Ludmilla, María José, and Carlos froze as they stared at Noud standing in the doorway. For a moment, all three of them thought this was the end. The terrifying scream, Ludmilla’s explanation that Ted might already be lying lifeless, captured by Noud and Bernard, had completely thrown them off balance. Even Carlos, the seasoned ex-detective, didn’t know what to make of the situation. Pale and trembling, they braced themselves for the final blow that the Dutchman, in his ship-patterned pajamas and sleepy eyes, might deliver at any second.
“Did you hear that sound too?” Noud asked.
“Y-yes,” María José stammered, reaching for Ludmilla’s hand.
The man’s face was broken as his eyes flicked from one retiree to the other.
“I’m so worried about Bernard…” His voice cracked.
A few seconds passed before the three elderly people realized they weren’t in immediate danger. Carlos was the first to recover. He stepped up to Noud, gently slipped an arm around his shoulder, and led him to the dining table. Pulling out a chair, he said:
“Sit down, my friend, and tell us how we can help.” He glanced sideways at the women fidgeting in the middle of the living room. With a nod, he signaled them to support the Dutchman as well.
“Calm down, darling,” María José managed to say. “Bernard is clever, strong—nothing’s going to happen to him.”
But Ludmilla didn’t beat around the bush.
“Is he with Ted?” she snapped.
Instead of answering, Noud buried his face in his hands. Carlos shot the German woman a furious look.
“Right now, every tiny detail matters, Noud,” he said tensely, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. “Why do you even think you should be worried?”
“I don’t even know where he is,” Noud sighed.
“Maybe he just popped over to Bangkok,” María José muttered with a sarcastic edge.
She no longer felt threatened, and it struck her as utterly absurd that she should be the one to comfort Noud.
“You’re not helping anyone with that,” Carlos growled. “Go home instead,” he added in a tone that brooked no argument.
“You don’t have to tell me twice,” María José snapped and grabbed Ludmilla by the arm.
But the German woman stiffened, as if her feet had rooted to the ground.
“I’d rather stay,” she panted, her face flushed.
Then, as if she hadn’t even heard Carlos, she sat down beside Noud and placed her hand on his thigh.
“Let’s go over to Ted’s and get him out of there! That beast can’t handle all of us on his own.”
Someone tapped softly on the glass. They all screamed in terror as one. Noud jumped up, turned toward the living room door, and clutched at his chest.
“Bernard, my God!”
In a split second he was in front of Bernard, throwing himself into the man’s arms with uncharacteristic fervor. The three retirees looked at one another, utterly at a loss. They had no idea what was happening around them anymore.