Before the Frost by Henning Mankell Read Free Book Online Page A

it?”
    â€œSomething personal.”
    Her father growled on the other end.
    â€œI had a meeting with Martinsson today.”
    â€œI know.”
    â€œHow do you know that?”
    â€œHe told me—only that you met. Nothing else. Don’t worry.”
    Linda went back to the couch. At eight she called Zeba and asked her if she knew where Anna could be, but Zeba hadn’t heard from Anna in several days. At nine o’clock, after she had helped herself to food from Anna’s small pantry and fridge, she dialed Henrietta’s number. The phone rang a number of times before Anna’s mother answered. Linda tried to approach the subject as carefully as possible so as not to alarm the already fragile woman. Did she know if Anna was in Lund? Had she planned a trip to Malmö or Copenhagen? Linda asked the most harmless questions she could think of.
    â€œI haven’t talked to her since Thursday.”
    That’s four days ago, Linda thought. That means Anna never told her about the man she saw through the hotel window, even though they’re close.
    â€œWhy do you want to know where she is?”
    â€œI called her and there was no answer.”
    She sensed a tinge of anxiety on the other end.

    â€œBut you don’t call me every time Anna doesn’t answer her phone.”
    Linda was prepared for this question.
    â€œI had a sudden impulse to have her over for dinner tonight. That was all.”
    Linda steered the conversation over to her own life.
    â€œHave you heard I’m going to start working here in Ystad?”
    â€œYes, Anna told me. But neither one of us understands why you would want to be a policewoman.”
    â€œIf I’d gone on learning how to refinish furniture as planned, I’d always have tacks in my mouth. A life in law enforcement just seemed more entertaining.”
    A clock struck somewhere in Anna’s apartment and Linda quickly ended the conversation. Then she thought it all through again. Anna wasn’t a risk-taker. In contrast to Zeba and herself, Anna hated rollercoasters, was suspicious of strangers, and never climbed into a cab without looking the driver in the eye first. The simplest explanation was that Anna was still disconcerted by what she thought she had seen. She must have gone back to Malmö to look for the man she thought was her father. This is the first time she’s ever stood me up, Linda thought. But this is also the first time she’s been convinced she saw her father walking down the street.
    Linda stayed in the apartment for several more hours.
    By midnight Anna had still not returned.
    Then she knew. There was no good explanation for Anna’s absence. Something must have happened. But what?

7
    When Linda got home shortly after midnight, she found her father asleep on the couch. He woke up at the sound of the closing door. Linda eyed the curve of his belly with disapproval.
    â€œYou’re getting fatter,” she said. “One day you’re just going to pop. Not like an old troll who wanders out into the sunshine but like a balloon when it gets too full of air.”
    He pulled his robe tighter across his chest protectively.
    â€œI do the best I can.”
    â€œNo, you don’t.”
    He sat up heavily.
    â€œI’m too tired to have this conversation,” he said. “When you walked in I was in the middle of a beautiful dream. Do you remember Baiba?”
    â€œThe one from Latvia? Are you still in touch with each other?”
    â€œAbout once a year, no more. She’s found someone else, a German engineer who works at the municipal waterworks in Riga. She sounds very much in love when she talks about him, the wonderful Herman from Lübeck. I’m surprised it doesn’t drive me insane with jealousy.”
    â€œYou were dreaming about her?”
    He smiled.
    â€œWe had a child in the dream,” he said. “A little boy who was building castles in the sand. An