The Dinosaur Feather (29 page)

Anna glared at him, but Søren held his ground. She looked like shit. Scrawny and spotty, and Lily, in the cart, looked neglected, with tears down her cheeks, snot across her mouth, and a filthy teddy in her arms. Anna hadn’t even noticed the other shoppers staring at her and shaking their heads. A socially disadvantaged, impoverished single parent was precisely what she looked like. All that was missing were some beers and chips in her cart. But Søren was bowled over. It was madness—he didn’t even like her. Contrary and stuckup, as she was. And he had only known her four days, during which time she had grown increasingly hostile to him. But he was completely smitten.

Lily refused to walk. Anna told her she had to, but Lily had made up her mind and was sitting down on the steps of a store that was closed. “No,” she declared and stuck out her lower lip in defiance. “You
have
to walk,” Anna repeated. Søren was about to say something, but Anna turned to him when she sensed his lips moving.

“She
has
to walk. If she doesn’t, we can’t get home. I can’t carry all those bags, my books, and a child. I’m not strong enough.” She was on the brink of tears. Søren emptied his groceries into Anna’s least full bag, tied the two remaining ones together, and hung them over his shoulders like a yoke. Without asking for permission, he lifted Lily and put her on his shoulders.

“Keep your feet still, or you’ll break the eggs,” he told her.

“Okay,” Lily said, proudly.

Søren started walking and he soon heard Anna’s footsteps behind them. A gleeful Lily called out from her vantage point, “I can see all the cars in the whole world, I can see all the houses and all the boys and girls.”

Anna didn’t utter a word the whole way back, but when they reached the stairwell, she said, “Thanks for your help, I’ll take it from here.”

“Anna,” Søren said, as he let Lily down. “I’m coming upstairs with you.” He was in no mood for an argument.

Lily, now rested, started to climb the stairs. Anna faced Søren, her eyes brimming with tears.

“I know what you’ve come to tell me, and I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to hear it!”

“Anna,” he said gently, “it’s not going to go away just because I don’t tell you, and I have to talk to you. What the hell were you doing outside Johannes’s apartment? And why did you run?”

“Mooom,” Lily called out from the first floor landing. “I’m having a pee-pee in my snowsuit.”

“Shit,” Anna exclaimed. She raced up the stairs and tried running all the way to the top with Lily. Lily laughed. Søren followed with the bags.

Mrs. Snedker was waiting for them on the fourth floor.

“Hi, Maggie,” Søren heard Anna say. “Emergency. Lily needs the bathroom.”

“Aha,” Maggie said. “Is that nice cop with you?”

Søren arrived in time to see Anna give Mrs. Snedker a baffled look, then she unlocked her front door and disappeared into the flat with Lily.

“Did you remember my bread?” Maggie asked him sternly.

“Yes, of course,” Søren replied. He untied the knots on the shopping bags and handed her a paper bag from the bakery. Anna appeared in the doorway.

“Maggie, why don’t you go back to your own apartment? I’ll come and see you later, okay?”

The old lady nodded, disappointed, and left.

“Why did you give her your bread?” Anna asked while she unpacked her shopping.

“I bought it for her.”

Anna raised her eyebrows.

“I was waiting for you. In her apartment. We saw you from the window and when you didn’t come back, Mrs. Snedker thought you must have gone shopping, so I followed you,” he confessed.

“And she asked you to get her some bread?”

Søren nodded.

“And you did?”

Søren nodded again. A tenth of a second later Søren heard Anna laugh for the first time. It didn’t last long, but it suited her.

“We’ll have dinner first,” Anna said. “Then Lily needs to have a bath, and at seven o’clock I put her to bed. You’ll have to wait. I don’t want Lily seeing me when. . . . You can wait in the living room.”

Søren watched her briefly. Could you do that? Postpone dealing with terrible news until a more convenient time cropped up? He went into the living room and sat down in a chair. Wasn’t that precisely what he had done, when he put the four baby pictures of Maja in a box in the basement? Pressed on as though nothing had happened? Lily peeked at him from the doorway, and he smiled at her. Anna came into the living room to fetch a bowl and glanced at him quickly.

“Do you have children?” she asked.

“I called you yesterday. Twice. Why didn’t you answer?” Søren said, ignoring her question.

“I was . . . out,” Anna replied swiftly and headed back to the kitchen with the bowl.

“Where?”

“I’m afraid I can’t tell you that.”

Søren sighed, then he wrinkled his nose.

It was the second time today he had been given the brushoff.

Chapter 11

Anna knew perfectly well she hadn’t bumped into the World’s Most Irritating Detective in the supermarket by accident. She had spotted him outside the entrance to Johannes’s stairwell, been aware he had run after her, and had seen him throw up his hands in frustration when the bus pulled out. How he had ended up in her living room doing a jigsaw puzzle with Lily while she was cooking dinner was beyond her. When the potatoes had boiled, she mashed them with angry movements and slammed the plates down on the kitchen table. She hated him! Since he had entered her life, less than a week ago, everything had started to unravel. How dare he buy a loaf of bread for Maggie; how dare he carry her daughter? She wanted him to leave her alone, and she didn’t want to hear what he had come to say. Johannes must not be dead. Tears started rolling down her cheeks. The steamy mashed potatoes were in a bowl in the sink, and suddenly she slumped forward as if she had been stabbed.

When she had composed herself, she fetched Lily from the living room.

“Dinner’s ready, Lily,” she said and shot the World’s Most Irritating Detective a look of disapproval. If he thought she would invite him to eat with them, he could think again. Once he was off duty, he would undoubtedly go home to his trophy wife with her shiny white teeth and her golden skin, and they would cuddle up on their designer sofa and he would think how lucky he was with his Pernille or his Sanne or whatever her name was, everything so picture perfect. But now, while he was still on duty, he was playing at being a social Robin Hood, watching her, poor struggling Anna, with his dark brown eyes and his healthy freckles; he might at least have the decency to leave his freckles in his locker when he arrived for work in the morning; his farm-boy freckles were an insult to criminals everywhere and to Anna in particular. How she hated him!

Later, when Lily had fallen asleep, she went to the living room and found the World’s Most Irritating Detective in a chair by the window. He was looking down at the street.

“It’s very cold and dark outside,” he remarked.

“Really!”

The World’s Most Irritating Detective slowly turned his head and looked at Anna, who had sat down on the sofa, as far away from him as possible.

“Why are you so angry?” he asked.

Anna scowled at him. The scent of Lily still lingered on her clothes; putting her to bed had been a struggle and when she had finally nodded off, Anna had sat on the floor watching her. Eventually, she had got up and left the bedroom, suddenly pleased Søren was there, glad she wasn’t alone.

“I’m so angry I could kill someone,” she hissed, and looked first at her hands and then at him. Søren leaned forward and looked compassionately at her.

“Johannes is dead. But I imagine you’ve already figured that out. He was murdered.”

Anna stared at him blankly.

“Anna, did you kill him?” Søren said gravely.

“Yes, of course I did. Heaven forbid I should have a single friend left in the world,” she said, sounding forlorn.

“Is that a no?” he asked.

“Yes. That’s a no.” The tears started falling and she wiped them away with an irritated movement.

“What happened?” she asked. “Who did it?”

Søren shook his head as though he was deliberating what he could or couldn’t tell her, but in the end he seemed to reach a decision. Even sitting here, off duty, in the living room of a potential suspect was compromising, Anna thought, so he might as well go the whole hog.

“I don’t know,” he said. “He was killed in his apartment. That much I do know. He’s been dead about twenty-four hours, and . . .”

Anna’s eyes widened.

“That can’t be right,” she exclaimed, triumphantly, as if it meant Johannes couldn’t be dead after all. “I got a text message from him this morning.” She fetched her bag. “See for yourself,” she said, tossing her cell to Søren with the text message open. He studied the message for a long time and scrolled down, she noticed, probably to check the date and time the message had been received.

“What does it mean?” Anna asked.

Søren said nothing, nor did he look at her. Instead he stared into space and seemed to be pondering something. When he finally became aware of her, his eyes were somber.

“The text message is from Johannes’s killer.”

Anna was mystified.

“We haven’t been able to locate Johannes’s cell phone,” Søren continued. “It’s likely the killer took it and, to buy himself time, he probably replied to your message and any others, so no one would get suspicious.” He looked at Anna.

“Johannes was killed by repeated blows to the back of his head. It was messy, blood everywhere,” he went on, observing her closely. He noticed when she moved her foot and when she cleared her throat, his face contracted imperceptibly. It was eerie, and suddenly Anna felt scared.

“This is completely illegal, isn’t it?” she demanded. “Aren’t you being totally unprofessional? Waiting for me in the supermarket, pretending to be shopping when really you were following me? That’s harassment.”

Søren got up and sat down on the sofa next to Anna.

“Hey,” she growled and tried to get up, but Søren grabbed hold of her and pulled her back down.

He held her by the shoulders and hissed, “I’ve had enough of you, Anna Bella.” His grip was vice-like. “I’ve had enough of you refusing to cooperate. I’ve been a police officer for many years, and I’ve never had a case as impenetrable as this, and the last thing I need is a stubborn suspect who, for reasons utterly beyond my comprehension, acts as if the police in general and me in particular were put on this earth to annoy her. I can see it’s not easy for you, Anna. I really can. A young child, a demanding dissertation, and now two sudden deaths. I can understand you’re scared and angry and beside yourself. But I don’t understand why you’re angry with me. I’m your only friend in this whole crappy business.” He let go of her.

Anna yelled, “You’ve bruised me. Are you out of your mind? You can’t manhandle me, you unprofessional shit.”

Søren got up and went to the window.

“Then make a formal complaint, Anna. Go to the station tomorrow and do it. You’ve been uncooperative, and you’re technically still a suspect. Did you kill Professor Helland? Is that what you do when you get angry? Do you get so mad that you kill? And what about Johannes? Did you get angry with him, too? Did he tell you a few hard truths and you went berserk? Was that what happened? And what about Lily? Judging by your behavior, I ought to have her taken to child protective services. You’re mentally unstable, anyone can see that, and it might be better for your daughter to grow up away from you. So, go ahead, Anna Bella. You file that complaint.” Søren looked calmly at her while he spoke, and when he had finished, he turned again to the window.

Anna’s heart was racing and she gasped for breath. Søren had said terrible things, he suspected her, he had found her Achilles’ heel, but to hell with it. She couldn’t imagine life without Lily. Søren stared into the darkness. Anna noticed his right hand was shaking.

“I’ll help,” she croaked. “I promise to help you.”

Søren turned around slowly and looked at her for a long time, then he nodded.

“Some woman was in love with Johannes, and she . . . bothered him,” she said. “A woman he had met at this club he goes to . . . the Red Mask.”

“A woman?” Søren raised his eyebrows and looked at Anna.

“I’m not sure . . . I assumed it was a woman. I thought that’s what he said. Someone he got along with, but he wasn’t in love with her, and I think she freaked out because she was in love with him.” Anna squirmed as she realized how little attention she had paid. “He told me last Monday, but I was too preoccupied with my own problems,” she added, miserably. “But there was someone who wouldn’t leave him alone, who kept calling and . . .”

“We’ve found some e-mails on Johannes’s computer,” Søren said, looking pensive. “They were sent from an account in the name of Donald Duck and the sender calls himself YourGuy, so we think it might be a man. Ring any bells?”

Anna shook her head and stared out of the window.

“It just seems . . . so extreme to kill Johannes,” she said. “He’s the nicest person in the world! He never argues with anybody. That’s what makes him so irritating,” she added. “Johannes sees the good in everyone.” She froze, realizing she had used the present tense.

“Johannes had falling out with Professor Helland,” Søren protested.

“No, definitely not. Helland and Johannes were friends. Johannes got really uptight if I ever dared criticize Helland even a little.” Anna replied as though Søren’s statement had been a question.

“Anna, I’m telling you Helland and Johannes had clashed. We have it in writing, a long e-mail exchange that began before the summer and was still ongoing. Helland wasn’t pulling his weight regarding a paper they were meant to cowrite. Johannes appears to have been dissatisfied with Helland’s contribution and upset that Helland was making so little effort. Did Johannes ever mention this?”

Anna looked wretchedly at Søren. “No,” she whispered.

“And you never noticed his relationship with Professor Helland was strained?”

“No.” She jerked her head and stared at Søren. “You’re not insinuating Johannes killed Helland, are you? That’s outrageous. Johannes is the sweetest man I know, he would never . . .” She clutched her forehead.

“Anna,” Søren assured her. “I’m not insinuating anything. I’m just trying to make sense of it. That’s all. Why do you think Johannes never told you anything?”

“Because I’m utterly self-centered,” Anna said in a chastened voice.

“Pardon?” Søren said.

“Nothing,” Anna replied.

Lily appeared in the doorway, dangling Bloppen in one hand.

“I can’t sleep,” she said, drowsily. “Bloppen is being noisy.”

The World’s Most Irritating Detective sat down and looked at Lily. Now alert, she glanced from her mother to Søren.

“Darling, you need to go back to bed,” Anna said, wearily.

“Bloppen is jumping up and down in my bed,” Lily complained.

“It’s late, darling,” Anna pleaded and got up.

“But Bloppen is reading my books,” Lily persisted. “While he sings.”

“No wonder you can’t get to sleep,” Søren said. Anna wanted to explode. Pig! How dare you talk to my daughter when you’ve just threatened to take her away from me? Søren looked at Lily.

“He makes so much noise,” Lily said, shy, but pleased to have an audience.

“Why do you think he makes a noise when you’re trying to sleep? That’s not a nice thing to do.”

“Bloppen teases me,” Lily complained.

She toddled further into the living room, past Anna as if she didn’t exist, and up to Søren where she stopped in front of his legs. She reached almost up to his chest and her nightgown touched the floor. She dumped the naughty toy dog on Søren’s lap.

“Shall we ask him why he’s so noisy?” Søren suggested.

Lily nodded.

“I’m a police officer,” Søren said, conspiratorially. “It’s better if I ask the questions, isn’t it? Then Bloppen might think you’ve called the police because he was noisy.”

Lily thought that was an excellent idea.

Søren picked up Bloppen, narrowed one eye and looked at him sharply. “Bloppen,” he said. “Why are you noisy, why do you read Lily’s books, sing, and jump in her bed so she can’t sleep?”

Lily stared at Bloppen, she was mesmerized. Søren barked like a dog.

“Oh, no,” he said. “I’m afraid I don’t understand what he’s saying.”

Lily looked terribly disappointed.

“However, I believe you speak dog language. I think your mom told me.”

Lily turned to Anna, beamed, and looked back at Søren again.

“Oh, yes,” she said. “Bloppen says he’s only teasing me because he feels sad.”

“What’s he sad about?” Søren asked.

Lily asked Bloppen very earnestly and listened carefully when he barked his answers.

“He’s sad because someone’s teasing his mom. Teasing her a lot. And now she’s not happy anymore.”

Søren looked at Lily for a long time before he said: “Shall we agree I’ll catch the people who have been teasing Bloppen’s mom, so Bloppen will be happy again and you can get some sleep?”

Lily nodded.

“Shake on it,” he said, offering her his shovel-size hand. Lily gave him her small pink hand. “I’ll tell Bloppen and you as soon as I’ve caught them, promise.”

Lily nodded, satisfied. Then, somewhat at a loss, she turned to Anna, who said, “Come on, darling. I’ll take you back to bed.”

“No, I want him to do it,” Lily said, pointing at Søren.

“No, Lily.”

“Yes,” she said, pouting. “I want him!”

Søren rose and sent Anna a placatory glance. Then he took Lily’s hand and off they went.

Then something happened that had never happened before. Lily let go of Søren’s hand, went back to Anna and kissed her. A small, dry kiss on the cheek.

“You love me, Mom,” she said.

Ten minutes later Søren returned. Anna sat on the sofa, still dazed. Søren took the chair from the window, placed it with its back facing Anna, and sat down astride it.

“Anna,” he began. “Three and a half days have passed since Lars Helland was found dead, and all I know is how he died; apart from that I’ve got nothing. Today we found Johannes’s body and, again, I’ve got nothing.”

“Do you think I did it?” Anna breathed.

Søren looked at her for a long time.

“Right now I can’t eliminate anyone. But if you ask me, off the record, now that I’ve carried your shopping home and put your daughter to bed, I’m pretty sure you have nothing to do with Helland’s or Johannes’s death. But I have to get to the bottom of this, and I need your help.”

“How?” Anna suddenly detected a flicker of growing interest.

“Number one, stop being so hostile,” he said. Anna looked down. “Do you think you can do that?”

“Suppose so,” she mumbled.

“Number two, keep your eyes and ears open around the institute and report back to me. Your world is uncharted waters to me, and I’m ashamed to admit I’m having problems navigating it. Everyone’s cooperating, answering the nice policeman’s questions, but I get nowhere. You can help me because you speak their language, you understand their rivalries, you can see through them—I hope. Or better than I can,” he added. “Help me find Dr. Tybjerg, for example. I think he’s hiding, but why? Help me understand Johannes. You were his friend. You must know what he was like. Are you sure he wasn’t gay? Was he seeing someone? Can you think of anything that might help the investigation? Did he ever mention anyone who might have reason to dislike him? Everything, Anna. I need help with everything!”