Thank you for the reviews, as always. I love hearing your reactions to whatever you find interesting. I would have never imagined any reviews, to be honest, when I first began writing this. Again, a heartfelt thank you for everything everyone's said to keep me writing this long. If you haven't noticed, each chapter are two words from the alphabet. So approximately 26 chapters I'm going to do. Maybe with the exception of X, Y, and Z. Depends if I come up with anything for them. So, onwards we go!
Chapter 14 - Never Needed
The night of Steffan's murder passed by in black and white glimpses. For example, Abby remembered falling asleep after Heiter had left to get her things, but she didn't remember him coming back. Minutes or hours later, she awoke to find both of them on the outskirts of Berlin. The city lights gathered in one big pile a few miles away.
"Where are we?" she managed to mumble, only half coherent.
"Somewhere undetectable for now."
It took a full three minutes for the words to make sense in Abby's mind.
"I'll just sleep in the car."
More darkness entered her soon after.
She had no true sense of time. Snarly dreams found their way to her, morphing into nightmares whenever guilt sprouted up at not having done enough. Abby wasn't sure what exactly she was apologizing for. Her dad's disappearance? Steffan's murder? Or maybe the German man she had made a duty to forget because his senseless death saddened her far more than she was used to?
But through this murky land of thorns, bright light did seep in.
The next time her eyes opened, it was to greet the morning. The only difference was her surroundings. Definitely not inside of a car.
Instead, she slumbered in a bed with thick, wool covers warming her chill form.
Wisely, Abby blinked a few times, getting used to the sudden brightness.
Once her eyesight adjusted, she observed three rectangular windows facing her. Through their transparency, she could see the skyscrapers of Berlin and hear the traffic noises blasting away the nearby birds.
Stretching her arms high above, Abby hopped off of the King sized bed. The room, nothing especially extraordinary, was large. Larger than any of the bedrooms inside Heiter's home. In fact, Abby felt a ridiculous urge to see if the walls would echo the sound of her voice.
"San Francisco," she declared, voice breaking through the thick sleepiness in her throat.
Just barely, Abby heard the same vibrations mimic her back.
With an accomplished grin, the girl's eyes fell to a nearby desk. More importantly, what sat on it.
"Thank God," she muttered, sprinting to the bag.
Inside laid her passport, her wallet, various hygiene products, and about a weeks worth of clothes. Often, the days blended together inside the hotel. Jeans and shirts would be reworn and whatever she was done wearing, would be thrown into the washing machine on her floor. Sometimes she'd be so focused on whatever she'd been studying, the clothes in the washing machine would be picked up days later.
Glancing around the room, Abby caught the sight of a door leading into a bathroom.
I could be stranded in Antarctica for all I care. Just as long as there's a shower.
APHAPHAPHAPH
A black tank top slipped over her form, one she hadn't worn in a ridiculously long time due to a certain man's fetish for terrorizing people. Not that she was naming any names. Old, torn blue jeans wrapped loosely around her and with the shower, Abby felt like the world's cleanest woman.
When voices met her ears, she ran a final hand through wet locks, shaking the strands loose. Then, she edged open the door and slipped into the carpeted hallway.
Only a few steps were taken before she noticed Heiter's form in a makeshift kitchen.
"Hi," she greeted somewhat awkwardly, remembering he had carried her from the car and into the bed. Nothing says trust between two individuals like tucking someone into bed.
"Abby," he responded neutrally. "There are three men I would like you to meet."
Nodding, she watched his eyes slowly fall over her form. There was a minute of prolonged silence.
"Am I wearing the wrong clothes?" she asked, fighting back the urge to cover up the skin showing. The heat from the shower shot up her body temperature.
The doctor shook his head and gestured her to follow.
In the den stood just as he'd described - three men side by side.
"This is Rudolf."
The first man in the line, stepped forward. He had thin, brown hair and a walrus sized mustache giving his appearance that of a jolly man. Only his ice blue eyes deceived him from having a comforting presence. Just glancing at the man's eyes told Abby he'd often been on the wrong side of the law and had no problems being there.
"Abby Post," she introduced, shaking the man's firm grip.
Rudolf didn't say anything, but he offered her a nod.
"His partner in the law department, Jakob," Heiter mentioned.
The second man stepped forth as well. Perhaps not even a full year younger than Rudolf, Jakob's blonde's wavy hair ended in wisps and the depression lines on his face indicated the stress of his job. His scrawniness didn't help either.
"Josef performed on my lovely daughters," Jakob informed, his grey-blue eyes a fraction kinder than Rudolf's.
It was seeing the appreciation there which really blew Abby away. Because of Heiter's actions, Jakob's daughters were alive.
This would be a great Twilight Zone episode.
Both men spoke through thick accents, but Abby had no trouble detecting their meaning. So much of Heiter's complicated wording taught her to figure out the complex German accent.
Once the men had both stepped back, Heiter introduced the final person. He too was male, but about half the age of either men.
Forest green eyes and black, shaggy brown hair with sideburns were a part of the man's features. The lop sided smile eased tensions in the room as well.
"This is Klaus. He studied medicine in the University of Berlin and is now a psychiatrist."
Puzzled, Abby offered a hand and relaxed when Klaus shook it. He looked right at her and the lack of malice in his gaze was something quite relieving considering the other three men were masters of the stare.
"I understand Rudolf and Jakob's presence, but why Klaus?" Abby questioned, turning toward Heiter.
Before the doctor could explain, Klaus spoke up. In a very clear English, minus the g's and h's.
"I am aware of your grave situation thanks to Jakob."
Jakob didn't say anything about the acknowledgement, so Klaus continued on.
"Mrs. Kappel is one of my patients. I hand deliver her medication. If you are not myself, a gardener, a family member, or security, you will not be allowed on the premises."
"You're going to help us get on the property?" Abby said, filing in the blanks.
"Yes."
"That's really nice of you. But do you mind me asking...why?"
The other men had been paying careful attention to their conversation. All eyes were on Klaus to respond.
"I lost my father at a young age," he admitted. "He lived in East Germany during communist rule. One night, the packaging company he worked for recruited a group of men to take a business trip to what was the Soviet Union at the time. Claimed it was a retreat for a few days. That was the last time I saw him."
Eyes wide, Abby's brows knitted together.
"Did you ever find out what happened to him?"
Klaus bit at his lip, the first signs of anger blasting through his eyes. But quickly, it faded.
"I did find out, but not for a hell of a long time. Not until communism fell and some of the KGB's records became public. Apparently, one worker at my father's company was a Western sympathizer with ideas to spread democracy in the communist East. The government couldn't determine who, so they took everyone that worked on my father's floor. He was wrongfully tortured before the real man became apprehended. Because my father survived with the knowledge of what occurred, he was killed to prevent publication of his story."
Abby kept back any urge to feed him her sympathy. She was in the presence of people who scowered for such weaknesses. But, she did reach out a hand. And to her relief, Klaus took a firm hold of it.
"I appreciate you having the guts to help me," she thanked in her own way.
"It's hell, not knowing. This opportunity blindsided me, but if I can prevent another person from going through the terror I did, it would be well worth it."
Their enclosed hands stayed together an entire minute before being interrupted by a clearing of the throat.
"Now, Miss Post. You and I must have a chat," Rudolf expressed. "In private."
Abby glanced at Heiter, but the man nodded his head in affirmation.
"If I scream for help," she mentioned just as she passed the doctor, "you better get your German ass in there."
A reluctant lifting of the lips was her only reply.
APHAPHAPHAPH
"I just wish to ask you general questions regarding your father," the man began.
"Such as?"
Rudolf brought his hands together and gave a big bellied sigh.
"You heard the name Steffan as a child. Any other information you can think of?"
"No."
"You sound sure."
"I've had twelve years to think over the time spent with my father. I assure you, anything I've said, Heiter is aware of."
This time, Rudolf's steel gaze softened in confusion.
"Are...you two-?"
Widening her eyes, Abby quickly shook her head.
"Not in a million years."
"I did not think so," Rudolf inferred. "He is an emotionless man. You must imagine my surprise when he calls me to ask about a serial killer from the USA. Then, days later, to clean up a murder before the police can tie you to it. And now, he is sheltering you from harm. I would have never thought this to be the same Josef months ago."
Hesitating, Abby's gaze fell to her shoes. She felt an uncomfortable prickling in the pit of her stomach from Rudolf's words.
"This may sound cold, but my only focus at this point is finding out what happened to my dad," she admitted, pulling at her fingers. "And anytime I feel guilty for thinking that way, I realize Heiter could have killed me numerous times. He's also the reason for a man's death and three people's near unethical treatment. A part of me, as sick and disturbed as it is, will forever be thankful. If Heiter hadn't come along, I would still be wandering around a forest, searching for Steffan's address. But I've got to consider what's happened as well."
Rudolf nodded, hands parting.
"It is wise to think this way."
Those were his only words on that matter and Abby didn't wish for him to elaborate.
"Josef has informed me your father was blackmailed by Steffan Mahnkompf. And you believe Steffan was informed of your father's identity by an independent group?"
"Does that sound too outrageous?"
"Not if we find a motive."
For the next half hour, the two scanned over the known information. Initially, Abby felt nervous about discussing such personal facts with a stranger. But, Heiter had more or less explained everything to Rudolf and their talking was nothing more than attempting to see the possibilities at every angle.
While indifferent, Rudolf was a talented detective. His mind analyzed as opposed to simply working for the hell of it. He offered more point of views along with a sordid history of disappearances. Abby wasn't sure what Rudolf's intentions were. The man couldn't have been helping her just out of the goodness of his heart. But she forced this unease away when they mutually agreed on a decision.
"I'll give you money to get some," she promised.
"Josef has agreed to-."
"No," Abby denied. "If he pays for one more thing, I'll feed him to a pack of wolves."
Rudolf's entire expression shifted into fascinated amusement.
"What?" she muttered. "The man will be back with his family."
The detective's lips parted, ready to say something, but at the last moment, he held back. Instead, a frown settled itself.
And his frown ignited a question within her that Abby immediately had long ago wanted the answer for.
"You're the reason Jenny, Lindsey, and for lack of a name, I'll call the Japanese man, haven't gone to the authorities. How did you do it?"
A sigh made Rudolf's mustache flutter. His eyes, shining only minutes ago, hardened.
"If you killed-."
"We would not be so rash. No, it was easier than that. Deportation."
Surprised, Abby raised an eyebrow.
"You just deported them?"
"Rather simple," Rudolf explained. "Once they came in to the station, I made sure to be the one who took their statements. I noted in my report, their claims to be unsound, and ordered them to all undergo a night's stay at a hospital. While there, another report was written stating each patient to have an illegal amount of drugs and alcohol in their systems. The report went through and back to their countries they went."
Shaking her head, Abby blinked rapidly.
"So if they ever tried telling their story-."
"No one would believe them," Rudolf finished. "And due to their "known" drug use, it would be difficult to enter the country again."
Abby was speechless.
"Well, shit. You guys are really good."
"Yes," the man agreed, "we are."
APHAPHAPHAPH
When Abby and Rudolf exited the room, they only found Heiter standing there.
"Klaus is testifying on a case for Jakob," Rudolf informed her. "He is not due to Mrs. Kappel's home until tomorrow. You can wait one more night, Josef?"
"Yes. This is okay with you?"
Feeling his stare reach her, Abby nodded.
So, Rudolf ushered himself to the front doorway. Just before he was out of the house and right as Heiter turned away, Abby slipped the detective fifteen euros.
"Pick something I'd like," she whispered with a smile.
Unsure if the detective's nod was an answer, Abby watched the man depart to his vehicle with a contained hope.
Then, she slammed shut the door and exhaled.
Heiter stood at the end of the entryway, observing her curiously.
"Have any thoughts of your situation?"
"Rudolf," she began, taking a step forward, "believes they found out I was in Berlin by accident...sort of."
At Heiter's puzzled expression, Abby continued.
"Just like you have friends in the justice department and the law department, so does this mysterious person or persons. They'd have to if information about my father was given out. Rudolf and I both believe Steffan was approached by more than one person with the information about my dad. Now, when I first came here, I hadn't planned on staying long. A month or two, at most. And although I did eventually end up paying for a six month stay, my travel visa expired sometime during my captivity. Germany will extend expired visas and put you on a holding list, so that's where my name went. Unfortunately, the hotel is informed of this and has an obligation to give my name to the justice department, just in case I try fleeing or permanently taking refuge in the country. Rudolf believes this is how they found out I was in Berlin. Tell me...when you went inside my room, did you find anything out of the ordinary? Like something had been shuffled through?"
The doctor paused for a moment, absorbing the great tide of information.
"Your passport was open on a table. Your wallet open as well, but nothing taken."
Although Abby had been gone for two months, she knew she wouldn't be stupid enough to leave her information for everyone to see. She'd have kept it in a secret location.
"They look at the passport and it confirms my identity," she relayed. "Look at my driver's license which gives away my state and address, and they know exactly who I am. Realizing I'm an unforeseen complication, they sever off the weakest link. Steffan. They knew he'd talk because he never carried through with the blackmail. Question is...have they silenced Sarah Kappel up as well?"
"Klaus called the woman while you were with Rudolf. She is fine and he is notifying her of the visit scheduled for tomorrow."
"What's wrong with her?" Abby asked, genuinely curious about who they were dealing with.
"Neurological damage common of schizophrenic patients. She acts out every now and then if medicine is not taken. She is aware we are coming as well. My name still has relevance in this country. Klaus explained I would see if any major surgery could be performed to fix the epilepsy slowly becoming more common."
"What else do you know about her?"
"Perhaps in her mid-40's. Lives with her husband, Ivan. His investments into East Germany's economy immediately after the fall of the Wall, paid off when the two sides reunited. Once the unified economy expanded, Ivan became a very rich man. No children. No previous crime records for either. They prefer the privacy, and their home has been gated for years. Ivan is on a business trip in Prague, or so Klaus has informed."
"I wonder why Steffan thought she could help us. If the woman is a bit gone mentally, what's to stop her from telling us the wrong information...if she gives us any at all?"
"All things I have wondered about myself," Heiter admitted. "But without her, there are no other options."
Sighing, Abby nodded. She glanced around the room, wondering what to do with herself. Prolonged thinking about the facts would only make her more anxious.
Luckily, it was her stomach that spoke up.
"You have not eaten," Heiter noted. "I can make something."
She didn't reply for a moment.
"Why don't we go out? Maybe some fast food."
The man visibly blanched, but she wasn't sure if it was toward the unhealthiness factor or the prospect of being in a social setting.
"What you made me was good. Hell, probably the most healthy I've eaten in a long time. But, I'm afraid I'll start pooping out potatoes at this rate. A nice hamburger and fries really would do the trick," she offered.
He still seemed hesitant.
"It'll be fun," she promised. "I'll talk to the drive thru window in a funny voice and they'll think I'm mentally diseased!"
"Well...if your voice did not do the deed, your face certainly would."
Abby's mouth charged open, but Heiter only shrugged. However, he wouldn't meet her eyes and edge of his lips twitched a bit at her expression.
"You are such a bastard," she laughed out.
"I would feel worse if you did not make it so easy."
Rolling her eyes, Abby nodded in an awed defeat.
APHAPHAPHAPH
The journey to McDonald's was actually enjoyable. Which is saying something considering the man beside her had nearly murdered her on more than one occasion.
She knew this was very uncommon. To share this type of bond with a captor. But as she'd discussed with Rudolf - it was her continued understanding of what he did to her that prevented Abby from forming an attachment to him. She did not remain so disillusioned to the gruesome facts.
Still, she had an irritating trait of seeing the best in people. And Heiter, while completely bonkers at times, almost passed for a "human being" on the way to Berlin and back.
The man had pushed her away when she attempted to creep over his seated form and yell in a half French, half Russian accent about wanting her French fries as crunchy as a human finger. She could barely contain her laughter when the man who worked the drive thru, asked her to repeat her order while Heiter barely held back his curses.
Once her food had been taken care of, they drove back in a comfortable silence. His vehicle reeked of salted fries and cooked hamburgers. She assumed him to be a health nut, but she did catch the few glances he'd thrown at her noisy fry devouring.
"Based on your hungry gaze at my French fries, I'm guessing you don't go out to eat often," she observed as the last major skyscraper passed by.
"I prefer to keep to myself," he defended.
"Because you don't like human beings," she finished. "Doesn't that ever get lonely?"
Surprised, Heiter tightened his grip on the steering wheel for a second.
"No."
But Abby didn't believe it for one moment. And the reason why was because he fixed a direct stare on to her while saying the word. As if his voice was saying no, but his eyes were disagreeing.
Of course she could not exactly determine this. His eyes were unreadable, as they always were.
Why would he make sure to meet my eyes after saying that?
"Excuse me for asking, but have you ever been married? Or in a serious relationship?"
The silence following her question was excruciatingly long. Multiple times, she believed he decided wasn't going to answer.
So, the green scenery passing by was her only sanctuary for asking such a personal question.
"Foolishly I believed a woman would bring me joy," he suddenly said, his voice low and just barely detectable. "Nearly a decade ago, I was going to have a wife."
Keeping her hands clenched to prevent a finger from straying to a French fry, Abby carefully observed Heiter out of the corner of her eye.
His admission stunned her. Whether it was toward the fact that he had once almost been happy or normal, she wasn't quite sure. But she did know that their conversation had steered in completely foreign waters. And while she felt nervous about him suddenly losing it, curiosity piqued just as prominently about his backstory.
She knew without a doubt that since his engagement a decade ago, this was the first time Heiter had decided speaking about it. Just in the timid tone of voice and sudden anxiety he displayed, informed her of this.
"What happened?" she asked gently.
"Another man."
Squinting, Abby met Heiter's forceful gaze directly. She didn't say anything, just merely stared back.
"The man told me about it before she did."
Widening her eyes, Abby looked back at the road.
"You called the wedding off?"
"Of course," he replied swiftly, and with a fair amount of hate. "The whore was carrying his child."
APHAPHAPHAPH
Neither said a word when he stopped the vehicle. His words and decision to open up for a moment had long ago vanished. But that didn't mean she had dislodged his words.
A part of her reasoned out this betrayal at not just toward women, but toward humans in general. Someone he had thought loved him, cheated and ended up carrying another man's child. There was no easy way to forget that kind of pain.
Of course his personality did not develop with just this single event. She guessed he had felt inferior in many ways during his life. Becoming a surgeon wasn't just a decision to help people. It ultimately made him God in a way. He wielded the decision to keep a person alive. Most likely, that's what intoxicated him.
All along, he had probably been antisocial. But with enough events such as his fiancé cheating on him (that sounded just as weird in her head), he could have steadily descended into an apathetic state where only his own survival and needs were important.
Is it possible he's not actually mad? Just kind of got screwed over by life?
Whatever the answer was, she didn't deny that he had a breakdown somewhere along the way. With the accumulation of his malice and distrust for everyone, it was no surprise for his tendencies to become merciless. Others had deceived and looted his trust. What should prevent him from doing the same?
This realization and sympathy of sort made Heiter much more realistic in her eyes. Knowing that he'd once been susceptible to the type of pain everyone has gone through.
"You will not speak a word of this to anyone," he threatened as she exited the car.
"I don't have a death wish," she promised solemnly. "And I'm sorry that happened. I've never really cared enough about my former boyfriend's to be upset when I found out they cheated."
His dangerous expression shifted into something different.
"This has happened to you numerous times?" he questioned.
"Well…yeah. You open your heart and you can't always guarantee to get it back in one piece. But that hasn't prevented me from searching. Although, I'm kind of a weirdo. So whoever this lucky guy is, he'll have to have one hell of an open mind. I mean, I don't even understand my actions half the time."
The man studied her curiously, but did not say anything else. So, the two ventured back into the house.
APHAPHAPHAPH
Rudolf returned to the house sometime around five o'clock. Prior to that, Abby had either stayed in bed and pondered over the importance of meeting Sarah Kappel, or re-read Catch-22. She was happily surprised to have found the small, paperback edition stuffed in between two pairs of jeans and wanted to thank the doctor for bringing it with him. But, the man had been doing his own reading and due to the nature of their conversation, realized this was for her benefit.
When the bell rang and Abby heard Heiter call for her, she realized with a sudden excitement, that things were going to change. Sort of. And this change excited her...if it turned out right.
APHAPHAPHAPH
Two hours later and Abby stared at herself in the mirror with a stupid grin. Rudolf's purchase sat discarded in the trash, and a pair of scissors lay haphazardly upon the sink.
"Are you finished?" Heiter called from behind the door, irritation firmly set in his voice. Neither she nor Rudolf allowed the man to see what was bought and she could clearly note the man's annoyance.
"Hold on, Kim Kardashian," she yelled back.
Shaking her head, Abby ran her hands through her hair. Having it stop just below her shoulders was a surprise, as was the new, thick bangs protruding from her forehead. But the trait that made her unrecognizable was the formerly auburn brown being transformed into a platinum blonde. Her green eyes soaked in the brightness and adjusted her face to appear not only European, but suave. Like she'd done it at a salon for $400.
During her conversation with Rudolf, they'd hypothesized the chances of whoever killed Steffan, also knowing what she looked like. So, she volunteered to alter her features. And now that she did, Abby was incredibly pleased with the result. Not that she didn't love her natural fiery brown.
Instead, it was like chopping off and painting away a part of her life she didn't quite care to go back to.
So, as casually as she could, Abby grabbed the bathroom door handle and swung it open.
The shock on Heiter's face was priceless.
"Awesome, no?" she asked, swinging her hair back and forth.
Heiter only continued to stare. In fact, he remained speechless for so long Abby formed the urge to slap him.
"I'm glad I'm an independent enough woman to love what I do with myself. Otherwise, your silence would be rather insulting," she expressed.
"It is different."
"Unrecognizable?"
"Yes."
Nodding, Abby crossed her arms and blew upward. Her bangs bobbled in mid-air for a moment before retreating to cover her forehead.
"That's what we're going for. I might have to change my personality a bit as well. Steffan noted the similarity between my dad and I just in the time we were alone. Whether Sarah met him or not, I don't want to risk her kicking us out before we have a chance to talk with her."
"I will make sure that does not happen," he promised, still studying her.
"Just don't pull out a gun. I'm depending on Klaus to make sure she's in the right mind," Abby warned.
His answer was interrupted by the shrill tone of a telephone ringing.
He raced to it, and Abby followed behind.
For a moment, she watched him listen as his brow furrowed. The entire time, he did not say one word, but his nods indicated the information to be important.
Finally, after three or so minutes of nodding, he hung up.
"What happened?" she asked, hands gripping on to the counter.
Heiter glanced at her once before speaking.
"Sarah Kappel committed suicide."
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