‘No, it’s been a while. Of course, I was expecting her to be here this evening. Are the police looking for her? She hasn’t been reported missing, has she?’
‘Not yet, no.’
‘My goodness, I can hardly take this in. Is there any way I can be of help? Naturally, I’ll do everything in my power…’
Helgi drew the birthday card from his pocket.
‘I believe she was intending to give this to you. She hadn’t written anything in the card, but it was accompanied by a present.’
‘Oh?’
Helgi handed him the card.
The lawyer opened it to reveal the tickets.
‘Is that your team, Arsenal?’
‘Yes, yes, that’s right.’
‘Two tickets for a game next year. Very expensive tickets, from what I can see. Were you in the habit of giving each other expensive gifts? Or was there something more behind this?’
‘Good God, no, nothing like that. You mustn’t misunderstand…’ Baldur paused to take a deep breath, then continued: ‘It wasn’t like that at all. Elín and I are just friends. I believe she has only ever had friendships. But the thing is, well… I’ve handled various matters for her, legal business, you know the sort of thing. She had her two friends from the legal world, me and Lovísa. But since Lovísa was a judge for many years, she wasn’t in a position to assist Elín with her routine affairs. Naturally, it never entered my head to take payment from Elín for this assistance. I’m not exactly short of money…’ He surveyed his surroundings as if to demonstrate his affluence by drawing attention to the immaculate walnut shelves and the tooled leather bindings of the books. ‘But Elín used to give me generous gifts. I couldn’t stop her. So it’s more than likely that the tickets and card were intended for me. Perhaps she got in touch with my wife to work out a suitable date when she bought the tickets.’
‘What kind of affairs?’
At first Baldur didn’t seem to understand Helgi’s question, but after a moment he replied: ‘Ah, I see. I read over her contracts with foreign publishers, or the most important ones, at least. Naturally she had agents working for her in those days, but she liked to have someone look over the documents for her when large sums were involved. I drew up a will for her as well, and other things like that.’
‘When did she make a will?’
Baldur hesitated before answering.
‘Naturally, this conversation is confidential, as you mentioned. In which case, I feel there’s no harm in yourknowing that a will exists – most people make one, after all…’
This was yet another illustration of their difference in outlook. Perhaps most people made a will in Baldur’s world, in which people owned large houses in the exclusive Thingholt district, but such a thing had never crossed Helgi’s mind. His father hadn’t made a will either, but then he had only left behind conventional worldly goods, such as a modest property with a mortgage – in addition to the bookshop and its priceless contents, of course.
Baldur hadn’t finished: ‘However, I’m not sure if it would be appropriate for you to have any further information at this point.’
‘So you can’t tell me who the beneficiaries are? We must be talking about quite a substantial legacy.’
‘I don’t have much information about that side of things, though of course she sold an awful lot of books in those twenty years and is no doubt still receiving royalties. But bear in mind that, to the best of our knowledge, Elín is still alive. Which makes this conversation rather premature, don’t you think?’
‘We’re concerned about Elín’s safety, which makes it vital to get hold of all the information we can. I hope you understand that? I need to have a sense of the bigger picture.’
‘Would you allow me a little time to think it over, Helgi? But right now I need to show my face at my own birthday party. The news you’ve brought me is deeply concerning and I hope to goodness Elín is all right. Could we meet tomorrow afternoon? By then I’ll have had a chance toconsult my partners at the practice about just how far we feel we can go.’
‘Of course. Thank you for being kind enough to give me your time. I apologize for barging in uninvited like this.’
‘No problem at all. Stay on if you’d like; there’s more than enough food and champagne.’
‘Thank you, but I’m afraid I must run.’
‘Can I keep the tickets? To the game?’
‘Er, well… yes, I suppose so…’ Helgi said. ‘Let’s hope you’ll have an opportunity to thank Elín in person before too long.’
‘I sincerely hope so,’ Baldur said warmly. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow, then. Shall we say at three?’
‘Great.’
