something happened? Can I help you?” The secretary’s sympathy only makes it worse. I silently shake my head, refuse the glass of water she offers me, and turn around.
Only once I’m already outside again do I realize how stupid I’ve been. I won’t get another opportunity as good as that to call Ela, considering that I don’t know her number by heart. The secretary would have had it, and she probably would have given it to me too if I’d gone about things the right way.
But maybe Ela already went to bed hours ago and put her phone on silent.
When it comes to the doorbell, though, she’ll definitely hear that.
Normally I’d never wake her up, but this is an emergency.
I have to cross the entire city to get to her apartment. I don’t have a single cent in my bag, no credit card, nothing. I can’t even afford to get the bus, let alone a taxi. The irony of the situation is striking, given that I could easily buy the entire bus company if I had access to my fortune right now.
So I’ll just have to risk riding without a ticket. The bus that goes out to where Ela lives is just pulling in as I get to the bus stop in front of the hospital. Just a coincidence, of course, but it brightens my mood a little. Perhaps things are finally turning in my favor.