It was a surprisingly welcome feeling to go back to work the next day. There was familiarity in the morning shift, and even Mr. Santorelli's incessant leaning over me to check his reflection in the windows and stroking of my hair didn't bother me too much. I made sure I stayed busy, and I only cried once.
It was toward the end of my shift when the police showed up. I didn't hear them, but Mr. Santorelli came running up to me.
"Go out the back," he whispered, shoving a key into my hand. He gave me an address and an apartment number, reminded me not to be seen, then hurried back to the front of the factory. I bolted toward the back door, looked around, and saw a fairly quiet street with no cops and nobody I knew. It wasn't far to the apartment, and I found myself in a small and somewhat dingy apartment on the top floor of the building. There was a strange smell I couldn't place, and a small bed was in the corner of the main room while a cramped bedroom was off to the side. There was only one window, and that was in the kitchen. This made the whole place dark and a bit forbidding, but I reminded myself that I was lucky to be there. Some of the boys had told me how horrible some of the orphanages and other situations could be. I sat on the bed and looked around, feeling very alone and very afraid. I must have sat there trembling and looking around for an hour before Mr. Santorelli showed up. He knocked on the door and called softly to me. Right-I'd forgotten I had his keys.
"Katie, I thought they would find you," he said, grabbing me into one of those crushing hugs and rubbing my back. He released me, but his hands clasped mine.
"I am thinking it is safer for you to stay here for awhile. No work. Stay away from the windows, too. This will blow over in a few weeks, and until then this is the safest place for you." I nodded.
"But I was supposed to meet Spot," I said.
"He was there at the end of your shift. I told him I woud look out for you tonight, and he agreed you would be safer here. He sent a message, too-said you should lay low for now and that he would let you know when it was safe to come back out."
Okay. Spot would have things under control. I would wait it out here. But it would be boring and lonely. "What about my things?" I asked.
"I will have your Spot take care of that tomorrow," he said, and I nodded again.
"Katie, I know the last few days have been hard," Mr. Santorelli said, sitting beside me and placing his large arm around my shoulders. "Just remember that ol' Antonio is here for you." He squeezed me to him, kissing my cheek. It made me uncomfortable, but I supposed I should be grateful, so I let him.
I spent the evening making dinner for the two of us. I told him what had happened the prior night, and he said it was good I was there. Then he left for awhile, saying he was taking care of a friend's apartment who was away for a few weeks. He returned a bit later and handed me a book-Pride and Prejudice. I love that book. When it came time for bed, Mr. Santorelli motioned me into the washroom first. I was grateful, and as I headed back toward the bed, he grabbed me into a tight hug. He rubbed my back for a few minutes, then kissed my forehead and wished me a good night. I tumbled into bed, and he headed into his room, and in spite of my unease at the new place I nodded off.