Strangers: A Novel(96)

“Where were you, and what happened?” Her voice is calm and she’s composed herself again.

I point at the armchair. “Have a seat, I’ll explain everything.”

I wait until she’s sitting down, then tell the story. Starting with the strange email I found on Gabor’s laptop. I leave out nothing. Ela interrupts me twice to ask questions; otherwise she just listens, completely alert. When I wrap up the story with our escape from the terminal, she takes a few moments to let it all sink in, then finally nods. “I see. It’s unbelievable, really. And you really think Gabor’s involved in the attack at the train station?”

“I don’t know if he’s responsible, but he definitely has a hand in it somewhere. Now do you understand why we told everyone I’d been missing since the attack?”

“Yes, of course. Although I do think you could have told me the truth, at least. I was really, really worried.”

“We didn’t want to drag you into it as well,” Joanna explains.

Ela gives me a grim look. “But now you had to anyway. Three days earlier and you could have saved me a few sleepless nights.”

I go over and put a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry. We were only thinking of your safety, really. Be on your guard, OK? Maybe you should sleep at Richard’s place for the next few days.”

She dismisses my concern with a flick of her hand. “What about Joanna’s amnesia? And the other … strange occurrences?”

“No idea. We’re still completely in the dark there. I have no idea what the connection could be. The most important thing right now is that we get away from here, as far away and as quickly as we can.”

Seeming to take my last words as a request, Ela pulls the envelope containing the money from her bag, gets up, and gives it to Joanna. “Here. What are you going to do now?”

Joanna gives me a prompting look, one that’s saying you answer.

“We’re going to leave the country as quickly as possible.”

“How?”

“By plane.”

Ela emphatically shakes her head. “From Munich? That’s not a good idea. Not after what happened.”

I sense what she’s getting at, because the same thing quickly went through my mind before, when I was trying to book the tickets for us. “You mean because airport security is going to be on high alert? I don’t reckon that’s a problem. I mean, we’re not wanted or anything.”

“But what if somebody’s called the police claiming you two were involved in the attack?”

I hadn’t even thought that far ahead. “You mean Gabor?”

Ela shrugs. “It’s a possibility, at least. I wouldn’t put it past him if he really is part of the whole thing. He might even have posted some of his people to wait for you at the airport. Is that a risk you’re willing to take?”

No, we definitely don’t want that. Joanna’s face is telling me the same.

“Ela’s right,” she says. “It’s probably easier to leave the country by car. We could rent one.”

“Hmm … you don’t think there are going to be stricter border controls as well?” I object.

Ela nods. “Maybe, but not as strict as at the airport. I think a rental car is a good idea.” She pauses briefly, then adds, “Oh, I just thought of another thing. You said you lost your phone at the train station. Do you want to take mine, just in case? If you get separated or…”

“No, thanks. That’s really nice of you, but we do have a phone. That should be enough.”

“Hang on,” Joanna interjects. “Ela’s right, we shouldn’t take any risks. What if something happens to my phone? If I lose it, or if it breaks? Or if Dad manages to get my contract canceled as well? We’d be stranded without a phone then, so I think you should take Ela up on her offer. Just in case.”

“My thoughts exactly.” Ela reaches into her pocket and holds the device out toward me. Eventually I take it and slip it into my pocket. “You’ll get it back.”

Ela’s voice is playfully insistent. “I’d better.”

A quick hug for me, one for Joanna, then Ela’s at the door already. She turns around once more. “Good luck. And please, check in with me.” Before either of us can reply, the door falls shut behind her.

I stand by the window and wait until I see her walk out of the hotel entrance, along the street, then get into her car a short distance away and drive off. There’s nobody following her.

“OK,” I say. “Now, how are we going to get a rental car? Perhaps the best idea would be if I check online where the nearest car rental place is and—”

“I’ll get us one,” Joanna interrupts, putting on her jacket as though underlining her resolve. She fishes a few notes out from the envelope containing the money and hands the rest to me. “Here, hang on to this, please. I’m going to get a cab from downstairs and get it to take me to the closest car rental place. We’re in Munich, it can’t be that far. I’m sure the taxi drivers know their way around.”

“OK. I’ll come with you.”

“No, I can do it by myself.” Her voice sounds unusually energetic, like she’s used to giving orders, almost. “You’re dead, remember? We can’t take any risks here. I’ll get us a car and come pick you up from here. OK?”