Free Heroine: California Dreamin' by Elia Mirca Page A

that I am not a hooker and that we did this on a voluntary basis?” The line remained silent for a moment. Then he laughed out loud.
    “I do not believe that. A peeping tom watched us?”
    “Yes, with a telephoto lens.”
    “Yippee, when I find that dude I’ll buy him a beer.”
    “Come on, are you really happy that they lock me up?” I asked him back in horror.
    “No, of course not. I am only happy that you return to me so fast. It’s just a joke. Post a hundred dollars bail and they’ll let you go at once. I come by and pay for it. A few friends of mine had similar experiences. If they catch you repeatedly then you might have to serve a weekend doing social work.”
    “You misunderstood”, I stopped his flow of words. It wasn’t a good idea to have called him. But Daniel? Oh my Lord, I might just as well have packed my things and sat on an evening flight to Europe where Igor would pick me up in Frankfurt. I had hoped that Pete would come by and take responsibility for all of that. The panic attack from this morning was still blocking my brain. It probably was all nonsense.
    “Pete, I am a foreigner and my visa has expired and when I leave jail they put me in detention ready to be deported. You’ll never see me again because then I can’t come back.”
    “Shit, oh shit. Look I have an idea. Ron’s dad is a big shot in the justice system. Let me call Ron right away at his bloody college. He is as much in love with you as I am. He can get you out. I call you back in a jiffy. Your number is on the display.” Click. Pete was gone.
    This was the end. I had totally lost control over the situation. Panic crept up my spine again.
    Pete informed Ron, Ron informed his father – in addition Irene would learn about me and her son … Dear Lord, I had told Irene that Robert had raped me … She would tell her husband that I worked for Robert … with Ron and Pete and Alonso and fat Hippo … Irene would want to take revenge on me and they had a link between me and Robert. Then they would reopen the case.
    When I came back to my senses I saw the smiling face of the paramedic who had accompanied me this morning. He winked at me. I noticed that my blouse was open and that they transferred my heart rate to a device via several cables.
    Again the doctors couldn’t find anything wrong with me.
    “Well”, said the gynecologist who was consulted last, “some women react stronger to heavy blood loss.”
    Pete called me back later in my hospital room.
    “Are you still at the police precinct? Listen, Ron has activated his old man who will look into the allegations and then talk to the judge. Are you listening to me?” That was the end. I hung up.
    One hour later I woke up and looked at the alarmed faces of the boys. Only Alonso was missing. And Hippo. But he wouldn’t fit into that round at this particular moment anyway.
    “They told us at the police that you’ve collapsed. You are free again. We deposited the hundred dollars bail and I took responsibility for seducing you”, said Pete. He had moist eyes. I took him into my arms and squeezed him.
    I looked at both of them. It warmed my heart. They were so concerned about me! The short sleep had refreshed me enough so I was able to think clearly again, at least halfway.
    “Listen boys. I need to talk with you. But before that - get me out of here. The doctors here stand in line to examine me. Always something new.” They looked at one another and understood immediately. Ten minutes later we’ve left the hospital. In my thoughts I apologized to the doctors for my allegations. We got into Ron’s old Corolla. They were diplomatic enough to let me sit on the backseat by myself.
    “As I started to say I must confess something to you. I only hope that you don’t kick me out of the car afterwards.” They looked at each other in astonishment and at the same time they shook their heads. They almost looked a bit like twins. The same blond hair, the carefree laughing, the