He placed the palm of his hand over his heart, so as to add emphasis to his sincerity.

‘I believe you, my dear Omar,’ Olga said. ‘I believe you.’

She sensed deep inside that this was the truth. She believed him. Sitting in the armchair facing her, he resembled nothing less than an angel, with the morning sun beaming through the window behind him so that he was bathed in its light.

She smiled, and brushed aside all the hesitation and doubt that had plagued her since her conversation with the lawyer. She couldn’t believe anything bad about Omar, her wonderful foster son, her gift from the almighty.

200

84

The moment Björn’s mother opened the door, Daníel knew it had been a mistake to bring Violet here. He had expected a quiet chat over coffee and even a pastry, but it was very clear that the old lady had no intention of inviting them in. She glared with hatred in her eyes at Violet, who seemed to stand taller in response, displaying the clearest look of contempt that he had ever witnessed.

‘What the hell do you want here?’ Björn’s mother snarled, and it took Daníel a moment to realise that he would have to translate. It was obvious that they had met before, but there was a bitter chill between them.

‘She’s asking what we want,’ he said quietly in English, and the old lady nodded. It came as a relief when Daníel realised that she wasn’t going to understand much English, so he would have to translate both ways. That was just as well, as he saw that he would be able to soften the tone of the conversation.

‘Ask her where my daughter is,’ Violet said. ‘Ask if she knows where she might have taken refuge from that vicious son of hers.’

‘We’re looking for Ísafold,’ Daníel said, and the old lady snorted.

‘Then you’re definitely looking in the wrong country,’ she said with a scowl. ‘She walked out on my poor Björn and went back home. And only just engaged. So you can see what her promises are worth,’ she said, with vehemence, spitting out the last few words.

‘She says Ísafold went back to England,’ he told Violet.

‘She hasn’t showed up there, and there’s nothing to show that she went back,’ Violet said, continuing before Daníel could translate. ‘Maybe she’s hiding somewhere that Björn can’t find her and beat her, yet again.’

‘What did she say about Björn? I heard she said something about Björn,’ the old lady said, an accusing finger levelled at Violet.201

‘Were you aware that Björn was violent with Ísafold?’ Daníel asked, and the woman’s face fell. She took a step back and coughed awkwardly.