She heard his voice.

What are you doing here?

Piss off.

I don’t want to see you here again.

That’s a warning.

Who did Arthur Grimm think he was? Where had he seen her face before? How could he know that she was after him? She didn’t know him and had assumed that when they met he would take her for a simple passer-by. Norah shook her head, perplexed. Even if Werner had been careless in his research—which Norah knew he never was—how could Grimm have made the connection to her? It was impossible. Norah closed the file, put it in her bag and folded her arms behind her head.

Grimm might know her. But she had never met him until this evening.

29

When Norah returned home the following evening after a hectic day at the office, her thoughts were still focused on Arthur Grimm. It was time to get to the bottom of things; she needed clarity. She had his number from Werner and wasn’t going to think too hard about whether it was a good idea to make use of it. She prepared for the phone call as if it were an important interview, going through various openings, questions and even possible answers in her head. Then she switched off caller ID on her phone. Just because she had Grimm’s number, it didn’t mean he had to have hers. Norah entered the digits. She heard the dialling tone. It rang once, twice. Pick up, she thought. Please. Three times, four times. Then there was a ring at the door.

‘Shit,’ she muttered. She was tempted to go and see who it was, but stayed put. She had to sort this out now. If she couldn’t reach Grimm this evening, she wouldn’t be able to sleep all night. She had to get to the bottom of this without delay. Whoever it was at the door could come back another time. But the doorbell rang again. And again. Fuck. Norah crept to the door as quietly as she could and was about to look through the spyhole when she heard a voice.

‘I know you’re there.’

Theresa.

Norah shut her eyes for a second, not sure whether to be amused or annoyed, and opened the door.

‘Yo,’ said Theresa, holding out her fist to Norah.

Norah bumped fists with her. Theresa grinned.

‘Is it a bad time? I’m going out for a drink with some friends and thought you might like to join us.’

‘I’d love to. But I have to work. I’m sorry.’

‘Oh, come on, you can work later.’

‘No, really, I can’t, I’m afraid. Another time, but not today.’

‘Party pooper,’ Theresa said.

Norah took a deep breath, trying not to show how tense she was. That would only lead to a whole spate of questions.

‘If I finish early I’ll come and find you,’ she said. ‘Promise. But I really must get back to my desk now.’

Theresa snorted.

‘You don’t even know where we’re going.’