He sat down on the chair by the bed and stared at his wife. Patted her arm and mumbled something.

Didn’t you know how ill she was I asked.

Yes well he said but things were complicated. No one knew when she’d die. I couldn’t leave my job with no fixed return.

Have you phoned katarina’s brother I asked but he shook his head. Hadn’t had the time to. Too much on you know. So what happens now he asked as if I were an expert on how to follow up when someone had died.

You have to arrange her funeral I said. Call nordins and order a coffin.

Funeral he said stressing the word. That could take weeks.

It won’t do. Can’t you he said. Can I what I asked. Fix it. All of it if I send you money.

I wanted to know what he meant by all of it.

You know all the crap one has to get fixed. Funeral. House-cleaning. Selling the house and her things. You’ll get half of everything if you agree.

And are you still married. 83

Yes he answered after a pause. At least I think so. We put in for a divorce last time I came back here but I don’t think it’s through the system yet. I guess you’re thinking about the inheritance. I don’t need the money but it’s better that I look after her stuff rather than letting her relatives get their hands on it.

Why is that I wondered and tried to think if there were any other siblings. But stefan was the only one I could remember. He was a few years older than us and had moved to ume.

Anyway we were married after all.

And now you want the money but without staying around.

Something like that. So you get in touch about when the funeral is and I’ll come. I haven’t said yes yet I reminded him.

He looked me over. I know who you are he said. Katarina has told me about you. And given what you did to her you ought to do your bit free of charge.

Fair enough I said. For katarina I’d happily work for free. Trouble is she’s dead.

He shook his head and gave me a mean glance. What do you want he said in the end.

I want nothing to do with your inheritance. If you want me to be in charge of the whole thing you’ll have to pay me. On one hand there’s what it costs to be buried in a proper coffin with flowers and churchhall coffee. Nordin will invoice you for that side of things. But I want fiftythousand for the job.

I thought it would be over the top and hoped he would say no way but instead he carried on negotiating. Demanded a spec for what my pay would cover.