Heidi took a sip of the liqueur. No one ever offered her alcohol at home—after all, she was only fifteen. She didn’t dare finish the contents of the glass. Leaning back, she met Carlos’s impatient gaze.
“Tell me in as much detail as you can what you saw,” the old man whispered. “Every little thing could be important, even something you wouldn’t think matters,” he added mysteriously.
Heidi felt grown-up under his penetrating gaze and the weight of the task.
“Sometime after midnight, I went outside for a smoke.”
“More precisely?”
The girl stared at him, confused.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean exactly when did you go out? Was it ten minutes past midnight or forty? Because that makes a difference. A lot can happen in thirty minutes.”
Although she had no idea what time she had sneaked out of the house, she suddenly felt the gravity of the situation.
“A quarter past twelve, I went to the pool,” she started again hesitantly.
Carlos nodded in satisfaction.
“Half an hour later, I heard a strange noise coming from the storage area. I looked over and saw a figure in a diving suit lurking near the building.”
“What was he doing?” Carlos asked impatiently.
“I don’t know, because I got really scared. I wanted to call the police, but then I saw that he was looking at me.”
“Are you sure he noticed you?”
“He didn’t come any closer, didn’t say anything to me, but he stood still for a moment, staring in my direction.”
“And then?” the old man pressed on.
“I was terrified,” the teenage girl continued in a trembling voice, “so I shut my eyes. The next moment, Bernard appeared.”
“What was he wearing?”
“Swim trunks. I think he was coming for a swim.”
“So, just as the diver disappeared, Bernard showed up,” Carlos summarized, “and in swim trunks, no less. As if he had just pulled off the diving suit himself…”
“You don’t think Bernard was the intruder, do you?” Heidi asked, stunned by the suggestion.
“No, no, of course not!” Carlos realized he had carelessly voiced his thoughts. “Did you tell Bernard what happened?”
“Yes. He went straight to the storage area and turned on the light to take a good look around, even though I didn’t want him to. I was afraid that guy might still be there, and he could get hurt.”
“Did he find anything?”
“No, nothing. He said he thought it was Adrian coming home too late and trying not to be seen by his wife. By the way, have you asked Adrian yet?”
“Of course not,” the old man scoffed. “He’d just deny it. If he was sneaking around to avoid his wife, he had a reason. And if it wasn’t him, there’s no point in scaring him for nothing.”
“Then we’ll never find out who was lurking around the pool that night,” Heidi said, resigned.
“Oh, but we will,” Carlos assured her. “I always find out everything,” he added with a wink. “Don’t worry, as long as I’m around!”
“Heidi,” Ted called out as the girl approached his terrace.
“Hey,” she greeted him reluctantly. She found him unpleasant.
“I’m sorry about what happened.”
“Thanks.”
“You know, I’m a pretty light sleeper,” Ted said, blocking her path. It was clear she had no intention of chatting with him. “So, if you want, I can sit out by the pool tonight while you have your cigarette. I promise I won’t bother you. I’ll just watch a movie on my tablet.”
Heidi eyed the man with Coke bottle glasses suspiciously. Acts of selfless kindness weren’t exactly his style.
“Oh, come on, Heidi,” Ted chuckled awkwardly. “We’re a community, and it’s in all of our best interests to keep order around here. Mine too.”
The teenage girl shrugged.
“Half past eleven okay?”
“Perfect,” Ted replied with an unnaturally wide grin.
“We’re leaving. Pack your things,” Bernard ordered Noud.
“Don’t be so dramatic…”
“Oh, I’m overreacting, am I?”
“Just a little,” Noud said with a smirk.
“Alright. So, you think it’s perfectly normal that Ted offered to sit outside with the German girl tonight while she smokes?”
“He did what?”
“They’re having a little midnight smoke session, because Ted is such a great guy. You know, that jerk—the pushy, obnoxious asshole—has suddenly turned into a noble protector, keeping little Heidi safe while she puffs away,” Bernard said, his voice filled with irritation.
“That’s just what we needed,” Noud groaned, pulling a sports bag from the bottom of his closet.