Probably this was what the proximity of death did to people. It opened up an understanding of the law of cause and effect, so 259that they saw their lives pass by as if projected on a screen. She opened her eyes and little by little emerged from her own deep thoughts as Gunnar’s voice purred, slowly and reassuringly.

116

‘We want the same thing, Óðinn,’ Gunnar said calmly. ‘We both want Úrsúla unharmed. I know you didn’t come here to do her harm, did you?’

Úrsúla felt a shiver pass through Óðinn’s body as he stood close behind her, and she could hear his fast, shallow breaths.

‘It won’t be long before they find out that the car seen by the harbour was rented by the ministry,’ he hissed, his voice taut and his breaths strained, as if coming with an effort. ‘Úrsúla either needs to stop the investigation or say that she asked me to rent the car for her, that she had been searching for Pétur so she could talk to him, and he fell into the water. That way it can be explained as accidental. He’s just as dead either way.’

Gunnar stepped to one side and Óðinn stiffened.

‘Stay still!’ he snapped, and Úrsúla could feel the blade sting as it grazed her skin. A drop of blood ran down her neck to her chest.

Gunnar raised his hands. ‘I won’t move an inch,’ he said. ‘I’ll stay perfectly still. I’m sure there’s a way to stop the investigation. Don’t you think so, Úrsúla?’

Gunnar winked, indicating that she should lie – play along and say what Óðinn wanted to hear, so as to not infuriate him.

The cut to her neck stung like a burn, and the pain of it sent a wave of anger through her. She bit her lip to stop herself from shouting out loud. But then a moment of thankfulness seized her – the knife hadn’t gone deeper – and with that she took her decision. She wasn’t going to play along and take part in Óðinn’s fantasy.

‘It’s over, Óðinn. Whatever happens now, it’s over.’ 260

‘That’s right,’ Gunnar added. ‘It’s only going to make things worse if Úrsúla is hurt…’

He was clearly still working on keeping Óðinn calm, but Úrsúla interrupted him. The burst of adrenaline rushing through her demanded a release.

‘You won’t be working at the ministry ever again, Óðinn! I’ve already seen through you. I saw something today that made everything clear. Jónatan: does that name ring any bells?’

A look of shocked terror appeared on Gunnar’s face, and Úrsúla could feel Óðinn’s anguish as the knife pressed harder against her neck.

‘What do you think you know?’ he hissed.

‘I think I know that you beat my father to death in a cell at the police station all those years ago and you got a young colleague, Jónatan Kristjánsson, to cover it up for you.’

‘I ought to shut you up—’ Óðinn began, until Gunnar yelled at him.