Helgi nodded, refusing to let Orri rile him.
‘I don’t believe so. She’s had a spotless record for as long as I’ve known her, has Cousin Ella. I doubt she’s ever so much as got a parking ticket, let alone anything more serious. I expect she got any bad stuff out of her system in her books. Isn’t it often the way? People write the darkness out of themselves.’
‘Do you rate her books?’
‘That’s a strange question.’ The philosopher smiled. ‘Yes, I grew up with them, started reading them in my teens. Her stories had a certain charm, but then I wasn’t exactly unbiased. My parents were terribly proud to be related to her. For a long time they hoped I would be a writer too. Of course, I’m always writing something – it’s in the genes – though with me it’s more academic articles or reflections of a general nature. No murders in my case.’
Helgi rose to his feet. Elín’s cousin could provide no answers to the only question that mattered: Elín’s current whereabouts.
But Orri sat fast.
‘It’ll all land on me, then,’ he said reflectively.
‘What?’
‘All the hassle, if Cousin Ella is dead. That’s going tobe quite a tall order – winding up her estate, organizing the funeral. Since I’m her closest relative. To be honest, I’ve never stopped to think about it before; about the fact that I’ll be responsible for helping the nation mourn their favourite writer. Well I never. Still, it can’t be helped. Let’s just hope the dear woman gets in touch very soon…’
‘Yes, of course, that’s what we both hope.’
‘How does it work, by the way?’
‘How does what work?’
‘Well, I don’t quite understand. Is she already presumed dead?’
‘Dead?’
‘Yes, given that no one’s heard from her for a while.’
‘Actually, it’s not that simple. It can take quite a long time for someone to be officially declared dead.’ Helgi tried to remember the time frame – he’d read up on it once. ‘Anything up to three years, if my memory is correct, but it can probably be shorter in certain circumstances…’
‘Three years, you say…’
Helgi could have sworn there was a hint of disappointment in Orri’s expression.
‘I’m sure you’ll sort it out – you’ll find her, I mean,’ the philosopher said after a pause.
‘I’m confident of that.’
‘It’s quite a fortune she’s built up, I understand.’
Helgi didn’t reply.
‘Am I right? Or haven’t you looked into that yet? I remember hearing it somewhere – a pretty healthy annualincome, way more than your average author. How much do you reckon we’re talking about?’
‘I really couldn’t say. We haven’t been focusing on that side of things. It’s hardly a priority at this stage.’
‘No, no, fair enough. Of course not. The most important thing is that Ella is safe.’ Orri stood up at last. ‘Although I’m not religious, I’ll pray for her.’
2005
[hissing]
Are you ready to continue?
Yes, I think so. Thank you again for your patience, and for agreeing to do this in the first place.
On the contrary, it’s my pleasure. It’s wonderful to have the opportunity for an in-depth conversation with you. A journalist’s work, by the nature of it, often means we don’t get a chance to dig below the surface of a subject. Everything has to be ready the same day, there’s no time for news analysis, no money for… Sorry, I’m getting sidetracked, but you understand.
