Anxious People

The narrative flashes back to the hostage scene. Fireworks start going off outside the apartment, per the bank robber’s request. Estelle appreciates them and thinks that “Knut would have loved them” (302). Everyone tries to think of ways that the bank robber can escape, and it’s revealed that the real estate agent will also soon be selling the apartment across the hall. This means that it’s vacant and could be a hiding spot. Unfortunately, the real estate agent doesn’t have a key for the bank robber to get in.

Estelle informs everyone that they’re all in her apartment; she requested a showing to ease her loneliness, and she pretended Knut was out parking the car so that she could briefly live in the illusion that he’s still alive. She reveals that she has a key to the vacant apartment because it once belonged to the man with whom she had an emotional affair.

The hostages walk out of the apartment, feeling good in knowing that the bank robber will escape. They walk past Jim in the hallway. After they exit the building, Jim and the bank robber exchange a long glance.