‘How can I misunderstand you when you haven’t told me anything?’
Lovísa smiled. ‘You’ve got a point. No doubt she’s had lovers from time to time, without necessarily sharing the fact with me. On the other hand – and this is something I don’t want to see in any police file—’ She broke off and regarded Helgi in silence.
‘OK, we’ll keep this between ourselves for now,’ he said reluctantly.
‘You must promise me that. I’m only telling you this in case it can help Elín, but you mustn’t quote me. Least of all to them.’
‘Them?’
‘Rut and Thor.’
Helgi drew his brows together and leaned forwards in his seat.
‘Is she having an affair with Thor?’
‘Goodness me, no. But they knew each other first – Elín and Thor. They were together for a while before Rut arrived on the scene.’
‘Elín and Thor?’
‘Yes.’
‘How long for?’
‘Several months, when we were at school.’
‘And Rut doesn’t know?’
‘No. And it must stay that way. I don’t think she’d ever get over the news. Thor means the world to her. She could never bear to share him with another woman, even if it was all in the past.’
So, one thing was clear, then: Thor had lied to Helgi, at least once.
‘You studied law together, I gather, you and Elín…’
‘Yes.’
‘Did Elín finish her law degree?’ he asked, although he already knew the answer.
‘No, it wasn’t for her. She dropped out in her fourth year.’
‘Did she study something else?’
‘She worked in a school for a while, then went to teacher training college. After that she was a teacher for many years, as you probably know.’
‘Yes. And then she started writing.’
‘That’s correct.’
Helgi was still trying to process the news about Elín and Thor.
‘Thank you for the cake,’ he said, then added cautiously: ‘I’m afraid I’ll have to talk to Thor about this.’
Lovísa didn’t react.
‘I’ll have to ask him about their relationship, I hope you understand that.’
‘It was nothing, Helgi. They simply knew each other when they were young, they dated for a short time, then Rut came along. Please, for my sake, leave it alone.’
Helgi gave her a friendly smile.
