“I don’t know yet. Travel? I still have some money left from selling the house. Maybe I ought to go see the world, before it’s too late.”

“Too late in what sense?” Johannes picked up a stack of papers from the coffee table.

“We only get this one paltry life. You’ve got to squeeze it to the last drop. Isn’t that what you’re always saying?”

“But what about Sara?” Johannes asked.

Jeppe smiled sadly.

“You can’t just give up!”

“Johannes, I can’t give her what she needs. There are kids involved. It’s not fair to ask her to wait while I try to figure out what I want.”

Johannes stared at him blankly, as if he were speaking Korean.

“Now, if you don’t object, I’ll just jump in the water before I go.”

“Suit yourself!” Johannes disappeared into the kitchen.

Jeppe changed into his swim trunks and found a towel and the too small sandals. He walked across the street and out the breakwater to the swimming dock. The little marina was deserted, the masts gleaming silver in the sunlight, making attractive spots for passing gulls to rest. He leaned against the dock’s railing and smelled the ocean. The air had a chilly bite to it, but as long as you were in the sun, it was fine.

Had Jenny’s hands trembled when she took those pictures? When she strangled Malthe and pushed Lis out in front of the train? Or had she just done what she thought anyone in her situation would do? Forced by circumstance.

His heart sank at the thought of Lis, who had just been helping out a colleague. Malthe must have mentioned Lis to Jenny. In all likelihood, it was Jeppe’s own visit to the atelier that had made it clear to Jenny how dangerous it was having Lis around. That it was only a matter of time before Lis realized the significance of what she knew and disclosed it to the police. After Jeppe left her atelier, Jenny had most likely gone straight to the school and waited out in front. One little shove and the problem was solved.

And all for money, to be able to keep her atelier and hold on to her art and her dreams. One misstep had led to the next in a slippery slope of mistakes with fatal consequences.

When you’re passionate about something, you become unscrupulous. When you love, you hurt. Even in the best of families there’s greed and deception, and even in the most profound love, you find hooks and grief.

Jeppe just had to grit his teeth and move on. He had tried failure before and knew it would ultimately make him stronger. Or at least more hardened. That it wouldn’t kill him even if it felt like it now.