Chapter 111
For the first time in several days, the sky is clear above the ?re valley as Hanna sets off for work on Wednesday morning.
All the storm clouds have disappeared, and instead a glowing white half-moon hangs above the mountain known as Renfj?llet, lighting her way as she heads down the steep hill in the direction of Kurortsv?gen and the police station.
The thermometer was showing minus twenty-three Celsius when she opened the front door, but the cold is dry and fresh.
The short walk clears her head. She slept for eight hours, and her strength has returned after the challenges of yesterday.
A small forest hare skitters across the road when she has only a few hundred yards to go.
Daniel turns into the parking lot as she arrives. He doesn’t live far away and can easily walk to work, but today he is driving. His face is grim when he opens the car door, and the sight of Hanna plodding toward him through the snow doesn’t seem to improve his mood.
Her first thought is that he must have seen the articles about her and Henry. Her stomach contracts. She should have said something to him a long time ago, explained the situation.
“Good morning,” she calls out, raising a hand in an uncertain greeting.
Daniel gives a start, and his expression softens when he sees Hanna—she assumes he hadn’t actually noticed her before. It is still dark, and the street lighting is sparse; the sun won’t rise for a few hours.
“Hi.” Hanna can’t bring herself to ask how he is. “Everything okay?”
Daniel presses the key, and the doors lock with a click.
“Could be better.” He gives himself a shake. “Ida was furious yesterday. She had to take care of Alice even though it was my turn to pick her up—you know how late it was when we finished interviewing William. I’m not exactly in her good books.”
He kicks out at a pile of snow, sending crystals whirling through the air as he holds up his phone.
“She messaged this morning to say that Alice was upset because she was the last one left at preschool, so they probably don’t think much of me either.”
“I get it,” Hanna says.
So it’s not about her and Henry at all. She is ashamed of her selfish reaction, but at the same time she can’t help feeling relieved.
“Ida will get over it,” she says. “Shared custody isn’t easy—there are often problems.”
As if Hanna would know—she only has a big, fluffy cat to take care of.
“By the way, I texted Karro yesterday and asked if she knows anyone who can help out with Alice.”
“Thanks.” This doesn’t seem to cheer Daniel up very much.
“Anyway, I’m really grateful that you stayed for the interviews last night,” she says, hoping to boost his mood. “It wouldn’t have worked without you. Just so you know.”
This time he barely reacts. Hanna does understand how difficult it is for him, being torn between work and his responsibility for Alice.
He has told her about the hours of therapy, how he is fighting to be a better father.
And yet he still blames himself for everything that goes wrong.
It’s typical of Daniel—he is always ready to accept responsibility, and never blames anyone else.
Hanna would like to tell Ida to pull herself together. They are in the middle of a homicide investigation, and Daniel’s input is indispensable. Sometimes a murder victim has to take precedence over the task of dropping off and picking up a child from preschool.
But it is not Hanna’s place to lecture Daniel’s ex.
They set off toward the entrance in silence, with Daniel a few steps ahead. Their breath forms white clouds in the air with each step.
Hanna would love to take Daniel’s hand in hers and give it a consoling squeeze.
But how would that look?