Chapter 2
2
A few hours later, Anna was lugging two shopping bags up to the fourth floor. As she was about to insert the key into the lock, she spotted twinkling speckles on the brown doormat, right there next to the sun and the umbrella.
Frowning, she set down her bags and kneeled alongside it. With her index finger, she stroked the glittery particles that stuck to her fingertip. Strange. Where had it come from? She was the only one who lived on this floor, which was so small there was only enough space for one apartment. There were two tenants per floor on the lower levels, and nobody had a little girl who could have lost the glitter dust on the mat. Odd.
Her gaze landed on the containers of raspberry ice cream and lemon sorbet in her shopping bags. She hadn't been able to decide between the two when she'd been at the supermarket. They really needed to be put in the freezer. It was finally warm enough to eat ice cream again — but even with deep snow or hail, Anna didn't need any convincing. She wiped the glitter off her finger with a handkerchief and unlocked the apartment door. As soon as it swung open, a strong draft hit her. The pages on the pinboard sailed through the living room along with the pins, while the pages of the gardening magazine on the coffee table flapped wildly as if the breeze was eager to discover the latest trends in flower arrangements.
Where was the strong breeze coming from? Perplexed, Anna scanned her small apartment. Her gaze fell on the dormer window. Had she forgotten to close it that morning after airing out the room? She was always conscientious about such things. As the paperwork on the counter shot upward, Anna quickly closed the door and the breeze abruptly died down.
She collected the bills, pinned the notes and business cards to the pinboard, and stowed the ice cream in the freezer. Then, she hurried to the dormer and examined it for signs of a break-in. She didn't find any scratches or other damage, but something else caught her eye. There was glitter on the window frame. She touched it. Where had it come from? Had someone been in her apartment?
Shivering, she wrapped her arms around herself and looked around her domain. The comforter was folded in three layers like always, the kitchenette was tidy as usual, and she'd fixed the curtains in front of the bedroom window to one side with a broad tie-back, as she did every morning before she left for work. At first glance, everything seemed normal. The bills had already been a mess, but what about the documents in the drawers and the folders? Had someone perhaps rifled through them?
Did she even want to know if someone had been in her apartment? She would never feel safe again… But being uncertain was even worse, especially considering that person might return.
Praying to heaven and all good spirits, she hurried to the living room cupboard, opened the drawers and doors, leafed through the folders, and glanced at her documents. Everything was in order and nothing was missing. The only jewelry she owned were the delicate glittering studs she wore every day and the delicate gold chain with a pendant in the shape of a sun. She didn't keep any cash at home, so there wasn't anything a prospective thief could steal.
Except for the window and glitter, the apartment and all her belongings were in the same condition as Anna had left them in the morning. Perhaps she had forgotten to close the window that morning since it had been so wonderfully mild outside. She couldn't recall, so she couldn't rule it out. She refused to let the comfort of her four walls be ruined simply because of a bit of glitter. No — for now, it was time for a snack and then she would watch a show.
Half an hour later, she was settled on the couch with a salad and clicking through the programs until she came across her beloved King's House series. Ravenous, she devoured her dinner and immersed herself in the intrigues and machinations of the evil governess who was making the young noblewoman's life a living hell. She placed the empty bowl on the coffee table and snuggled up under the dark green blanket, stretching her legs and propping her head up with a pillow. She was as cozy as could be as she watched the series, though her eyelids were growing heavier and heavier.
A loud thump startled her. What was that? Anna blinked and bolted upright. Was the noise coming from the roof? Who would be up there — and at that time of night? Her heart beat faster than usual as she tiptoed to the window, which was still open. An owl hooted, startling her. Relax, Anna.
She looked around intently. In the late twilight, only a few pinkish streaks stretched across the horizon, so she could barely see anything.
Was there something moving on the roof? She hunched her shoulders and peered into the darkness, but apart from the balmy evening air blowing in, she didn't notice anything. All the same, she closed the window and locked it. It probably wouldn't be long before it was freezing outside anyway, which Anna didn't care for at all. With the exception of ice cream, she couldn't stand chilly temperatures. None whatsoever. She hated the cold, wet, and snow just as much as the long winters. If it were up to her, Christmas would take place when it was at least sixty degrees outside — or even a balmy seventy-five.
Yawning, she switched off the TV and plodded into the bedroom. With her friend Nele's words ringing in her head, she quickly fell asleep again even though she was single and it was Friday night.
"So, what did you do Friday evening?" Nele asked, sipping her latte macchiato. They had arranged to meet at the little cafe by the fountain, where they went at least once a month. And not just because of the cute waiter, whom Nele pointed out time and again, but mainly because of the delicious cakes and pastries.
Anna grinned. She knew she was in for an earful. "What do you think?"
Nele rolled her eyes. "Gosh, Anna, you can't go on that way. Tomorrow is Sunday, so how about today…?"
"Stop!" Anna looked at her sternly, even though she knew that her countless freckles softened the effect. "What did you promise me yesterday?"
"Oh, never mind." Nele took a tiny bite of cheesecake, touching the dollop of cream next to it only by accident.
Deep in thought, Anna turned her latte cup on the table. "But something strange did happen yesterday."
Nele glanced up. "Strange? You mean like now, the way you're testing if your coffee will get dizzy?"
"Mm?" Anna stared at her hands, which were still spinning the cup incessantly. She hadn't even noticed. Reaching for her fork, she stabbed a bite of her strawberry cake. "When I got home, I found glitter on my doormat and later on the dormer window."
As the waiter passed them with an overflowing tray, Nele gave the waiter a yearning look before turning her attention back to Anna and their conversation. Irritated, she frowned. "Glitter? What do you mean?"
"Sparkling particles. Like children's makeup."
"Do you have children's makeup? Or carnival makeup?"
"No, that's what I'm getting at."
"Well, who knows? Maybe it's from the previous tenant."
Anna looked at her friend impatiently. "Please, I've lived there for years." Pensive, she pushed the fork into her mouth. The strawberry cake was fantastic.
"Okay, so not from the previous tenant. It must have been on your shoes. You must have stepped in it somewhere."
Anna chewed quickly and swallowed. "But how did it get on the window?"
Nele shrugged as she placed a small bit of cake on her fork, this time not even getting close to the cream. "Why are you so worried about it?"
"Because I can't explain where the glitter came from. Besides, the window was open when I got home."
"Well, then you'd better remember to always close it before you leave the house."
"I'm absolutely certain I did. And when I dozed off on the couch…"
"I see. A retiree's evening." Nele laughed.
"Now listen to me. There was a commotion on the roof. A loud noise."
Nele frowned. "On the roof? You live on the fifth floor, right?"
"That's the reason it was so strange."
"And? Was anyone up there? A chimney sweep, perhaps?"
"When I looked, I didn't see anybody. And it was after nine, an unlikely hour for a chimney sweep."
"Unless it was the whole crew from Mary Poppins."
Anna let out a chuckle and Nele gave her an amused wink.
"Joking aside, your imagination has been playing tricks on you. Since when did you get so jumpy?"
"I'm not." She shoved another piece of cake into her mouth. After swallowing, she let out a sigh. "It's weird, I admit it."
"What I find weird is how you eat so much cake but your butt doesn't seem to get any bigger."
"Now don't change the subject. I was really scared yesterday."
With her head cocked, her friend looked at her, the short strands from her new hairstyle falling across her face. Two weeks ago, she'd gotten her long hair cut into a bob because she thought it made her look younger. Since then, she'd been nagging Anna to do the same, but Anna liked her long hair.
"Let me explain something. It was dark, the noise came from the TV, and the wind blew the glittery stuff there through the air. If the window was open, it's no wonder. From now on, before you leave, always check twice and make sure it's closed, then nothing can happen to you."
Anna ate the rest of her cake. Was it truly that simple? Nele was probably right. And she wasn't normally jumpy. Blacking out in the park that afternoon probably was the reason she was overly jittery. She was briefly tempted to tell Nele about it, but her friend would only send her to the doctor. Anna didn't want to spend her weekend off in a crowded waiting room.
"You're right. I'm worrying needlessly." She heaved a sigh and looked longingly at Nele's almost untouched cheesecake. She loved cheesecake. Especially with cream. She should have ordered a piece too.
Grumbling, her friend pushed the plate toward her. "Here, eat. For your nerves."
"You cannot be full yet."
"Not really, but my jeans are a little tight and I want to wear my new bikini this summer."
Anna took in her friend's big brown eyes and high cheekbones. "You look great just the way you are. Even if you put on another fifteen kilos, you can wear whatever you want. The men will be whistling after you anyway." She raised her eyebrows, and Nele grinned.
"You've got things backward. Men drool after you more often, even though you ignore them. What are you waiting for? Still waiting for the prince from the fairy tale?"
"Yes, and he should come galloping in on a white horse, please."
They both laughed.
"Seriously, Anna, why aren't you interested in finding a partner?"
Anna started spinning her coffee cup on the table again. "Don't laugh, but… I want to be conquered, not conquer. I need a gentleman who will hold the door open for me, kiss my hand, and take me out dancing."
"You're a romantic." But Nele's eyes were shining too. Then she raised her coffee cup and toasted Anna. "To bygone gentlemen, may there be another one out there waiting for you. Or even two — I'd like one too." Nele winked mischievously at her and Anna smiled.
"Here's to bygone gentlemen. Now come on, let's eat the cake together, okay?"
Nele smiled gratefully at her. "Gladly."