Cover

Maps

Epigraph

The weak man chooses the devil

– the strong man the sea.

Doggerian saying

Prologue

PROLOGUE

A rushing sound in his ears. A torrent draining his arms and legs of strength. Hot blood surging to his head, making his face boil in the cold light from the TV.

It’s a short segment, the image of her face flashes by. Naked, serious. The quick glance into the camera. Just a few seconds, four, maybe five. Then it’s over.

But long enough for him to see.

The smugness, the self-righteousness. The hypocrisy. The big fucking lie. The face of a person who knows her worth. As though she actually imagines she has any.

As though she were something other than a stupid bitch.

The remote hits the wall as his roar fills the room.

Is he the only one who sees it? Is he the only one who sees through the charade? Is it really his fucking responsibility to put things right?

His body is heavy in the armchair, pulling him down, and for a moment, he thinks he just can’t do it. Not again. He should give up, let her get away with it. There are others, there will be others like her, others he won’t be able to sort out. He has done his fair share; it’s someone else’s turn now.

He could let this one get away.

Could.

Could have.

If she hadn’t pushed herself on him, invaded his home through the TV. Yes, maybe he could have let her get away if she hadn’t forced his hand. But she’s asking for it. Begging.

And he’s going to give it to her.

He’s going to turn on his computer, watch the segment again. Stare at that face, again and again, until his strength returns. One last time.

Chapter 1

1

She’s annoyingly beautiful. Tall and dressed all in white, in stark contrast with the group of mostly black-clad people watching her. A beauty of the kind that seems to soar slightly above the crowd. Divinely exalted by her looks, her way of speaking, moving, gesticulating, as well as – in all fairness – the fact that she is also physically elevated about three feet above her onlookers.

Karen studies the woman on the small stage at the other end of the room and curses herself for having agreed to come.

‘Why don’t you swing by the studio,’ Leo had said. ‘We’re going to celebrate finally wrapping up.’

He’d sounded happy, almost out of breath, on the phone this morning. And sure, she hadn’t minded stopping by with the keys to the new locks, since she was heading into town anyway. Not because she was curious, just as a favour.

‘That way, you get to meet her, too,’ Leo had added.

No explanation needed for whom he meant.

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