روز دوم

A HOPE DASHED

The next day, Wednesday, saw Robert become more frustrated.

He would fluctuate between high hopes of finding Evelyn and unmitigated despair when he was almost ready to desist in his search.

The phone calls had elicited almost nothing.

Robert had rushed to one women’s residence when the clerk described a girl who might just be Evelyn.

The desk clerk phoned to her room on the pretext that she had a special delivery letter.

Robert waited in the commodious lobby, replete with large, antiquated pieces of furniture.

He watched from a discreet distance as she came down the stairs.

One look at her wan face, slovenly dress, and disheveled hair was enough to inform Robert that he needed no further scrutiny.

This could not be his impeccable Evelyn.