Part 13 (2/2)

Anne-Lise must have prepared this little talk for her first customer since Pauls directive. Malene notices that her eyeliner has been freshened up, probably just before she came in.

With an obvious effort, she turns to Malene. So, I went on to phone a string of offices in Koszalin. I was told that all the papers in the town had been taken to the German Bundesarchivs Ostdok division in Bayreuth. I phoned Bayreuth and got them to give me the details of where the Koszalin doc.u.ments are stored. Look, Ive written down the phone number and I have an e-mail address for you as well.

Malenes arms are stretched across the tabletop. One elbow obscures some of the text that she and Frederik have been working on.

She hesitates, then glances at Frederik. I couldve sworn the doc.u.ments were here. How strange.

Anne-Lise sounds more certain now. But theyre not. Ive checked everything carefully. Im quite sure.

Right, of course. If you say so.

Anne-Lise puts a sheet of paper on the table. On it shes written a few names, a phone number, and an e-mail address.

Sh.e.l.l get your doc.u.ments. I just wanted to keep you informed. Ill phone these people myself.

Frederik has also placed an elbow on the conference printout. He looks up at Anne-Lise and sounds a little confused.

Did you say all the papers in the town a moment ago? You do know, dont you, that I wasnt looking for papers from the town of Koszalin?

Anne-Lise blinks. What do you mean?

Koszalin is the name of a province as well as a town. Its the doc.u.ments from the small county courts in the province that I need.

In the province ?

Malene picks up the piece of paper with the address written on it. Oh, Frederik, look! Its Ilonas address!

Frederik casts an eye on the paper. Is it? I cant remember.

Yes, of course it is!

Before Frederik has time to reply, Anne-Lise speaks up: Malene! Didnt you tell me to look for the Koszalin court?

No, I didnt. Malene looks at her blandly. I never said that. I know very well that we havent a single doc.u.ment from a town of that size. What I said was the doc.u.ments from Koszalin and from the courts in Grufice, Lobez, and Nowograd.

One of Anne-Lises heels taps audibly against the linoleum-covered floor.

Maybe you said I did say the doc.u.ments from Koszalin.

Anne-Lise purses her mouth. Her lips tighten. She seems on the verge of saying something aggressive, but apparently thinks better of it.

The room is filled for a moment by the dull rumble of a bus pa.s.sing in the street.

Malene breaks the silence. Im one hundred percent sure of what I said, you know.

Anne-Lise doesnt answer.

Malene tries a smile. Anne-Lise, I can understand perfectly well how irritating it must be to have picked up the wrong end of the stick. Maybe I shouldve expressed myself more clearly, but it seemed much more complicated to say it all. We have doc.u.ments from five courts in the province of Koszalin. Their names are Bielograd, Darlowo, Swidwin, Zlocieniek, and Kolobrzeg.

In the street outside another large diesel engine follows the bus.

Then Malene continues: But youre the one whos spent weeks and weeks typing all the information into the database. It simply didnt occur to me that you wouldnt know. Malene breaks off at that point.

Frederik tries to be just as sympathetic. Dont worry about it. It doesnt matter.

Anne-Lise is no longer looking at either of them. She straightens up and appears determined.

Ill find what you want at once. Now that I know exactly what to look for, itll take no time at all.

Malene clutches one of her hands in the other. Great. Youll manage just fine.

chapter 15.

on Wednesday evening one of Rasmuss old friends turns up to talk. Malene fidgets about elsewhere, in the bedroom, the kitchen, the hallway.

She cant help thinking about the office. I did say the doc.u.ments from Koszalin, she tells herself bad-temperedly. Then, suddenly, the evening is over. By the time Rasmuss friend leaves, she has already taken a tablet for her headache.

Both Malene and Rasmus are tired. They sit leaning against the sofa cus.h.i.+ons, one in each corner, with their feet in each others lap. Malene does her finger exercises.

She asks Rasmus what Jonas wanted. It seems Jonas has problems at work.

The sound of the clock radio. Toes on the tiled bathroom floor. Toothpaste. Wafts of damp air from the shower. The smell of Rasmuss deodorant. Cotton wool. Low-fat yogurt. Coffee.

When Malene turns up at the Center on Thursday morning, the others are all in the Winter Garden, standing around Camillas chair. Malene glances quickly at Camilla and sees that she must have been crying.

Even before Malene puts her bag down, Paul explains: Camilla has received one of the e-mails too.

He hands Malene a printout.

ANYBODY WHO HOSTS OR GIVES HELP TO OUR ENEMIES IS OUR ENEMY. YOU, CAMILLA BATZ, WILL DISCOVER THAT COLLABORATORS WHO THINK THEMSELVES INNOCENT OFTEN DIE TOO.

The e-mail was sent yesterday evening, at 9:57 p.m. The sender, as before, is

Malene is outraged. She looks up from the printout and stares at Anne-Lise, who avoids her eyes.

Anne-Lise is leaning against Camillas filing cabinet and resting one of her hands on top of it, next to the postage machine. She doesnt seem as tense as you would expect. How accomplished a liar is she? A good one, to be sure. Just think of how she managed to hide the fact that she hates her colleagues for months. Besides, she might have blanked out writing the e-mails, like the cases of split personality Grith told them about. Maybe shes dimly aware of having done it, as if it were a dream. Malene cannot bear even to look at Anne-Lise, and turns her back to engage with what the rest of the group is saying.

Camilla points at the bottle of whiskey in front of her. Ive had two shots already.

The bottle was a gift to Paul after a lecture. He has brought it over, together with a few small tumblers. Camilla gives a nervous laugh. Its impossible to tell what she is feeling.

Malene wants to tell Camilla how very fond of her she is, but cannot think of a way to put it. Have you called Finn?

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