Chapter 6

For the first time in history, Duluth had become the center of attention nation-wide: mysterious bombing destroyed three residential houses, leaving four university students and a faculty severely wounded. Police investigation of the remains revealed nothing but disappointment. No primary suspects were identified as well as a legit motive, and the conclusion so far led to terrorism. I sat up in my bed and watched reporters and analysts trying to make sense of the accident on Fox News when Professor Siders walked in.

‘Laura, we need to talk,’ Said the well-respected chemistry professor, ‘and this is not a safe place for it.’

I stared at the brilliant old man while my mind was spinning wildly searching for reasons why this man had come to me. Professor Siders, the famous physical chemist who devoted his life in educating generations of young scientists at the University of Minnesota Duluth, was standing right in front of my bed, his tall figure blocking the 20-inch TV hanging from the ceiling. Maybe he came to tell me that I didn’t have enough credits to graduate this year. My heart sank. That would be the worst news ever.

‘Professor Siders, I was certain I fulfilled all my criteria towards a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry,’ I began, ‘my academic advisor had ensured my graduation in the Spring of 2009…’ Sadness had crossed his eyes when Siders raised his left hand. Suddenly I felt my worries were nowhere close to what he was about to say. ‘I’m sorry.’ I added embarrassedly.

‘Laura, here is my address. I’m counting on you to pay my house a visit. It is very important that you do so in private.’ Professor Siders reached into his front pocket on the familiar grey jacket he always wore to class, and handed me a yellow sticky-note with the neatest handwriting I had ever seen.

625 Under Superior Drive, BL

Well, there were quite a few things I did not comprehend at the time, and Siders weren’t doing a great job explaining them. I had no idea why I was obligated to a strange private visit to his house. And even if I had the slightest hunch of the purpose I would never find the house. There was no ‘Under Superior Drive’ in the vicinity of Duluth (it was safe to assume Professor Siders lived around Duluth) and most importantly ‘BL’ did not stand for any states or provinces in the US or Canada. This address either did not exist or referred to a very faraway place. Knowing the fact that old professors don’t generally go to hospitals and play pranks on students, my mind was set to the alternative: he might be serious, but this entire situation did not make sense.

‘Pardon me Professor; this visit does not make sense to me. I would love to help out but why am I doing this? Where in the world is six-’

‘Shhh!’ Siders interrupted me harshly and he even seemed a little bit annoyed, ‘Never say that address out loud. Not for now, at least. Oh look at the time! I think I should get back to work.’ He strode out of the door before doubled back and whispered, ‘but by all means Laura: keep the address a secret and please visit me. We need to talk.’

I wanted to shout ‘what time?’ after him but realized that the answer would probably confuse me even more. I carefully tucked away the sticky-note with the strange address and drank some water from the glass. What a bizarre way to start the day.

* * * * * * * * * *

By the time I checked out of St. Mary’s Hospital in the afternoon I had almost forgotten about my encounter with Professor Siders. I had visited Emily and Katie in their shared room. They were both deep in slumber and appeared shockingly lifeless as I walked in. My eyes blurred with tears when Emily's parents greeted me. This must be a hundred times harder for them than it was for me. We exchanged comforting words and I decided to leave them alone with their daughter.

The thunderstorm last night washed away all the gloom from the long winter of North Shore. Tiny streams formed along streets and raced down the hilly city into Lake Superior. Standing in front of St. Luke’s, I took a deep breath and my nostrils were filled with the scent of spring. The day was still young, so I strolled aimlessly in town. The insurance company had booked a hotel room for me to stay until my house, also destroyed in the explosion, was fixed up. I had clothes my parents brought me in a shopping bag, and that was all I possessed. Lap-top, cell phone, textbooks, furniture—everything I owned exploded and burned into ashes.

I was so distracted by the reality I had to face that I hardly noticed how beautifully the hotel room overlooked Lake Superior. There was a package left for me on the bed from my parents. I found tooth brushes, more clothes, shoes, notebooks, a new cell phone, a new lap-top, and some snacks in it. My eyes were wet again. I dialed my home number with the new cell phone.

‘Hello?’ My mom’s voice appeared at the other end.

‘Mom, thanks for the package…’ I could barely finish the sentence without weeping. ‘I miss you.’

There was silence between us for a while. I couldn’t remember the last time I cried in front of my parents, or mentioned how much I missed them. Life hadn’t been all that hard on me I guess--until now.

‘Laura,’ finally my mom spoke, her voice shaky, ‘I know it’s hard, losing your place to live and all that. It killed us to see you at the hospital yesterday. I would tell you to come home this weekend but,’ she cleared her throat, ‘things have changed here.’

I immediately sensed something wrong and became very alert. ‘What do you mean, mom?’

‘I hope this is just my paranoia.' She sighed. 'We kept getting blank postcards in the mail. At first I thought they were advertisement but every time the postcard arrives something awful happens. I think we are being watched.’

Goosebumps crept up my back as I listened to her. Watched. I remembered feeling that way shortly before the explosion—the phone call from a stranger! I was so overwhelmed that I completely forgot about the call, the car, and the blank postcard on the table…And what happened to that Honda Civic? If we could trace the car…