‘Who was her father?’
Lovísa looked at Helgi, her eyebrows raised in surprise.
‘Isn’t it obvious? She’s Thor’s child, of course. Thor was always the great love of Elín’s life. Look, she may have written crime novels, but her own life was more of a tragedy, because all she wanted was to be with Thor. They were together before he met Rut. And they got back together for a while later on – he cheated on Rut and Elín got pregnant. But then Thor made it clear to her that it could never work.Never.That’s an awfully strong word, Helgi. She never found anyone else; she was always single after that. Whereas I had a family, despite all my sins. You have to go on fighting, don’t you? Live life to the full.’
Helgi suddenly saw Elín in a different light. He remembered the author photo on the back cover of her first book, the one he had read on the plane, and now he felt he perceived a sadness behind that ghost of a smile. Had she truly never got over her first love?Had she given up her child to protect the man she loved…
He wished he could meet her and tell her to pull herself together, break out of her shell, make contact with her daughter, find someone to love – as he had found Aníta. Often it turned out that there was something to look forward to just around the next corner.
He tried again: ‘Is Elín alive?’
This time Lovísa shook her head.
‘No, she’s dead.’
‘Did you send the manuscript to Rut?’
‘Yes. I found it at Elín’s house. I wanted you to believe she was still alive. I even took away some of her post and newspapers so it would look as if she hadn’t been missing as long as she had. A desperate attempt to delay the inevitable. You see, I knew – as you’re clearly aware – that the interview was to be published on Elín’s death, so it was hugely important to me that she should be presumed missing, not dead…’
‘When did she die?’
‘We went on a hike. I told you – and other people afterwards – that we’d climbed up Esja and come down again. Plain and simple. In reality, we went a bit further, up to Lake Hagavatn. It was supposed to be a two-day trip, with a night in the hut there.’
‘Was it always your intention to…’ Helgi paused for breath. In spite of everything, it wasn’t easy to accuse this dignified woman of a second murder. ‘Did you choose the place deliberately with that in mind – that Elín was to die there?’
His question seemed to shock Lovísa.
‘What?’ she exclaimed. ‘No, you’ve misunderstood everything, Helgi.’
‘Have I?’
‘I didn’t kill Elín – are you mad? She was my best friend.’
‘And you knew, of course, that her death would in all likelihood lead to the publication of the interview, and the exposure of your secret.’
Lovísa shrugged.
‘Yes, I suppose so, but that’s irrelevant… We were so close – we were like sisters. No, what actually happened was that the hike was too much for her and she had a heart attack. We didn’t have a phone signal there. I tried to save her, did everything I could, but… she just died in my arms. My dear friend.’
‘Wait a minute…’
‘I left her behind. I… Nothing more could be done for her.’
‘Do you know where she is, then?’
‘Of course I do,’ Lovísa replied, as though it went without saying. ‘It’s pretty remote, but I tried to get her body into a sheltered place. I can lead the police to the spot.’
‘Yes, please do that. We’ll try and go first thing tomorrow, as soon as it’s light.’
Helgi finished the last of his coffee, then rose to his feet.
‘Lovísa, you know you’re going to have to come with me now.’
She nodded.
‘I suspected as much.’
‘I’m sorry,’ he blurted out, to his own surprise. Somehow he hadn’t pictured the story ending like this.
