‘At Kaffivagninn. It’s been there forever, since before Elín and I were born. Imagine! Traditions are very important, you know. We have our coffee and pancakes, and reminisce about the old days.’
Helgi nodded, but before he could say anything in response Lovísa added: ‘By the way, talking about cakes, you have to try this.’
She had served a cake with the coffee – an orange cake, she’d said. Helgi couldn’t remember eating a cake with that flavour before. He took a mouthful and discovered that it was delicious.
‘So, you’d arranged to meet on Tuesday, but she didn’t turn up?’
Lovísa hesitated for a second.
‘Arranged to meet? Well, not exactly. It’s not something we need to formally arrange, we just turn up there every Tuesday at the same time. If something comes up or one of us is away travelling, we let the other know in good time. That’s how it works. I expect it’s different with you young people nowadays. Everyone so busy rushing around that it’s the exception rather than the rule if people keep their scheduled appointments.’ Again, that tone. She was used to sitting in judgement over people – quite literally.
‘Did you try to get hold of her?’
‘Well, she doesn’t have a mobile phone, so I waited fora while. I assumed she’d been delayed, but after half an hour I gave up.’
‘Was she a creature of habit?’
‘How do you mean?’
‘Did she have other regular appointments apart from her Tuesdays at the café with you?’
Again, Lovísa hesitated perceptibly: ‘Yes, I suppose you could say that. Of course, I don’t keep track of her daily movements, but I know she used to meet our old schoolfriend Thor regularly.’
‘Yes, I’m aware of that. When did you last see her?’
‘Oh, the week before, obviously.’
‘The week before?’
‘The previous Tuesday, I mean.’
‘Lovísa, could you tell me what you talked about on that occasion?’
She shrugged and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, it seemed to Helgi as if she had aged from one moment to the next and now looked her full seventy years.
‘Maybe she wasn’t in the best of spirits that day. She was tired – yes, I thought she seemed tired. A bit down, but… frankly, I don’t feel comfortable talking about my friend’s private affairs – she means a lot to me, you know. On the other hand, I do want to help you as far as I can. Do you see my dilemma?’
Nevertheless, Helgi sensed that with a little encouragement she would open up. The self-confidence he’d been so aware of at the beginning had receded somewhat.
‘I’ll maintain complete confidentiality,’ he assured her. ‘We need to make a concerted effort to find your friend.’
‘Quite, yes. I’m sure you’re right. I feel so certain that she’s OK. I just can’t bear the thought of losing her. My husband’s dead, as I mentioned, and there aren’t that many people I can talk to any more, people who’ve known me a long time, who I’ve known a long time.’
‘We’ll find her; I’m confident of that too.’
‘Anyway, she seemed tired, as I said. I was a little concerned. Not that I’ve ever felt it was my job to be concerned about Elín; she’s always been much stronger than me. Independent, self-confident, honest and determined.’
‘In other words, she looked after you, rather than vice versa?’
A slight smile played over Lovísa’s lips: ‘Well, yes, I suppose you could say that. She looked after me. I’m sorry, I mean shelooksafter me. I’m not going to let myself be sucked into despair. Elín and I will meet again, sooner or later. I’m sure of it.’
‘You said she seemed tired, in rather low spirits. Was she, er, depressed, would you say?’ Helgi asked, noting that Thor had experienced Elín’s mood differently at their last meeting.
Lovísa hesitated again.
‘That’s not really for me to say. I’m not a doctor or a therapist. I’m just a lawyer – I know how to read texts, not people. Perhaps you’re not so far off the mark, though, Helgi. There was a bit of a cloud hanging over her that day, shall we put it like that?’
‘Have you any idea why that might have been?’
