“This girl was not known to us,” said Tvist. “No records. Perhaps she came looking for a better life.”

The picture had been taken in winter. Blond hair, plaited, worn under a fur hat that covered her ears. Red cheeks, a warm smile. A beautiful child, but not our child.

“From a distance one might indeed think this girl was your daughter. She was also fifteen.”

Elsa took the picture from my hand. “Is this the girl whose body we were shown?”

“We have no record of that.”

She laughed, a bitter, angry sound in that neutral white room.

“Mistakes were made on that day. However . . .” Tvist pinched the bridge of his nose. “This girl’s name is Maria Krikk. My best guess is that Maria traveled unaccompanied, without papers. Disappeared from the radar. There are many such children seeking sanctuary here. Her father and sister have not seen her for eighteen months.”

“She has a sister?”

“A year younger than your Viktoria.”

“If she was living here illegally,” I said, “why go to Garden Island?”

“Maybe she was an idealist? A feminist? Who knows?”

“Makes no sense.”

“To this day we have no concrete evidence that your daughter was ever on the island.”

“There’s her dress,” said Elsa. “Which you failed to find.”

“You are right to point out our mistake.” He looked up, addressed himself to me. “We have searched the island extensively since then. The dress does not make your case. No further evidence has emerged.”

“Just like you found no evidence of an organization,” said Elsa.

“Listen, please, to what I’m saying to you. Maria Krikk is a better fit than Licia Curtis.”

Desperation in Elsa’s eyes. “Search again. Please.”

That same patient smile. “There is nothing more.”

I said, “You have the print from Licia’s shoe on the police boat.”

“A similar shoe. Yes. But we have no such prints on the grass, or on the path, or in any of the other places you might expect.”

“It was dry,” I said.

“Precisely. Doesn’t mean she wasn’t there, but we can’t say that she was. Look . . .” He leaned across his desk. “What I am about to say violates another family’s right to privacy. I need an assurance that you will not publish what I am about to tell you, nor indeed will you discuss it outside this room. Either of you. Do you understand me?”

Elsa nodded. I nodded.