Night Rounds

Epilogue

IT WAS A starry night. The party at Tommy and Agneta’s place had been pleasant, but Irene had had a bit too much wine. Luckily, Krister was the chauffeur for the evening. He had to work on Sunday, another reason they were on their way home already, just past the stroke of midnight.

They were practically the only ones on Delsjövägen. Suddenly Sammie began to whine in the backseat. They’d had to bring him because neither of the twins was at home that evening.

“Darn it all, we forgot to let the dog out before we started home,” Krister said.

Irene awoke from her wine-induced slumber and looked around. When she realized where they were, she said, “Pull over there. You can park just past the bridge. Lots of people take their dogs for walks there. I know that for sure. It’s been just four weeks since I was tramping through the poo.”

Krister turned, drove over the bridge, and parked the car. Irene got out and stood on her somewhat unsteady legs. “You stay in the car,” she said. “I’ll take Sammie.”

She drew the chilly night air deep into her lungs. In spite of the wine, she felt energized; after walking the dog, she’d be almost sober.

Sammie was eager and excited as he started sniffing around the spruce grove. Lots of new contacts! A veritable People magazine for dogs. I’m a tiny dachshund who’ll have puppies in a week! German shepherd warns once and for all—this is my spot! No one knows now, but a female poodle and a male Doberman had a tryst here! Sammie sniffed to his heart’s content with his nose to the ground.

Irene hung on to the leash.

It took her a while to realize that they were heading to the hospital park. Sammie wandered toward the lilac arbor. It was dark, and Irene stumbled a few times. Sammie made his mark and pulled at the leash. There was something interesting in the bushes.

Irene held tightly to Sammie, but both dog and mistress jumped high into the air when a deer leaped out.

Irene looked up at the quiet, dark building. The black windows seemed to glare back at her. Involuntarily, her gaze wandered to the tiny attic window. Beyond that glass two nurses had been found dead, fifty years apart. Irene shivered at the thought. A moment later she froze in terror.

Behind the windowpane, Irene believed she saw the outline of a person standing close to the glass. A slightly silver-glowing palm pressed against the pane. It did not disappear until the rest of the figure began to dissolve into the darkness.