Josephine had mentioned a chorus. People were always full of unpredictable interests. Apparently this young bicycling enthusiast from North Jutland liked to sing. Allegra, or something, maybe Jeppe could find a pamphlet somewhere. He flipped through a binder of bills and correspondence from Malthe’s workplace and his union, looked through his nightstand drawer and in a stack of magazines by the TV. Nothing.

He lucked out in the kitchen. In between some local newspapers was a green handbill, about five by eight inches, advertising the chorus group’s retreat at the end of May. Jeppe read on the back of the brochure that the chorus was called A-choir and that it was for men only. All ages were welcome, but applicants had to submit an audition recording to join plus be able to spend every Tuesday night rehearsing at Absalon’s Church.

Jeppe set the pamphlet in a folder and put it in his bag. Just as he was leaving the kitchen he noticed a drawing hanging with magnets on the fridge. It depicted two men in some kind of wrestling match, drawn with charcoal and pencil on white paper. Both men were naked. He recognized the lines right away.

The drawing looked like the ones in Oscar Dreyer-Hoff’s room.

CHAPTER 16

“What a pleasant surprise. And so late in the day, too. It’s almost seven, don’t you ever knock off work?” Mads Teigen held out his hand to help Anette ashore from the boat. She pretended not to notice and hopped off on her own.

“During an investigation like this, there’s no such thing as knocking off work.”

“Of course.” He found a soft pack of cigarettes and lit one.

The short boat ride had passed in silence. Anette had to work up her courage to ask the question she had come for, and it annoyed her.

“So what can I do for you?”

That intense look again, that sea-green gaze, that electric charge. Anette averted her eyes.

“How long have you worked here at the fort?”

“Almost a year.”

“Do you know Oscar, the boy who’s missing?” The words stuck in her throat.

“What do you mean?” He froze, the cigarette in the corner of his mouth.

“Henrik Dreyer-Hoff said that you have shown them around the fort several times, that you have spoken with Oscar and told him about the birds.”

Mads looked at her. It was impossible to tell what was going through his head. Those dark brows moved together over his nose.

“I’d remember it if I’d met him multiple times. It’s possible they’ve been here and I haven’t noticed them, but I don’t know them.” He inhaled and smiled at her. “It must have been the previous fort caretaker.”