The Eleventh Floor

by Shani Struthers

  The dream… Being in the corridor reminded her of it. It seems you’re diseased too. Vividly she recalled Edward’s face as he uttered such vile words, the glee that he hadn’t tried too hard to hide. But why would such a thing please him? And David, how vulnerable he’d been, he’d fallen, and so had she, onto her knees, screaming.

  David?

  His was the male voice, causing her to move again, to pick up pace. Within seconds she was at the entrance to Elspeth’s room, staring in. She’d never seen such a mess. Food wrappers, cups, and saucers were strewn everywhere, as well as clothing, towels and make-up. A lamp had been knocked over, and lay on its side, the bulb spluttering. In the midst of such carnage was Elspeth, sitting on the floor hugging her knees, her hair wild, and her face dirty with tear tracks. In her hand she was holding something which looked like a photograph. In amongst the debris, she spotted several other photographs, some of them torn, others whole but crumpled. What they depicted she didn’t know, she wasn’t close enough to see. Either side of Elspeth knelt David and Marilyn. As she was observing, so was Tallula, leaning against the far wall, a pinkish silk nightdress clinging to her slim frame in a manner entirely inappropriate to the situation. The expression on her face was also ill fitting, there seemed to be delight in it. Unable to believe that was the case, Caroline blinked and checked again. There was no delight. There was nothing. It was as if she’d realised she’d been caught and switched to neutral.

  Caroline drew a little closer. “David, what’s happening? Is she okay?”

  At the sound of her voice, he lifted his head.

  “Caroline, hi.” His whole manner was subdued. “She’s calmer now.” Turning his attention swiftly back to Elspeth, he added, “How about we get you up, sit you on the sofa?”

  Elspeth’s hand immediately shot out and grabbed his arm. “Don’t leave me!”

  “I’m not leaving you, honey,” David assured her. “I’m staying right by your side. Marilyn, should we try and lift her?”

  Marilyn readily obliged, working with David to practically carry Elspeth to the sofa, that photo clutched in her hand all the while. Their actions, his actions, were so tender, so gentle, that for a moment Caroline felt like crying. Crybaby, crybaby! It was another echo from the dream, Tallula taunting her. It was a good job the younger woman didn’t catch the look Caroline threw at her this time as there was such venom in it. What was she even doing here, standing and staring? It wasn’t as if she was attempting to help.

  She came to see what the commotion was, just like you did, Caroline. And she did NOT call you a crybaby. It was a dream, only a dream.

  Something she needed to get her head around.

  “Shall I fetch a glass of water for Elspeth?” she asked.

  It was Marilyn who answered. “Not yet, just… give us a minute.”

  The three of them huddled on the sofa looked as intimate as lovers. Marilyn was clasping the woman close, whilst David ran a hand up and down her back, another soothing gesture she knew, but one that caused a pang within her. Both continued to talk to Elspeth, words that were incomprehensible unless you crept a little closer – intruded.

  That’s what she felt like, an intruder, as much a voyeur as Tallula.

  If there was nothing she could do, if she wasn’t wanted, she might as well return to her room, although a dream-filled sleep didn’t exactly appeal to her right now.

  “David, you know where I am if you need me.”

  This time there was no answer, causing that pang to sharpen. Would Tallula do the decent thing and leave with her? She showed no sign of doing so and, on a purely selfish note, Caroline was grateful. Hardly enamoured of her before, the dream had sealed that dislike, symbolising perhaps a deep-seated distrust of her, an instinct she wouldn’t ignore.

  Back in the corridor, she lingered, unsure of the reason why. Perhaps she wanted David to come after her, explain the situation, put her mind at rest regarding Elspeth.

  You want his attention, don’t you, all of it?

  She shook her head. Thoughts could be so traitorous sometimes, revealing facets of your personality you didn’t always like. But she needn’t be at their mercy. She could quash them – God knows, she’d done that enough in the past. There was good and bad in everyone, you had to choose which side you gave dominance to.

  Oh, Caroline, stop trying to analyse everything. Go back to bed!

  David wasn’t coming after her and nor did she want him too. If he did, if he put her wants above Elspeth’s needs, he wouldn’t be the man she thought him to be. That poor woman, whatever her problem was, needed both him and Marilyn by her side.

  Turning in the direction of her room, she heard another noise, a more mechanical one. She turned back towards the elevator. No longer stuck, the doors were closing. Perhaps someone from another floor had called it, or perhaps not. It pleased itself that elevator. But before they closed fully, she caught a glimpse of movement, someone inside.

  Squinting, she took a step forward so that she could see better but it was too late. The doors shut her out. All that had registered was a tall figure, slim with a flash of blond hair.

  Edward.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Sorry, this is a terrible line, I’m near Williamsfield, in the state of Pennsylvania. I don’t know what it’s like where you are, probably dreadful too, but we’re in the grip of a severe snowstorm. It’s been three days now…”

  “Hello… Hello… Could you speak up a bit?”

  Sighing, Caroline moved to another area of the lobby, hoping the signal might improve if she did.

  “I might need to change my flight home from Boston to London in a few days’ time. I’m just checking that that’s okay, how much it might cost, that sort of thing.”

  “The Internet… If you go to our site…”

  The Internet. Yeah, right… a great idea if she could log onto it. Even when she’d checked at reception about Internet connection after her first night here, Raquel had just shrugged, said she was having the same problem and to persevere, that at The Egress it dipped in and out at the best of times. Often Caroline had wondered what it would be like to live life without being plugged in 24/7. She was sure as hell gaining an insight now.

  Ending the call, she said thank you, regardless of whether she could be heard or not.

  Walking further, she stopped by one of the picture windows, and with her free hand, pushed the net aside. It wasn’t snowing at the moment but the skies were still threatening and outside it lay deeper than ever, no sign of road clearance. Maybe it was different in town and city centres, but this highway was clearly not a priority on anybody’s list. On the TV that morning, the news had once again compared the storm to the one that occurred in the 1950s, which had killed a staggering 353 people, and injured 160 others as it swept across twenty-two states. Drawing on the gravity of that, there’d been warnings, yet again, to stay indoors, to stay safe, and for neighbours to look out for each other, to pull together. ‘There is still significant snowfall to come today but we expect to see a break in it during the days that follow. Emergency services are overwhelmed and so give them a helping hand. If you don’t have to travel, don’t. It really is as simple as that. Sit tight and stay warm. If you’re in need of assistance there are emergency numbers you can call, you can find these at the bottom of the screen or go to www.national…’

  At that point, Caroline had switched the TV off, fed up of listening to people phoning in about how the snow was affecting them or hitching a virtual ride beside the pilot of a helicopter who was busy taking aerial shots of Pennsylvania, the state that seemed to have borne the brunt of such freakish weather. If only she’d stayed at Violet’s instead of pressing on. Thinking of her, she checked again for a return message. Again, there was nothing. Violet wouldn’t just ignore her though, or her plight. As she’d resolved to do, she tried calling her. The line just rang and rang. She’d end up writing to her at this rate, once she was safely ensconced at home, telling her all
about her ‘adventure’.

  David had entered the lobby. Not alone, he was talking to someone, although who it was, she wasn’t sure, David was partially blocking her view. As soon as their conversation was done, she hurried over, praying he’d accept the apology she intended to deliver.

  “David,” she called.

  “Oh, Caroline, how you doing?” His voice was as weary as he looked, stubble on his chin where he hadn’t had the time or the inclination to shave.

  “I’m fine. How’s Elspeth?” she asked.

  “She’s fine.”

  “And you?”

  “I’m okay.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t stay last night, I didn’t get the impression I was…”

  “Needed?” He finished her sentence when her voice trailed off. “It was difficult.”

  “Did Tallula stay?”

  “Tallula? I don’t know when she left. It was mainly just Marilyn and me, we sat with Elspeth until the early hours, waiting for the high to pass.”

  “The high? Oh.” She glanced around to check no one was in the near vicinity, and then, keeping her voice low, she whispered, “Drugs?”

  David nodded. “A whole heap of ’em.”

  “Poor Elspeth,” Caroline commented.

  “Poor Elspeth,” David echoed.

  “She had a photo in her hand…”

  “That’s right, she wouldn’t let it go.”

  “Who was in it?”

  “Just her,” David informed her, “when she was a child. There were several photos actually, all from her childhood.”

  “What’s the significance, do you know?”

  “No. I did ask, so did Marilyn, but she really wasn’t making any sense. She kept babbling, saying she’d changed her mind, that she didn’t like it here, not anymore.”

  “So she’s been to The Egress before?”

  “Like I said, Caroline, I don’t know.”

  “Where’s she now?”

  “She went with Marilyn to her room. She’s still there probably. I’ll go check later.”

  There was a period of silence between them – an awkwardness that hadn’t been there before dinner last night, when he’d accused her of staring at Edward. Immediately, she corrected herself. He hadn’t accused her; he’d simply mentioned it. She’d done the rest, letting her imagination get the better of her, which seemed to be par for the course lately.

  “I’m sorry about last night.”

  “Last night?” For a moment he looked confused.

  “I mean earlier last night, at dinner.”

  “Oh, right, yeah. There’s no need.”

  “But I am, I’m—”

  “I’m sorry too. I really didn’t mean—”

  “I know you didn’t.”

  “Hey,” he declared, “our first row!”

  “Our first…? Hopefully our last too.”

  A familiar grin developed. “That’ll depend on how long we’re here for.”

  “It can’t be long now. They’re forecasting a break in the weather soon. Erm… talking of Edward—”

  How quickly that grin faded. “We weren’t.”

  Technically he was right, but they had been alluding to him. “It’s just he was on the eleventh floor too last night.”

  “Was he?”

  “When I came out of my room to investigate what was going on, the elevator doors were wide open, as if they’d got stuck or something. When I went back, they’d sprung into life again, but there was someone inside, and I think it was him.”

  “Visiting Tallula perhaps?”

  “Yeah, she’s in 1107, so that must be why. Although he must have left later than Tallula, she’d already hitched up a ride with me.”

  “He did, about half an hour later. Like me, he ordered a whiskey nightcap.”

  “Did you drink it together?” she asked, surprised.

  “No,” David looked vaguely disgusted at the notion. “He wandered over to my table with his glass, but side-swerved at the last minute.”

  Teasing him, Caroline couldn’t help thinking, just as she’d been teased in the dream.

  Another thought occurred. “How come you were on the eleventh floor, David?”

  “Because of the elevator,” he said with no hesitation at all. “I got in, I was sure I pressed two but it shot me all the way to eleven, and damn fast too. That elevator can sure fly when it wants to. The doors opened and I heard screaming. For a moment I thought it was…” His voice trailed off as he looked at her intently. “And then Marilyn appeared, said it was coming from Elspeth’s room and to follow her. The door was locked but one good shove and it gave way, that’s when we found her, sitting in the middle of her room, screaming and crying, that photo in her hands.”

  “If only there was a doctor in the house,” Caroline lamented.

  “Or a psychiatrist.”

  Hope flared. “Perhaps there is!”

  David shook his head. “Sorry, Caroline, I’ve already checked, there isn’t.”

  “She must have a psychiatrist of her own though, a contact number?”

  “If she has, she’s not saying. Look, don’t worry too much; Marilyn’s doing a pretty good job of looking after her.”

  “Sure, but what about afterwards, what happens to her then?”

  “When we get out of here?”

  Caroline nodded.

  “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

  He was right, under the circumstances they’d simply have to make do. Changing the subject, she asked David if he’d like to join her for coffee. She’d already had breakfast in a ballroom that was largely empty, only John in situ and he’d sat there alone too, staring at his bacon and eggs, barely touching them, but downing glass after glass of water.

  To her surprise David declined. “Maybe later, I’ve… erm… got a few things to do.”

  “Oh?” She couldn’t help but enquire. What was so urgent?

  “Work,” he answered, “some calls to make.”

  “Oh right. Good luck with that.” She genuinely meant it. “I’ve just been onto the airport, enquiring about changing my flight if it comes to it. The line was terrible.”

  “You can go online though?”

  “The Wi-Fi’s terrible too.”

  “Really? I’ve used it a couple times.”

  She was surprised. “Who’s your provider?”

  “AT&T.”

  “I’m with them too. My provider switches over automatically, but no joy.”

  “If you want to borrow my cell,” he offered, “you’re more than welcome.”

  “Thanks. I might take you up on that.”

  “Anytime.”

  “See you at dinner then?” She couldn’t disguise the hope in her voice.

  “Yeah, why not? A man’s gotta eat.”

  She smiled. “Look after yourself until then.”

  “You too, Caroline.”

  Neither of them made a move to turn, not initially, her feet rooted to the spot, as his seemed to be. His eyes, they held so much depth, she was sure she could drown in them. What would that be like, to totally submerge yourself in another person, to just let go?

  “See you.” He was the first to break the spell; she almost resented him for it.

  “Sure,” came her somewhat strangled reply.

  As he made his way to the elevator she retraced her footsteps, back into the lobby, staring somewhat aimlessly about her. Where could she go? What could she do? How could she pass so much time?

  John emerged from the ballroom and entered the lobby too. Briefly hesitating, he walked over to the piano before coming to a standstill.

  Figuring she had nothing to lose, Caroline headed over.

  “Do you play?” she asked, drawing closer.

  John, who’d been staring at the piano, clearly hadn’t noticed her approach if his reaction was anything to go by. “Oh,” he said, his body jerking. “What do you mean?”

  “The piano, do you play it?”

 
“No, no, of course not. Why would I?”

  “You were staring at it, I just wondered…” For a moment Caroline regretted her decision. Was this going to be hard work, chatting to John? Maybe he wouldn’t allow her to chat to him, he’d cut her dead at every opportunity. She’d give it one more try.

  “I had piano lessons when I was young, I was hopeless though. Don’t think I’ve got a musical bone in my body; even the recorder was beyond me. My brother, Ethan, he’s good; he was a guitarist in a band for a long time. He doesn’t play anymore. Nowadays he lives in Canada, with his wife and two children; he loves it there, the great outdoors.”

  “Do you have children?” For once John was making eye contact.

  “Erm… no, no I don’t.” After a brief hesitation, she asked, “Do you?”

  “Such gifts they are, a blessing. Everyone should have kids.”

  “John,” Caroline’s voice was gentle as she said his name, “would you like to have coffee with me? I can ask Raquel if one of the waiter’s might bring it here.”

  “Coffee?” Again, he appeared confused, not the drug-addled confusion of Elspeth, but by something much deeper, much bigger even. “I… erm…”

  “John, let’s face it, there’s not much else to do around here. Why don’t we sit for a while and have a cup of coffee together? At least it’ll help to pass a bit of time.”

  Staring at the piano again, John contemplated her words. At least she hoped he was.

  Once again silence hung in the air, his agitation wrapped up in it, and hers too – she wanted to know more about this enigma standing before her, but not in the same way she wanted to know about David, about Marilyn, Elspeth, even Edward and Tallula. There was something about John. He’d suffered – was suffering still. She wanted to reach out and hug him, tell him it would be alright. Hard though, when she had no idea what was wrong.

  Be careful not to patronise him, Caroline.

  She heeded her own warning. If he started to talk, she’d listen. That’s all some people wanted, someone who would hear them out.

  “John?” she prompted again.

  “I’ll take a drink with you,” he conceded, “but no coffee, just a glass of water for me.”