*

I came to lying on the floor of her flat. She was washing my face with a wet hand towel and I discovered to my surprise that I could lift my left arm – not without pain though – to touch my chin, which felt looser than it had.

‘How do you feel?’ she asked with a concerned look.

‘Like I’ve been butchered in bright daylight and woken up in the arms of Maria Magdalena.’

‘What happened?’

‘Someone doesn’t like me visiting you. I assume that with your show and then your withdrawn private life – excuse me for being so personal – you have a long queue of rejected suitors out there.’ I motioned towards the door. ‘Perhaps this was someone who wanted to jump that queue.’

She shook her head as if to say she couldn’t believe that.

‘Unless you know more about this case than you’re letting on and someone wanted to warn you … through me.’268

‘What case? Johnny Solheim?’

‘Yes…’

‘I told you I don’t—’

‘Yes, but my memory’s so bad.’ I put my hand to my face. ‘Someone must’ve done something to my head since I last saw you.’

She sat looking at me. ‘Should I ring for a taxi? You can’t stay here.’

‘No?’

‘No.’

‘Are you expecting someone?’

‘No.’

‘Who are you actually, Belinda Bruflåt?’

‘A very ordinary girl from Lindås who plays…’ She searched for the right words.

‘A dangerous game?’

‘A role she hasn’t learned all the script for. Here. I’ll help you.’

She passed me her hand and I stood up. My face was wet, my shoulder, chest and chin ached and the monsoon in my blood had risen to my head and become a typhoon.

‘Shall I ring for a taxi?’

I made a dismissive gesture. ‘I’ll drive my own car. Just point me to the town and…’

She looked at me with concern.

I looked back. I tried to see Bella Bruflåt in her, but it was impossible. We had reached the point in the script where she didn’t know her lines. Or she did, but was putting on an act.

She stood by the door until she was sure I had got to the front entrance and left safely.

Outside the block I drew the cold winter air into my lungs and scanned the scene carefully before I made my way into open 269terrain. The parked cars were like carnivores ready to pounce and I walked past with trepidation, all my senses on high alert.

But none of them leaped at my throat. Their headlights didn’t blink as I walked by.

I found my Toyota, checked there was no one in the back, settled into the front seat, gripped the wheel and whispered: ‘Find the way, my sweet angel.’

Then I let it fly me home without pressing a pedal in protest.

270

37

The following day the sky was like a sheet someone had hung out to dry the night before, it was so rigid it could have stood up without any help.