I'm Travelling Alone (17 page)

‘I have a good feeling about him,’ Holger said, blowing smoke up into the air. ‘Sometimes, it can be wise to recruit from the outside. A fresh pair of eyes not tainted by police thinking. We tend to develop tunnel vision, don’t you think?’

‘You might be right.’ Mia nodded. ‘Certainly seems like he knows his stuff.’

Holger smiled.

‘He-he, yes – he’s not underqualified, to put it mildly. I got his name from MI6 in London; he cracked the code – you know, that challenge they posted on the Net last year?’

Mia shrugged her shoulders again.

‘No, of course not, you haven’t been part of the world for a while. Do you know who the prime minister is?’

Mia shrugged her shoulders a third time.

‘Does it matter?’

Holger Munch chuckled and waved the waitress over.

‘Can I get you anything else?’ the smiling girl said.

‘I do believe I need a slice of apple cake with ice cream, and another beer?’

Mia nodded.

‘Apple cake and beer it is,’ the girl said, and disappeared again.

‘Anyway, he knows what he’s doing when it comes to computers. The question is, will he make a good police officer?’

‘Well, does anyone?’ Mia smiled.

‘No, you may be right.’ Holger nodded. ‘Anyway, for my part, I’m glad to be back in the city, and that you’re here. I spoke to Mikkelson earlier today. This case has put everyone under a spotlight. National security, the reputation of the police force and, well, you know, there’s fierce pressure from on high to get it cleared up as quickly as possible. I believe the Ministry rings him every day for an update.’

‘Nothing wrong with him feeling the heat,’ Mia said.

She drained her glass and took a lozenge from a packet in her pocket. The waitress brought the apple cake and another beer. Mia held off drinking it until Holger had had some of his cake. She didn’t want to seem too keen on the alcohol. After all, she had not come here to get drunk, but because Holger had something he wanted to talk about.

‘So you went to see your solicitor?’

‘Yes, damn the bugger.’ Holger heaved a sigh. ‘Don’t really know where to start. Like I said, it’s not difficult, but even so, I’ve had a lot on recently. Miriam is getting married, and …’

‘Good God, that’s wonderful, I didn’t know.’

Mia realized it made her really happy. She liked Miriam enormously. They had hit it off the moment they met. She knew that the relationship between Miriam and her father was strained, but she had always imagined that it would work itself out, given time.

‘Oh, yes, it’s great.’ Holger nodded.

‘Am I right in thinking she’s still with Johannes? Has he finished medical school now?’

Holger nodded.

‘He’s a house officer these day. One year at Ullevål Hospital.’

‘Wow, that was a stroke of luck. I thought most of them ended up in the far-flung corners of Norway.’

‘Yes, he’s landed on his feet.’ Holger smiled wryly. ‘No, it’s great. Really. Nice guy. We hope that some of his luck will rub off on Miriam.’

‘What do you mean?’

Holger Munch hesitated.

‘Well, I don’t know. First she started reading English, then she dropped it. Then it was Norwegian Literature, but that turned out not to be her thing either.’

‘Didn’t she start reading journalism as well?’

Holger nodded and helped himself to some more cake.

‘She almost completed the course, but now she’s on a break from that as well. I don’t really know what she’s doing.’

‘I think you should cut her some slack,’ Mia said, taking a sip of her beer. ‘You and Marianne split up when she was fifteen. She had a child at nineteen. What do you expect of the girl? Give her time.’

‘You’re probably right.’ Holger sighed and lit another cigarette.

‘Has anything happened to her?’

‘What, no, why?’

‘Well, I don’t know, aren’t we playing twenty questions?’ Mia smiled.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Don’t you want me to guess what it is you wanted to talk to me about? Isn’t that how it works?’

Holger chuckled to himself.

‘You haven’t changed much, have you? Just as lippy, still not showing respect, eh? I’m still your boss, you know that, don’t you? The way this works is that you shut up and do whatever I tell you.’

‘That’s not going to happen.’ Mia smiled.

‘It’s a bit awkward; I don’t know how to say it. It really bugs me.’

‘OK, start at the beginning,’ Mia said.

‘Right,’ Holger said, taking another drag of his cigarette. ‘You know my mother?’

‘Yes, what about her?’

‘You know I moved her into a care home a few years ago?’

‘Yes, what about it? Is she not well?’

‘Oh, no, there’s nothing wrong with her. Her legs aren’t so good, so at times she uses a wheelchair, but that’s not the problem.’

‘Does she not like it up there?’

‘Not to begin with, but that changed quickly. She met other people in the same situation, made friends, joined a sewing club, so no, that’s not it. Only, she’s suddenly got into her head that she’s a Christian.’

‘What do you mean? Christian Christian? Has she found God?’

Holger nodded.

‘Wow, I thought you came from a family of atheists?’

‘That’s what’s so strange. I’ve never heard her talk about religion or anything like that, but then she changed from one day to the next. Started to attend services every week at some church, along with friends of hers from the sewing circle.’

‘It might be her age,’ Mia said. ‘What would we know about getting old? I mean, she’s sprightly and all that but, even so, you can’t hide the fact that she has more runway behind her than in front of her. Perhaps there’s no harm in it? Having something to believe in?’

‘Yes and no. To begin with, I saw it as completely harmless, I mean, she’s nearly eighty and can make up her own mind, but …’

Holger hesitated.

‘But what?’

‘Turns out there’s more to it than I first thought. That was the reason Kurt called me.’

‘Kurt is your lawyer?’

Holger nodded.

‘And what’s the problem?’

Holger stubbed out the cigarette and lit another one.

‘She’s decided to leave all her money to the church.’

‘No shit?’

‘Quite.’

Holger threw up his hands.

‘So do I go along with it?’

‘Are we talking about a lot of money?’

‘No, not a whole lot, but even so. There’s her flat in Majorstua. Her cabin in Larvik. And she has plenty in the bank – she hasn’t spent any of the money my father left her. It’s not that I care about the money, but I’d always imagined that it would be passed on, you know, to Marion, so that she’s provided for. Family inheritance and all that.’

Mia nodded. Holger had a lovely, but dangerously close, relationship to his granddaughter. Mia was convinced that if anyone told him to cut off his arm for her, he would do it without hesitation. Without anaesthetic. Here you are, one arm; do you need another one?

‘Ouch, that’s a tricky one.’

‘Yes, it is, isn’t it? So do I go along with it?’

‘Well, it’s complicated.’

‘I do understand that it’s just money and, seriously, we have more important things to think about. Two six-year-old girls are dead and another eight dresses are out there. It’s a bloody nightmare, I don’t even want to think about it. I’m constantly looking over my shoulder. I can barely sleep – I lie awake, waiting for the phone to ring telling me that another girl has disappeared. Do you understand?’

Mia nodded. She felt exactly the same.

‘So that’s why I didn’t want to do this on the phone. It’s hardly relevant in the greater scheme of things. And I didn’t want anyone to know that I’m spending my time on anything other than catching this bastard.’

‘Let’s hope we’re talking about just the one,’ Mia said.

‘Do you think there could be more?’

‘I don’t know, but we have to keep an open mind, don’t we?’

‘Yes, of course.’

Holger fell silent for a moment, mulling over what Mia had just said.

‘Why don’t you just talk to her?’

‘What?’

‘Talk to your mother. Tell her what you just said to me. About Marion?’

‘Yes, of course, I’m sure you’re right.’ Holger sighed. ‘Only, she can be very stubborn. Sometimes I get the feeling it’s payback because the move to the care home wasn’t her choice.’

‘She had threatened to burn down the whole apartment block, Holger. It had to be done.’

‘Yes, I know, but even so.’

Suddenly, Mia felt sorry for him. A too-nice man surrounded by generations of strong women. Not that he had realized it himself; he still felt guilty about the divorce. Mia had tried telling him several times that it wasn’t his fault, that it had been Marianne’s decision, but he seemed to turn a deaf ear.

‘Do you think there are more?’

‘People responsible for killings?’

Holger nodded.

‘Not really.’

‘I agree. But we do need to keep an open mind.’

‘I’ve been a bit …’ Mia said, but stopped herself.

‘Been what?’

‘Oh, I don’t know what you’d call it Ö not quite focused. I can’t get into it. I can’t see the picture. There’s something behind the pattern, I know it, it’s screaming at me, it’s as clear as daylight, but I can’t see it – if you understand what I mean.’

‘It’ll come,’ Munch reassured her. ‘You’ve been out of the loop. That’s all it is.’

‘Probably.’ Mia nodded softly. ‘Let’s hope so. To be honest, I feel a bit useless. I feel sorry for myself. I act like a brat. That’s not like me. I hate myself when I’m like this. If it turns out I can’t focus, promise me you’ll take me off the case?’

‘I need you, Mia,’ Munch said. ‘There’s a reason I brought you back.’

‘To sort out your family problems?’

‘Do you know something, Mia? Screw you.’

‘Screw you, too, Holger. I was doing fine where I was.’

The two colleagues smiled and exchanged an affectionate look which needed no further explanation.

Holger lit another cigarette while Mia took another sip of her beer and tightened the rug around her.

‘Hønefoss was in 2006, wasn’t it?’

‘August,’ Holger nodded. ‘Why?’

‘If she was still alive, she would have started school this year. Have you thought about that?’

‘The thought had occurred to me,’ Holger said. ‘Gabriel said something that got me thinking.’

‘What was it?’

‘Something about a teacher. That we might be looking for a teacher, something along those lines.’

‘That’s not a bad idea. Perhaps he has the makings of a police officer after all.’

‘You don’t think she’s still alive?’ Holger asked.

‘What do you mean?’

‘It was the way you said it, ìif she was still aliveî. The baby who disappeared. We never found her. She might still be alive.’

‘No,’ Mia said.

‘You sound so sure?’

‘She’s not alive.’

‘No, I don’t think so either, but it’s possible?’

‘She’s not alive,’ Mia declared.

‘What do you think about the teacher theory?’

‘It’s not bad. Let’s keep it in mind.’

Holger nodded and glanced at his mobile.

‘I have to run, got some paperwork to do before I go to bed. Mikkelson is pestering me.’

‘I thought Anette was dealing with that side of things?’

‘She does as much as she can.’

Holger got up and took out his wallet.

‘My treat,’ Mia insisted.

‘Are you sure?’

‘Of course. I understand your family is about to run out of money – it’s the least I can do.’

‘Ha-ha.’ Holger laughed and winked at her.

‘Will there be a full briefing tomorrow morning?’

‘I hadn’t planned on one. Let’s see what we get from the laptop and the iPhone.’

‘I’ll keep you posted,’ Mia promised.

‘Yes, please. See you later.’

Mia stayed behind after Munch had left, contemplating the empty beer glass on the table in front of her. She fancied another one, but wasn’t convinced it was a wise move. The hotel room would be a better option: go to bed early in clean sheets. She drummed her fingers on the edge of the glass while she ran the case through her head to make her brain wake up.

‘Can I get you anything else?’

The waitress was back, still with a smile on her lips.

‘Yes, another beer, please. And a shot of Ratzeputz schnapps.’

‘Certainly.’ The girl nodded and disappeared.

‘Mia?’

A familiar and yet unknown face appeared behind a glowing cigarette in the courtyard. A woman her own age came over to her table.

‘Don’t you recognize me? Susanne. From Åsgårdstrand?’

The woman bent down and gave Mia a big hug. Of course. Susanne Hval. She had lived a few doors further down the street. One year younger than Sigrid and her. A long time ago, the three of them had been close friends.

‘Hi, Susanne. Sorry, I was completely lost in my work.’

‘I understand. I hope I’m not intruding. Is it all right if I sit down?’

‘Yes, of course.’

‘Well, who would have thought it?’ Susanne laughed. ‘How long has it been?’

‘Far too long.’

Her old friend gazed at Mia with a big smile on her face.

‘I haven’t seen you since Ö well, I saw you in the newspaper. Do you mind me bringing that up?’

‘No, no, it’s fine,’ Mia smiled.

‘So what happened? After the investigation and everything?’

‘I went on holiday.’

‘I hope I’m not disturbing you?’

‘No, God, no, it’s great,’ Mia said, gesturing to the chair Holger had just vacated.

She had thought about Susanne several times over the years, especially after Sigrid died. They had met at Sigrid’s funeral, but she had not seen her since or contacted her; there had just been so much to do. It felt good to see her old friend again.

The waitress returned with the beer and the Ratzeputz schnapps.

‘Do you want anything?’

Susanne shook her head.

‘I have a beer inside. I’m here with some people from work.’

She said the latter to Mia with a hint of pride in her voice.

‘So you’ve moved to Oslo?’ Mia asked.

‘Yes, four years ago.’

‘Great, what do you do?’