Chapter Eleven
Elsa and Linda's parents exchanged a few words of consolation as Nick watched quietly from her side.
"I am so sorry for what happened, Mr and Mrs Montenaro, and you can believe my wife and I will do anything to help in the investigation", Nick assured. The couple nodded, pleased.
They walked out of the chapel, hand in hand, Elsa and Nick. Nick headed to the park near the cathedral to bring out the car, leaving Elsa at the entrance. She stood there with a straight back, arms gripping her handbag tightly. She pointed her gaze forward, deep in thought.
"Elsa", a deep voice rang out behind her. Turning, she saw one of the men who she had had lunch with together at the invitation of Linda some days ago. Marcus. He was dressed smartly in a suit, looking like a royal, yet beneath the glamorous surface of his custom Armani, a trace of sadness could be seen. He approached her calmly. "You're here". She nodded, not knowing what to say in response, he nodded back, and for some seconds silence ensued.
"Listen, I know that Linda was a good friend of yours even before the accident, and I am sorry for your loss. But I want you to know if you ever need any help..at all, you can come to me". Elsa was surprised. Yes , the last time they had lunch at the restaurant she did exchange numbers with the both of them. But to her it was a mere and superficial show of politeness, nothing more, nothing less. Elsa smiled . She had to admit, for someone to say something like that at a time like this was really reassuring.
"Thank you, Marcus", she said, looking around, "I'm assuming Tony could not make it", she stated. Marcus nodded. "He's still in shock and denial", he replied, sighing. Elsa fidgeted with the bag in her arms, and as of coming to a decision, took a deep breath and spoke.
"Now, this might seem sudden and rush, but I've been thinking of it for long and no one seems to have the answer. But I think you might", she looked at him, he in turn looked expectantly at her. "Do you know why Elsa was targeted as part of these assassinations? My husband refuses to expand on it to me". It's not that she did not have the means to know, whether Nick told her not, she had her means. But currently her people were occupied with digging out the identity of the stranger she interacted with at her house. Giving them another task would require more time, and she did not have that. Plus, this way was much easier.
Marcus cocked his head to the side, seeming a bit shocked.
"Nick?, he asked with uncertainty. "Nick", she comfirmed. Marcus shrugged.
"He has his reasons Elsa. We all do. In simple terms, somethings are better left...unsaid". Elsa frowned. This again! Why did everyone around her feel the need to dictate how she could and could not move, what she should and should not know?!
"I understand. Thank you", she replied calmly. "It's nothing. Your knight is here", he pointed behind her. Elsa turned to see Nick's Audi parked, patiently waiting for her. The wind blew her hair away, fprcimg her to tuck it into place. To Nick, who sat behind the wheel observing her, that scene was worthy of being oil-painted. Elsa waved Marcus a goodbye and promised to be in touch as she approached the car. Before taking her seat, she held the car door and looked back at the chapel. Linda's body was to going to be cremated later that day. She was too weak in the mental sense of it. The funeral was torture, seeing her only friend get reduced to ashes would be suicide. Nick blew a gentle horn to break her out of her trance, before she proceeded to enter.
***
The next few days were nearly unlivable for Nick. He watched as each day, Elsa turned into the shell of someone he did not recognize. She spoke not a word when she woke up, and ate very little. She would sit on the balcony and stare into vacuum, almost never moving. He had tried, severally to engage a conversation with her and yet she only gave a nod or shake of the head as an answer. He was very patient with her, telling her to be careful whenever she was lost in thought and forgot to blow on her hot soup. He would remind her to watch a few reels whenever she was on the balcony and he thought she was bored. Nick knew the root cause of her heightened depression, and he couldn't help but wonder of she would be as downcast or even worst if he was the one dead.
It was not that Elsa had not noticed Nick's attempts to soothe and bring her back to positivity, it was just that she did not want to. She had been dealt too many cards, and happiness was the last thing she wanted to have. Right now, as she sat on the balcony with a view of the vast garden of the manor, she wanted to think of everything and nothing.
From the corner of her eye, she saw the shadow of the man standing behind the door. She badly wanted to speak to him, assure him, and kiss him. Yet her spirit felt dead, she felt dead. Nick, noticing she was not going to say anything, moved from behind the door and towards her.
"I've got a surprise for you", he smiled, trying to sound suspenseful and jovial yet it was a bit off as a result of his usually cold way of speaking. The woman on the chair did not speak, flinch or blink. Nick exhaled, not giving up.
"We are taking a vacation", he took out his phone and keyed in something. "Switzerland, it's summer there and it's heaven". Still no reply. He showed her the picture of a beautiful landscape of lush green grass and majestic animals. It was perfect, yet it stirred nothing in her. Nick pulled away his phone and resignedly added, "I've booked our tickets. First class. We leave next week". Elsa was distracted. She thought of how her a week ago would have been leaping for joy at getting a slither of freedom. And yet here she was, being offered as much freedom as could be offered, but she felt nothing of it, tried, but could not.
Elsa was left all alone at home the next day as Nick had some pending matters to handle at work. She had taken a few bites of her breakfast, feeling too nauseous to continue. She went to her now favorite spot;the balcony, to drown herself in her thoughts. She had barely been there for ten minutes when the doorbell rang. Lifelessly, she dragged herself to the door and opened it. A middle aged woman stood there, dressed in luxurious clothes, her right arm wielding a rare LV bag. She looked cold and distant, and was surprised to see who had opened the door.
"Who are you? Where is Nick?", she peered inside. Elsa did not stop her, she did not have the energy to do that. "I am his wife", the woman gasped, taking a step back. She stared incredulously at Elsa. "Who are you?, it was Elsa's time to ask her that. However the reply of the woman before her brought an expression of shock on Elsa's face for the first time in days.
"I am his mother!".