A tiny bit of sanity returned. She couldn’t keep him there against his will. With a deep sigh, she stepped back and let him go. He opened the door, but stopped to fiddle with something on his bike.
Now, about Konrad.She heard some type of faint grinding noise coming from upstairs and then a whimper.
She dashed back up the steps and tried his door. To her surprise, it opened. Sitting in front of her was a big dog. It looked like some kind of scruffy German shepherd, but the biggest one she’d ever seen. She’d have been afraid, except that with his tongue hanging out, he looked like he had a big goofy grin on his face.
“Huh? Who are you, boy?” Should she pat this strange dog or not? His eyes looked friendly, but his jaw appeared powerful enough to snap her arm like a twig.
The door across the hall opened, and Dottie came into view. “What’s all the racket out here?” she demanded.
Roz turned toward her and stammered, “Oh, I uh…” She was trying to think of what to say, when the big dog ran around her legs and bounded down the stairs.
Dottie threw her hands in the air. “Darn it. I told Konrad to get rid of that wolf months ago. What the heck is it doing back here?”
Nathan called up the stairs, “I’ll get rid of him, Mrs. F.” He opened the door, and the dog—or wolf or whatever—ran off. Nathan followed him out and let the door slam.
Puzzled, Roz turned back to Dottie. “Wolf? That was a wolf?”
Dottie didn’t answer. She marched across the hall and banged on the doorjamb, because the door was already open. “Konrad! Come out here.”
They waited. No answer.
Roz said, “Should I go in?”
Dottie raised her eyebrows, smiled, and said in a syrupy way, “I suppose you’d be welcome any time, since he’s your boyfriend. Go ahead. I’ll wait right here.”
Roz remembered that he was naked and said, “No need to wait. I’ll talk to him about his…um, pet. He’ll probably want to know it ran away.”
“Thank God,” Dottie mumbled.
To Roz’s relief, Dottie returned to her apartment and shut the door.
She crept in and called out, “Konrad?” Still no answer. What could he be doing? Was he hiding from her? The more she thought about his mysteriousness, the angrier she got. “Where the hell are you?”
She took a deep breath and marched to his bedroom. She threw open the door, half expecting to find him hiding under the covers. He wasn’t there, and his bed was made. Okay, he must be in the bathroom. The door was open, so she poked her head in. It was empty.
Where could he have gone?He must be hiding in a closet. Now she was pissed. She opened each closet and pantry door and found no one.
“What the fuck?” It was as if he’d disappeared into thin air. She jammed her hands on her hips. “Well, that does it.”
She found a sticky-note pad and a pen and scribbled, “Your disappearing act and deceit have me at a loss. There’s more you’re not telling me, and I won’t stand for lies. I’m afraid we’re through.” As she reread it, tears formed in her eyes. Was she being rash?
The more she thought about it, the more she realized the words were right. She’d been patient,morethan patient, yet her belief in him had only led to more lies and disappointment.
She slammed the door on her way out and returned to her apartment for a good cry.
***
“Roz, open the door.” Konrad pounded so hard he was afraid he’d splinter the solid oak if he didn’t calm down. He took a couple of steps back and raked his fingers through his hair. Dottie would be down in seconds, if he kept that up. Tough.Nothing can drag me away; certainly not some ninety-eight-pound busybody. He could hear someone inside Roz’s apartment, and he would not leave until she opened the door.
Wait a minute…He didn’t have to wait for her to open the door. All he had to do was open his mind to her.
Roz, please give me a chance. I’ll tell you everything.
“You’ll tell me more lies. Go away.”
I won’t. I swear! I’ll tell you the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth…so help me, God.
“God is probably the only one who can help you, because if you lie to me again, you’re beyond redemption.”
