CHAPTER 164: CHAPTER 164 TO PRAY

*LORENZO*

“There is no one here but me. Who are you looking for?”

“A girl...”

“Aren’t we all?” I sneered. “Now, can I suggest you fuck off and come back with a warrant or I’ll call the police.” Taking my phone out of my back pocket, I held it up in front of them. “But just so we’re clear. There are no girls here, let alone a criminal.” I lied easily.

It wasn’t fully a lie.

Sure there was a girl here but she wasn’t a criminal.

I think.

“Shall I call the police?”

Both of them took a step back.

At that moment Mrs. Beckstrom, who lives in the neighboring apartment, opened her front door, holding Heracles, her yappy lapdog.

“Hello, Lorenzo,” she called.

Bless you, Mrs. Beckstrom.

“Very well, Mr. Moretti.”

“We shall be back with a warrant.” He turned on his heel, jerked his head at his colleague, and they brushed past Mrs. Beckstrom on their way toward the stairs. She glared at them, then smiled at me.

“Good afternoon, Mrs. B.,” I said with a wave, and close the door.

How the hell did those thugs find out that Danica was here? Why are they chasing her? What had she done?

I took a deep breath in an effort to damp down my anxiety and headed back into the darkroom, where I suspected Danica will be trembling in a corner.

She was not there.

She was not in the kitchen.

My concern mushroomed into full-scale panic as I raced through the flat calling her name.

She was not in the bedrooms or the study. Finally I search the scullery. The fire-escape door was ajar, and her coat and boots were missing.

Danica had fled.

*****************

Danica flew down the fire escape, her heart racing as adrenaline and fear fuel her body. Once she reached the bottom, she was in the side alley. She

should be safe here. The gate to the street at the rear of the building was locked from the inside. But to be sure, she ducked between two of the dumpsters, where the residents of boss’ block dispose of their trash. She leaned against the brick wall and dragged air into her lungs, trying to catch her breath.

How did they found her? How?

She had recognized Julio’s voice immediately, and all her suppressed

memories had surfaced in a terrifying rush. The dark.

The smell.

The fear.

The cold.

The smell. Ugh. The smell.

Tears well in her eyes, and she tried to blink them away. She had led them to him!

He had said he would find her.

He really did.

She let out a loud sob and put her fist in her mouth as she cowered on the cold ground.

He could be hurt.

No.

She has to check. She couldn’t flee if he was hurt. Think, Danica. Think.

How did he find her place of work?

Did he also find out where she currently lives?

Magda and John!

What have they done to them?

Magda.

John. Her boss.

Her breath came in short, sharp bursts as panic closed her throat. She thought she was going to faint, but suddenly her stomach roils, bile rises in her throat, and before she knew it, she had doubled over and vomited her breakfast onto the ground.

As she retched and retched, she splayed her hands on the brick wall until there was nothing left in her stomach. The physical effort of throwing up left her wrung out but a little calmer. Wiping her mouth on the back of her hand, she stood, feeling dizzy, and peeked into the alley to see if anyone had heard her. She was still alone.

Thank God.

Think, Danica, think.

The first thing she had to do is check that the boss was okay. Taking a deep breath, she left her refuge between the dumpsters and made her way back up the fire escape. She moved cautiously as a sense of self- preservation kicks in. She needed to know the coast was clear, but she couldn’t be seen by them.

It was six stories high, so by the time she reaches the fifth story, she was winded. She inches her way up the next staircase and peeped through the metal railings into the penthouse apartment. The laundry door was closed, but she could see into the living room. There was no sign of life at first, but then, all of a sudden, the boss barged into the living room, and she could tell he was fetching something from his desk.

He was there for a moment before he bolted back out of the room.

Her body slumped against the metal balustrade. He was safe.

Thank God.

With her curiosity appeased and her conscience reassured, she staggered back down the fire escape, knowing she had to check that Magda and John were okay.

At ground level in the alley once more, she changed into her boots and made her way to the gate at the rear entrance of the apartment block. It opened onto the backstreet.

She paused for a moment. Perhaps Julio will be there waiting for her?

He will be out front, surely? With her heart beating a frantic tempo, she opened the gate and peered into the street. The only sign of life was a dark green sports car speeding to the end of the road; there was no sign of Julio and his sidekick.

Taking her woolly hat out of her bag, she tugged it on, tucked her hair inside, and set off for the bus stop.

She walked briskly along the street, fighting the urge to run, knowing that might attract unwanted attention. She kept her head down and her hands in her pockets, and with each step she prayed to God to keep Magda and John safe.

She said it over and over again, alternating between her native tongue and English.