‘He’s not right in the head,’ Gunnar said. ‘He’s crazy and desperate. If he’s not on his way to the airport to get out of the country, then he could be heading for Selfoss.’

‘Selfoss?’

‘That’s right. He might well try and attack a man called Jónatan Kristjánsson. He’s the only living witness to a murder that was committed many years ago.’

‘We need the hospital to check you out as well,’ Boris said.

‘The worst of it was having to let the bastard go,’ Gunnar muttered.

Boris laughed. ‘You did the right thing,’ he said. ‘You were the perfect person, in the right place at the right time. You saved her life.’ 264

Gunnar smiled, and in spite of the thundering headache that pounded in his head, he felt the satisfaction of having done right. He had done what he was supposed to do. He had made a difference between life and death.

265

Tuesday

118

Gunnar was more cheerful when he woke up, but he’d had a troubled sleep. Úrsúla had undergone an operation, and Gunnar hadn’t been able to relax during the night until he’d found out she was in what the healthcare professionals called a stable condition. He had only minor injuries himself and had come home late in the night from Accident & Emergency, where they had been treated.

He took a shower, put on clean clothes and picked up a box of chocolates for Úrsúla on his way back to the hospital. She was on a general ward, having been discharged from intensive care. The police officer outside her door sat reading a magazine. He was there primarily to keep the media at bay; Óðinn had been picked up the previous evening as he had driven into Selfoss.

Gunnar leaned over Úrsúla in her bed and gave her as much of a hug as he could. There was a drip in her arm and an oxygen feed in her nose, but otherwise she seemed buoyant. She put her arms around him and held him for a long time, patting his back and whispering that it was good to see him. He straightened up and sat down at her bedside, and they looked into each other’s eyes for a long, serious, thoughtful moment, until Úrsúla finally smiled.

‘It’s pretty wonderful to be alive,’ she said, and he laughed.

‘Has Nonni been in?’ he asked.

Úrsúla shook her head. ‘He was here last night when I came round after the operation, and I had a call from him earlier. He’s not delighted with me right now. With good reason.’ 266

Gunnar reached out and placed a hand on her arm.

‘It’ll sort itself out,’ he said, and Úrsúla was about to reply when there was a knock on the door frame.

‘Am I interrupting?’ Boris asked, and they both said no at the same time. ‘It’s luxurious being a minister,’ he said. ‘Private room and everything. Poor old granny’s in the corridor downstairs because there’s no room to be found for her anywhere in the hospital.’