Chapter 11
The doorbell sounded.
Cheryl sat up. David stirred sleepily beside her. She blinked and shook him gently. "Somebody's here," she said.
"Leave me alone," he muttered thickly. "I want to sleep."
The buzzer sounded again, a sharp, penetrating sound. Cheryl scampered up and rummaged around the closet for something to throw over her body. She finally found one of David's robes-an oversized terry cloth one. She slipped it on and went to the door.
"Who is it?"
"It's me," was the reply.
"Who's me?"
"Me, Annie, let me in."
Cheryl unbolted the door.
Annie was beautiful in a green satin dress.
"Where are you going dressed like that?" Cheryl asked.
"You're going too," Annie said. "You and David, both. We're all going out for a night on the town."
"What's the special event?"
Annie suddenly looked coy. "The special event," she said, "is that I have a new boyfriend."
Cheryl looked around, then scratched her head. "He is special," she said. "He isn't even visible."
"He couldn't come up," Annie said. "He's the shy type. But he's going to wait downstairs in the car until I bring both of you down. He said to tell you he's not taking no for an answer."
"Who's answering no?" Cheryl asked. "I could eat a horse. I . . . we haven't eaten since last night. But why won't he come up ? "
"I told you," insisted Annie. "He's the shy type. He's a strange one . . . but I think you'll like him."
Cheryl studied her friend. Annie was certainly acting strange herself. Cheryl had never seen her dressed so immaculately-so tastefully.
David was harder to convince. It seemed that all he wanted was to be left alone to sleep.
Finally, however, with the help of a glass of cold water over his bare chest, he was awakened and convinced.
Finally they were dressed.
All the way down the stairs, Annie seemed to trip over her own feet with excitement. Finally they were on the sidewalk. There was only one car on the block-a silver Mercedes.
Cheryl felt a sudden sinking sensation-it was just like Frank's car. It was Frank's car-she would never forget it.
She balked, but Annie took her hand and drew her forward.
A man turned from the steering wheel and smiled at her.
It was Bobby.
"How do you like my new car?" he said. "I got it cheap."