2012
‘It would have been more fun to invite you to my old office down at the District Court, but I don’t have access to it any more.
I’m supposed to be retired, though I’ve seldom felt better.
Of course, I wasn’t allowed to go on working after seventy, but it’s extraordinary how often I catch myself on the point of turning into town, in the direction of the court.
I just feel I still have it in me.’ Lovísa smiled, her eyes twinkling with humour.
Helgi would never have guessed that Lovísa was much more than sixty and he could well believe that she was still bursting with energy. She had a warm manner and reminded him somehow of his mother, different though they were in other respects.
They were sitting in Lovísa’s large house in the attractive suburb of Fossvogur, surrounded by paintings. Every inch of the walls seemed to be taken up with art. Helgi’s gaze fell on a modern oil painting above the fireplace.
‘He’s dead; I lost the dear man many years ago now,’ Lovísa said, following his gaze. ‘My husband, who painted that picture. But he lives on in his art, and in his children and grandchildren. Elín helped me through the grief. I think I can safely say that she’s my best friend.’
‘You met up regularly, from what I’ve been told…’
‘We meet up regularly, I prefer to say. Let’s be clear about this: I have every confidence that my friend is safe and well.’ Lovísa’s tone had abruptly changed, acquiring an authoritative ring. Helgi found it easy to picture her in the judge’s seat, delivering her verdict on a defendant.
‘I can understand why you would feel that,’ he said. ‘But do you have any evidence for believing it?’
‘Apart from wishful thinking, you mean?’
‘Well, yes.’
‘Nothing tangible, admittedly. I don’t know any more than you do. But let’s just say I trust my intuition. Elín loved life and she didn’t have any enemies. No one goes missing, vanishes into thin air, by accident.’
‘Then what do you think has happened?’
‘I think she’s taken herself off somewhere and that she’ll reappear when it suits her. After all, the police haven’t issued an appeal for information, so she may not even know that she’s been missed. I’m right, I’m sure of it. You mark my words.’
That’s wishful thinking speaking, Helgi thought to himself. Aloud, he said: ‘All the same, she should have let you know. You meet up every week, don’t you?’
‘On Tuesdays, yes. At 2 p.m. It’s an old tradition of ours. Actually, more of a rule than a tradition. You’re right.’
‘Where do you meet?’ he asked, though he already knew the answer.
‘At Kaffivagninn. It’s been there forever, since before Elín and I were born. Imagine! Traditions are very important, you know. We have our coffee and pancakes, and reminisce about the old days.’
Helgi nodded, but before he could say anything in response Lovísa added: ‘By the way, talking about cakes, you have to try this.’
She had served a cake with the coffee – an orange cake, she’d said. Helgi couldn’t remember eating a cake with that flavour before. He took a mouthful and discovered that it was delicious.
‘So, you’d arranged to meet on Tuesday, but she didn’t turn up?’
Lovísa hesitated for a second.
‘Arranged to meet? Well, not exactly. It’s not something we need to formally arrange, we just turn up there every Tuesday at the same time.
If something comes up or one of us is away travelling, we let the other know in good time.
That’s how it works. I expect it’s different with you young people nowadays.
Everyone so busy rushing around that it’s the exception rather than the rule if people keep their scheduled appointments.
’ Again, that tone. She was used to sitting in judgement over people – quite literally.
‘Did you try to get hold of her?’
‘Well, she doesn’t have a mobile phone, so I waited for a while. I assumed she’d been delayed, but after half an hour I gave up.’
‘Was she a creature of habit?’
‘How do you mean?’
‘Did she have other regular appointments apart from her Tuesdays at the café with you?’
Again, Lovísa hesitated perceptibly: ‘Yes, I suppose you could say that. Of course, I don’t keep track of her daily movements, but I know she used to meet our old schoolfriend Thor regularly.’
‘Yes, I’m aware of that. When did you last see her?’
‘Oh, the week before, obviously.’
‘The week before?’
‘The previous Tuesday, I mean.’
‘Lovísa, could you tell me what you talked about on that occasion?’
She shrugged and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, it seemed to Helgi as if she had aged from one moment to the next and now looked her full seventy years.
‘Maybe she wasn’t in the best of spirits that day.
She was tired – yes, I thought she seemed tired.
A bit down, but… frankly, I don’t feel comfortable talking about my friend’s private affairs – she means a lot to me, you know.
On the other hand, I do want to help you as far as I can. Do you see my dilemma?’
Nevertheless, Helgi sensed that with a little encouragement she would open up. The self-confidence he’d been so aware of at the beginning had receded somewhat.
‘I’ll maintain complete confidentiality,’ he assured her. ‘We need to make a concerted effort to find your friend.’
‘Quite, yes. I’m sure you’re right. I feel so certain that she’s OK. I just can’t bear the thought of losing her. My husband’s dead, as I mentioned, and there aren’t that many people I can talk to any more, people who’ve known me a long time, who I’ve known a long time.’
‘We’ll find her; I’m confident of that too.’
‘Anyway, she seemed tired, as I said. I was a little concerned. Not that I’ve ever felt it was my job to be concerned about Elín; she’s always been much stronger than me. Independent, self-confident, honest and determined.’
‘In other words, she looked after you, rather than vice versa?’
A slight smile played over Lovísa’s lips: ‘Well, yes, I suppose you could say that. She looked after me. I’m sorry, I mean she looks after me. I’m not going to let myself be sucked into despair. Elín and I will meet again, sooner or later. I’m sure of it.’
‘You said she seemed tired, in rather low spirits. Was she, er, depressed, would you say?’ Helgi asked, noting that Thor had experienced Elín’s mood differently at their last meeting.
Lovísa hesitated again.
‘That’s not really for me to say. I’m not a doctor or a therapist. I’m just a lawyer – I know how to read texts, not people. Perhaps you’re not so far off the mark, though, Helgi. There was a bit of a cloud hanging over her that day, shall we put it like that?’
‘Have you any idea why that might have been?’
‘No, not really. Although we’re friends, close friends, I don’t like to pry. We usually have a good time when we meet up for coffee and we try to stick to cheerful topics.’
‘Was she busy with anything in particular at the time, that you can remember?’
‘No, she’s given up work. She’s retired, like me. I think she mainly enjoys reading books these days. Just living her life.’
‘Does she travel much?’ Helgi asked, careful to switch to the present tense.
‘Not as much as she used to, but yes, she loves travelling. Though, you know, sometimes I think she holidays in hot countries just so she can read in the sun, rather than do any sightseeing. No doubt it’s a pleasant way to spend your time.’
‘There are many worse things than reading in the sun.’
Again, Lovísa smiled, but he thought she was beginning to look tired.
‘I understand that the two of you were planning a trip to the mountains about a month ago. Where did you go?’ he asked, mindful of what Thor had said.
‘A trip to the mountains?’ Lovísa paused. ‘Oh, we just did a little hike close to Reykjavík. We climbed Esja, up to the top and back. There’s really nothing to tell.’
‘When was that?’
She appeared to be thinking.
‘Er, it was two weeks ago. The weekend before we last met up.’
‘And was she on good form then?’
‘Elín’s always on good form in the countryside. The fresh air agrees with her.’
‘About Elín’s private life…’
‘Yes…’
‘She kept it to herself, but…’
‘ Keeps it to herself, yes.’
‘Nevertheless, I need to try and get a sense of who she was close to.’
‘You put it very tactfully, Helgi.’
‘Could you tell me something about that side of her life?’
‘She’s never been married, as you’re no doubt aware.’
‘Has she been involved with anyone – male or female?’
‘I can’t be sure, of course.’ Lovísa leaned back on the sofa, then forwards, as if she was getting momentum to rise to her feet.
Yet she remained sitting. ‘I simply don’t know how much I should tell you.
I know you’re investigating this as a missing-persons case – of course, I do understand that.
But Elín’s my friend; I can’t forget my loyalty to her. ’
Helgi sighed. ‘You know as well as I do that it’s your duty to help me.’
‘I feel awkward about sharing sensitive secrets with you. You see, I feel in my bones that she’s alive. And I don’t know whether you can be trusted to keep what I say confidential.’
Her choice of words roused his interest: sensitive secrets.
‘Is there something in her personal life that, well, that she believes wouldn’t stand the light of day?’
Once again, Lovísa hesitated.
‘No, not really. I think maybe you misunderstand me.’
‘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.
‘Well, we’ll see.’
He had the feeling it was going to be a long day.