If I didn’t know better, he thought, I would think she was in love.

“THE LATEST NUMBERS reveal an increase in CO2 emissions this year. Despite the Paris Agreement, which was intended to ensure a reduction or at least a stabilization of the emissions figures, there are many signs that global CO2 emissions are on track to set a new record this year. If we do not significantly reduce greenhouse gas pollution in the immediate—”

Kasper Skytte switched off the radio news broadcast and turned his attention back to the open suitcase on his bed. A pair of shoes, extra pants, T-shirts, and clean underwear for five days, his computer, the most important family photos, the ATM card for the Swiss bank account.

What do you take with you when you don’t know if you’ll ever come home again? When everything needs to fit in your carry-ons so you don’t have to wait in baggage claim and can make a run for it at any given time?

Not very much was the answer; far less than you would want.

He emptied his glass of port and refilled it. A gift from a coworker, probably. He hadn’t given in to his craving to log on for the last four days, but then he had been drinking more than ever. The question was if the one addiction was simply replacing the other, but he would have to deal with that once they had reached safety.

Kasper ran through his mental checklist with his eyes on the open suitcase. Now that running was a reality, he felt strangely serene. It seemed safer to be on the run than to stay back and wait to be exposed.

His only problem was Iben.

Running without her wasn’t an option. She was only fifteen and not ready to live on her own. Plus he loved her. But how was he going to persuade her to go with him?

He closed the suitcase and checked to make sure it wasn’t too full to zip shut. As he set it on the floor he heard the key in the door. It was only two o’clock in the afternoon. She must be ditching her last class. Footsteps followed by a distant rustle told him that Iben had gone straight to her room. It probably didn’t occur to her that he might be home since he normally wouldn’t be at this hour. Kasper waited, heard her opening drawers and moving things around. She was muttering to herself the way one does when one’s upset.