Part 36 (2/2)

Dorte smiles at Iben, but Iben can see shes distracted.

Iben raises her voice. I dont like the idea of going home on my own. Someone has probably just tried to kill me. What will stop her from trying again? Or trying to kill Malene?

Dorte doesnt respond.

You must do something about it, Iben goes on.

Dorte gets out, walks around the car, and opens the door for Iben. She climbs out gingerly. Her coccyx and one of her hands are still sore after her fall.

Earlier, while she was carrying things down to the van, she felt warm. After the accident, she hadnt noticed how cold it had become. When Dorte speaks, her breath condenses into little clouds in the chilly air.

What you have is a typical stress reaction. Its quite natural after an experience like this. Spend the rest of the day with some close friends and take a couple of days off work. Talk to someone about it. And if you still feel on edge you can get free counseling from a trained psychologist because you knew the victim and saw the consequences of the accident first-hand.

Iben thinks that now, for the first time, theres a trace of warmth in this womans officious way of talking.

Id like to help you, but I cant. Im not trained for it. Its not my job.

Iben walks a few paces behind Dorte toward the door to the yard. Maybe she should give in and accept the opinion of the professionals, but something inside her insists that theyre mistaken. What has happened is simply too terrible to be an accident.

She must phone Malene to warn her. Anne-Lise might be on her way to Ibens apartment right now.

She tries to imagine the two police officers telling Malene that Rasmus is dead. G.o.d knows how she will react after having slammed Rasmus for several days. Shouldnt Iben get home as soon as possible? Or would Malene prefer to be alone?

Iben knows that she must go back up to Malenes to fetch her jacket and her bag with her cell phone, wallet, and bicycle keys. But first she has to see the yard once more.

Rasmuss body is covered with a pale gray tarpaulin. It looks like a big sack, suspended only by the thin wire netting. The area around it is cordoned off with red and white tape.

The police photographer has left. An officer is keeping an eye on the place, his hands firmly clasped behind his back. Its quiet. Are there faint noises coming from the neighboring apartments? Or is her hearing overly sensitive? Like the moment in Malenes kitchen did she actually hear the voices?

She moves closer to Rasmuss covered body and looks up at the broken window in the dirty brick wall rising high above her. He landed far away from the wall. He must have slid down the stairs at some speed.

Thats how he was. Always in a rush.

When her father died it was cold too. She paced back and forth in the hospital parking lot, across its hard asphalt. She looks at the surface on which she stands now. Its not black more like a pale gray.

Police tape cordons off the landing where Rasmus fell and the flight of stairs to Malenes apartment. Another officer tells Iben to go back down and then up the back stairs. However, when she explains who she is, he lets her through.

There are no signs of the police having been in the apartment. Everything looks the same as before. Iben uses the telephone to call Malene.

Theyve told you, havent they?

Yes. Malenes voice is composed, low, and without any trace of emotion.

After waiting for her to say something more, Iben breaks the silence. Shall I come home now?

How did it happen?

Didnt they tell you?

Yes. But werent you there?

Iben tries to describe exactly how it was. Then she warns Malene about Anne-Lise, realizing shed rather not go home at all.

When they finish, Iben picks up her bag and her jacket and walks into Malene and Rasmuss living room. She stands there for a moment. There is not a sound to be heard. She walks into the bedroom. It too is quiet. Then she visits every room in the apartment to memorize them. Back in the living room, she calls out in a low voice, Rasmus, Im taking the posters down now.

Silence. She slams the kitchen door behind her and takes the narrow stairs back down. Dorte Jrgensen is still in the yard.

Theres something I didnt tell you earlier.

Dorte looks uninterested.

Something factual.

Dorte turns away from the policeman she was talking to.

Okay. Lets deal with this in the car.

They go to sit in the police car. Iben explains that she thought she heard a womans voice. And that it could have been Anne-Lises.

Dorte pulls out her notebook. Why didnt you tell me that before?

I wasnt sure. It was very faint. A womans voice, I think.

Are you sure that it was Anne-Lises voice?

No, Im not. As I said, I cant be sure.

It could have been, say, Malenes voice?

Why do you ask that?

The most common murderer by far is the spouse or partner.

But I know Malene. Shed never kill anyone.

Dorte looks at her.

Iben repeats herself. Im certain shed never think of doing something like that. She wouldnt. Never.

Take it easy, Iben. I believe you. Youre the one who brought up the idea of murder, not me. Dortes voice drones on monotonously, as if everything she is saying is routine.

If youre sticking to this statement, then I have to pursue it. The apartment will be off-limits for quite some time. My superior will call Malene and your colleague to ask them where they were at the time of the accident and if they can prove it.

Will Malene be questioned?

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