Chance Encounter

by Oksana

translated by Olga

She came up to the door and asked, “Who's there?”

“Police officer Douglas,” a male's voice said, “I want Mrs. McCormick.”

“It's me,” Mary breathed out.

“Please open the door, Madame, I need to tell you something concerning your husband.”

Mary froze. What would she do? Only Mark had the key.

“I'm sorry, officer Douglas,” Mary stumbled, “my husband left yesterday and accidentally took the keys with him. I cannot unlock the door.”

“Your husband? Oh wait a minute.”

She heard some hustle, and then the lock clicked and the door was thrown open. The policeman handed her the keys.

“These are yours, then. I am sorry I have bad news for you. Your husband…” he faltered. “You'd better sit down.”

“Please go on,” said Mary not knowing what to think.

“Your husband got killed yesterday night. He was in… in a house… it was a brothel.” The officer hid his eyes and went on hastily. “He got involved in a gang fight and got knifed.”

“Is he alive?”

“No, Madame.”

Mary gave a convulsive sigh and fell onto a chair.

“Shall I get you a glass of water?” Officer Douglas suggested, looking at her with sympathy.

“No, thanks.” Mary put up her head slowly, gradually getting to realize that she was free, that Mark was not there any more. “What shall I do?”

“If you don't mind, you have to go with me, to identify the body, and then to the police station to sign some papers. It won't take you long.”

“Sure.” Mary got to her feet. “Only I have not got anyone to leave my son with.”

“We can take him with us,” the officer said. “My assistant would baby-sit.”

“Okay.”

The officer placed a paper envelope on her desk. “These are the things that were on your husband.”

Mary nodded. “Thank you. I'll take my son.”

They were driving a police car, and Matt would gape around. Mary was trying to collect her galloping thoughts and feelings. “Mark is not any more. Mark is not any more!”

The overwhelming sense of freedom brought tears to her eyes.

“Mom, no cry!” Matt frowned.

The officer thought he understood her feelings, and he hurried to make the boy busy with the portable radio transmitter.

On seeing Mark's dead body, Mary felt no regret. She nodded acknowledging that was him indeed.

Having signed all the papers, she came back to the car where Matt was involved in playing with the radio buttons and listening delightedly to the hissing of the loudspeakers. When Matt saw his mother he rushed to her. Mary hugged him and then said to the police officer, “Will you help me, please? I have no family. I don't even know what to do.”

“Sure, Madame,” Douglas nodded. “I'll explain everything to you and get in touch with the people and the services you'll need.”

The next several days passed in taking care about the formalities, Mark's funeral and getting all the documents re-issued in Mary's name. Now she had a car, a house and a modest bank account. It was quite enough for the near future.