the police right away, ok?”
“I will, Mick ,” I said. “ I won’t get involved. I only wanted to tell you because it was upsetting, and I’m worried about it.”
“Sweetheart, I love you , and I don’t ever want to have to go through almost losing you again. Never. You take care of yourself until I get there, and then I’ll take care of you. I promise.” The passion in his voice warmed me clear through, and I would have given anything to have him with me right then.
“Ok,” I told him. “I will gladly put myself into your hands when you get here .” He chuckled at the comment. “Did you and Alex have fun skiing?” I asked.
“We sure did,” he said, and he proceeded to tell me abo ut their trip. We hung up roughly thirty minutes later. I was feeling much better - and I was starving. Once again, I had made it through another day with almost no food at all.
I looked over the room service menu, but nothing appealed to me. I wanted another Reuben sandwich from Wolfgang Puck. I slipped on my shoes and decided to run down to ask the bartender in the restaurant to round up another one for me. I knew I was supposed to wait for Darby or my mom or dad, but I felt so much better after talking with Mick, and a quick trip downstairs would surely be ok.
I looked out into the hallway; no one was around . I walked to the elevator and pushed the down button. T he doors opened, and I gasped as I nearly fell down taking a few quick steps backward . A disturbed Carl stepped out of the elevator toward me.
“Susan,” he said dryly, “just the person I wanted to see.” He took another step toward me, and I backed up a couple more steps toward my room.
I quickly scanned the hallway, but it was still empty. The fear on my face was evident, and I was angry I had let him catch me off-guard. “What do you want, Carl?” I tried to snap at him.
“I hear you dodged a bullet today,” he said without emotion.
I had to stifle a gasp. He was essent ially admitting he was behind the shot taken at me today . “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I told him.
“Susan, I’m going to cut right to the chase with you ,” he said . “ You didn’t see anything yesterday. You might think you did, but you didn’t. The jani tor was helping us take some things out to the dumps ters, and he had a seizure. We drove him to the hospital, and he’s fine. Do you understand me?”
I was confused. Was he telling the truth? Was he telling the story he wanted me to tell if I was asked about it by anyone? Was he telling me I would be left alone if I pretended I didn’t see anything? I felt as though a small window had opened for me to get out of this.
I tried to sound confident as I told him, “It was dark outside, Carl, and the door was only open for a few seconds. You’re right. I don’t know what I saw, so I didn’t tell anyone about it. Thank you for clearing it up for me.”
He reached out and grabbed my elbow. It was a huge effort not to recoil. “Just so long as we understand each other, Susan,” he said.
I nodded my head and said in a small voice, “We do.”
He let go of my arm, seemed to be pleased with himself , and said, “How about a nightcap? Join me for a drink?”
I could only hope he wouldn’t make a scene when I declined. “ Not tonight,” I said. “I’m not feeling well, and I’ve been in my room all evening. I was going to run down to tell my parents g oodnight, but I think I’ll give them a call instead.”
He stared at me, and I could see he was giving thought as to how to handle the moment. “Another time then,” he said. “Goodnight.” He turned to push the button for the elevator.
“Goodnight,” I said. I rushed to my room and let myself in. I leaned against the door and realized my heart was pounding against my chest. It was hard to breathe , and my legs felt rubbery . I didn’t know if I should feel relief that I may no longer be in danger, or terror at knowing what the
“I will, Mick ,” I said. “ I won’t get involved. I only wanted to tell you because it was upsetting, and I’m worried about it.”
“Sweetheart, I love you , and I don’t ever want to have to go through almost losing you again. Never. You take care of yourself until I get there, and then I’ll take care of you. I promise.” The passion in his voice warmed me clear through, and I would have given anything to have him with me right then.
“Ok,” I told him. “I will gladly put myself into your hands when you get here .” He chuckled at the comment. “Did you and Alex have fun skiing?” I asked.
“We sure did,” he said, and he proceeded to tell me abo ut their trip. We hung up roughly thirty minutes later. I was feeling much better - and I was starving. Once again, I had made it through another day with almost no food at all.
I looked over the room service menu, but nothing appealed to me. I wanted another Reuben sandwich from Wolfgang Puck. I slipped on my shoes and decided to run down to ask the bartender in the restaurant to round up another one for me. I knew I was supposed to wait for Darby or my mom or dad, but I felt so much better after talking with Mick, and a quick trip downstairs would surely be ok.
I looked out into the hallway; no one was around . I walked to the elevator and pushed the down button. T he doors opened, and I gasped as I nearly fell down taking a few quick steps backward . A disturbed Carl stepped out of the elevator toward me.
“Susan,” he said dryly, “just the person I wanted to see.” He took another step toward me, and I backed up a couple more steps toward my room.
I quickly scanned the hallway, but it was still empty. The fear on my face was evident, and I was angry I had let him catch me off-guard. “What do you want, Carl?” I tried to snap at him.
“I hear you dodged a bullet today,” he said without emotion.
I had to stifle a gasp. He was essent ially admitting he was behind the shot taken at me today . “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I told him.
“Susan, I’m going to cut right to the chase with you ,” he said . “ You didn’t see anything yesterday. You might think you did, but you didn’t. The jani tor was helping us take some things out to the dumps ters, and he had a seizure. We drove him to the hospital, and he’s fine. Do you understand me?”
I was confused. Was he telling the truth? Was he telling the story he wanted me to tell if I was asked about it by anyone? Was he telling me I would be left alone if I pretended I didn’t see anything? I felt as though a small window had opened for me to get out of this.
I tried to sound confident as I told him, “It was dark outside, Carl, and the door was only open for a few seconds. You’re right. I don’t know what I saw, so I didn’t tell anyone about it. Thank you for clearing it up for me.”
He reached out and grabbed my elbow. It was a huge effort not to recoil. “Just so long as we understand each other, Susan,” he said.
I nodded my head and said in a small voice, “We do.”
He let go of my arm, seemed to be pleased with himself , and said, “How about a nightcap? Join me for a drink?”
I could only hope he wouldn’t make a scene when I declined. “ Not tonight,” I said. “I’m not feeling well, and I’ve been in my room all evening. I was going to run down to tell my parents g oodnight, but I think I’ll give them a call instead.”
He stared at me, and I could see he was giving thought as to how to handle the moment. “Another time then,” he said. “Goodnight.” He turned to push the button for the elevator.
“Goodnight,” I said. I rushed to my room and let myself in. I leaned against the door and realized my heart was pounding against my chest. It was hard to breathe , and my legs felt rubbery . I didn’t know if I should feel relief that I may no longer be in danger, or terror at knowing what the
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