What, he would never remember. Just that he screamed out his terror and then felt Theodor’s hand in his. He would never be able to explain how it got there, or how he managed to hold on to it even when the metal they were standing on disappeared. Nor would he be able to recount the sequence of events after that. All he knew was that eventually they were lying on the bridge with their arms around each other.

Too tired to speak.

To cry.

Think.

Maybe they fell asleep.

Maybe not.

80

Fabian was sitting in the car with Theodor sleeping next to him when his phone shattered the silence, not for the first time but the third. Sonja again, of course. No wonder she was beside herself with worry. The problem was, he didn’t know what to say to her. How he was ever going to be able to put what he and Theodor had just been through into words.

Maybe that was exactly what it was like for her with the events of a month ago. Maybe what her lover had put her through was beyond words, too. Regardless, he would never ask her about it again. Never ever.

But when his phone rang a fourth time, he had to pick up. ‘Hi, Sonja,’ he said softly, not to wake Theodor. ‘I’m sorry I haven’t called. But—’

‘Sonja?’ a woman on the other end cut in. ‘Hmm… Beautiful name. Unfortunately, not mine.’

‘I’m sorry, who am I talking to?’

‘Sure, I could give you a name. I could give you several. Sadly, they won’t be of any use since we weren’t properly introduced when we met. But how about a clue? Hearts.’

‘Spades,’ replied Fabian, who now recognized the voice of the woman from the swingers’ club.

‘Nice one. Impressive, actually. Maybe you’re not so dumb after all.’

‘I’m sorry, what do you want? It’s half eleven at night and—’

‘Oh dearie me. I didn’t realize you were in your jammies and off to dreamland. And there I was, thinking you lived a slightly more exciting life than that. Being an officer of the law and all.’

‘What’s this about?’

‘Why don’t we start by acknowledging that I’ve been a good citizen and asked around a bit on your behalf.’

‘Asked around about what?’

‘Maybe you’re too tired and need your beauty sleep, I don’t know. If not, you’d better mosey on over to Denmark, because rumour has it Columbus himself is planning to grace a private event in Snekkersten with his presence tonight.’

81

The moment the door opened and Ingvar entered the bedroom, she closed her eyes. Until that point, she’d been lying on the outermost edge of the mattress, trying to sleep.