Chapter 29
Rán was almost out of fuel, so Leif stopped at Lyng?r Grocery to fill his tank.
On the dock, he snatched a discarded ice cream wrapper from the ground and tossed it in the trash bin, wishing he could throw away his troubles as easily.
What the hell were the secrets that Erik and Ragnar were keeping from him?
He figured it must have something to do with his father, but maybe it was about Ella.
Well, as far as that went, her life and priorities were back in Boulder.
It was all he could do not to kick over the trash can in frustration.
“Leif! I need to talk to you,” Mia called out from the store.
“OK, later.” He wanted to head home and wind down. No, what he really needed was to disappear on a five-day fishing trip by himself to get his head straight. He unhooked the nozzle from the gas tank.
“No, now. Erik took off,” she said quickly as she strode over.
“Took off?”
“Yeah, this morning, after he spoke to Ragnar on the phone.” Her words tumbled out.
“Axel was there, and he said when Erik hung up, he threw a mug against the wall and had a look on his face that Axel had never seen before. Axel and Inger are worried about him, and so am I. Did something happen at Ragnar’s place? ”
Leif didn’t respond as he topped off the tank.
“Oh, come on! What’s going on?”
Leif quickly filled her in on the trip, and the partial information they’d received from Ragnar. He eyed the storm clouds on the horizon as Mia suggested they go inside for a cup of coffee.
“As long as it has lots of whiskey in it,” he grumbled.
She brought him into her office in the back.
Leif sat down on a stool at her long desk.
She searched through the clutter, which included a cat bed and superhero comic books, until she retrieved two clean mugs.
She poured the coffee and placed one mug and a fifth of whiskey in front of Leif.
He smiled ruefully and pushed away the bottle.
Mia had just opened a tin of Danish butter cookies, ready to settle in and go over all of it, when the door chimed. They both started at the sound of Ella’s frantic voice.
“Where are you, Mia? Something happened!”
Leif and Mia exchanged alarmed looks, then rushed out of the office and down the aisles. Ella’s nose was pink and puffy from crying, and Leif could see the fear and fury in her eyes.
“My cottage was vandalized,” she said in a trembly voice. “I’m scared that whoever did it might still be at the house.”
“What do you mean, vandalized?” Mia wrung her hands.
“Sunna, you all right?” Leif said and hugged her tightly. She returned his hug briefly then broke free from his arms.
“No, I’m not all right.” She grimaced. “Some jerk dumped fish all over my kitchen and on my sketches!” She clenched her hands into fists and shook them.
Tears slid down her cheek and pooled on her lips.
Whoever did this to her would be sorry, Leif thought.
He brushed away her tears with his thumb, and she sniffled as he gave her a paper napkin from his pocket.
“Thanks,” she said, offering him a small smile before blowing her nose. “I can’t believe someone did this to me. But I guess not much surprises me anymore.”
“Who would be mean and crazy enough to do this?” Mia’s voice rose and her eyes were wide from shock.
“Who wouldn’t have done it?” Ella threw up her hands. “It’s obvious I’m not exactly loved around here.”
“They’re probably long gone from your property by now. But we’ll figure it out and they’ll apologize and clean your cottage,” Leif growled. He had visions of catching the vandals and cramming fish down their throats.
“I don’t want an apology, and I don’t want them on my property ever again.” Ella wadded up the napkin in anger.
“I just can’t believe this,” Mia said. “It makes me so nervous. I need sugar.” She grabbed a bag of peach gummies from beneath the register, ripped it open, and popped one in her mouth.
“My first thought was Inger,” Ella said while fidgeting with her bangles. “I wondered if she might’ve trashed it to keep it from being sold so she could continue gardening there.”
“Inger wouldn’t do that,” Mia said unequivocally as she chewed on the candy.
“But she messed with my dinghy already.”
“Yeah, and people thought it was horrible—she wouldn’t press her luck like that again, not this soon. Plus, I don’t think Inger is capable of something so horrible.” Mia pushed another gummy into her mouth.
Leif scowled. “We should call the police.”
“No police,” Ella said with a firm set of her jaw.
“Why not? Whoever did this had no right and should pay for it.” Leif shook his head. “I’m furious. When we find out who did it, I’m going to shove them into a deep hole in the ground and fill it with dead fish to see how they like it.”
“Sounds about right.” Ella let out a shaky laugh. “But I don’t want to deal with filing a police report. I’ve had enough. I’m done with this place. It’s time for me to go home to Boulder.”
“You really think so?” Leif said with a sinking heart.
“I need to get back to my life and Little Bird. I can’t blow this.” Ella looked like she might cry again. She turned to Mia and dabbed her eyes with the napkin. “Can I borrow your phone to call the airlines?”
Mia hugged Ella and patted her on the back.
“Hey, everything is going to be OK. You don’t have to book your flight now—please stay a while longer.
My cousin has set up the open house at Ringpynten.
The potential buyers will be here at the end of next week.
I bet one of them will make an offer, and I know you’ll get a great price. ”
“The cottage is trashed. No buyer wants that. The smell would turn your stomach. I need to clean it before anyone can set foot in there, and I’ll need about a gallon of bleach.”
“We can clean it together tomorrow,” Mia said.
Leif clasped her hand. “Come with me to my place. I’ll cook you a good dinner. I’ve got plenty of room and a great shower.”
“Right now I need chocolate.” Ella moved to the sweets rack near the register and selected an extra-large candy bar. She held it up. “How much?”
“No charge,” Mia said. “And I have something else that might cheer you up.” She reached beneath the counter and triumphantly held up a box of cornflakes. “I special ordered it for you.”
Ella’s eyes glistened. “Oh my gosh! Thank you so much!”
“You’re welcome,” Mia said. “Now why don’t you go with Leif?
Rest. You’ll feel better after a good night’s sleep.
I’ll bring cleaning supplies to Ringpynten later this afternoon.
We’ll need to open the doors and windows and air out the place before we start cleaning. I can help you with all of that.”
“Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. It’s so kind of you. I’ll take the cornflakes with me now, please—to enjoy later. Thank you both.” Ella moved to Leif’s side. “Let’s go; I’m ready.”