Julia Lelieveld and the fifth element

~7~

The next day I went down in my pajamas with my sleepy head down. I turned on the coffee maker for dad and made myself a cup of tea. I grabbed some yogurt and sat down at the computer. I really had to see how I should cycle to Bas and Eva tonight, or maybe dad would like to take me. I looked up the route. It was on the other side of the city, I estimated it would be about half an hour by bike.

I had received an email from Matthijs. He wrote about my old school and friends. How nice of him to think of me. He was curious how my first week had gone. I had written back to him about school, the teachers, and detention. Also about our beautiful house and about Eva and Bas and that I had a Halloween party tonight.

I thought back to the last time we saw each other. It seemed like months ago, but it was only two weeks ago. It was a nice kiss. I liked it, but the feeling was different than when I talked to Lucas, maybe because I've known Matthijs all my life. Oh no, there was Lucas again. I really had to stop with this. I hardly knew that boy. He could be a crazy madman.

I went back upstairs to shower and get dressed. I tried to be gentle for Daddy, because he was still in bed. He was really overtired, because he never slept in. I walked back downstairs and my eye fell on the driveway. No car.

How could that be? I walked back upstairs and listened to Daddy's bedroom door. Nothing.

I opened the door softly and the bed was empty. No one.

Angry, I slammed the door shut again and stormed down to the phone. Surely this wouldn't be true. He wasn't back at work, was he?

I punched in the number and it rang a few times.

"Detective Lelieveld," he said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Dad with me, are you back to work now?" I heard a big sigh on the other end of the line. "Oh, honey, I'm so sorry. A new suspect was arrested last night following new findings. I'm afraid I'll be stuck at the desk for a while yet."

I could hear in his voice that he was really sorry, but what good was that to me? Alone again. I was sick and tired of being alone.

"Yeah, I'm sorry too, Dad. See you later." And I just threw up the receiver. Immediately I regretted it. What a bitch I could be. He didn't deserve this. I called him back but he was busy. Shit, I texted that I was sorry. Hopefully he will read it.

It was still early. It was still a long time before it was tonight. Still, I went to the mall to see if there was a nice costume somewhere. After asking three times I had found a party shop.

Well what a party. It didn't put me in a good mood. I could choose between a nun costume and a bunny costume. Well it wasn't going to be.

Once at home my playlist went on the highest volume and I tried to get into the party mood. Luckily it worked, in no time I was rocking all over the house on ACDC. I took my soldier's suit out of the closet and looked at it carefully. It was a beige military-style blouse with matching hot pants. I still had fishnet tights and matching pumps. We had name tags made for the sketch, so the package was still complete. I put it on and looked in the mirror. It's actually quite wrong. I chuckled to myself. The blouse was just a bit too tight so the top button had to open and the hotpants were really hot. Suddenly it occurred to me that there was such a cute hat with it. Yep, there it was. I attached it with pins and I was done. All ready for the party. It looked a bit like the 1930s with that hat.

The party started in an hour and the invitation stated that food would be provided. What a luxury. I was really curious about their house.

Half an hour later, Dad still wasn't home, so I left him a note saying I was at the party with the address.