In the Darkness by Karin Fossum Read Free Book Online

remember? I’m away for ten days.’
    ‘Ask Skarre. He’ll be delighted, no doubt. I’ll help him, provided I don’t have to sit under those studio lights. Go and tell him straight away!’
    She smiled and disappeared, and he began to read the messages. He glanced at his watch. The ‘oldies’ were going to go parachuting at Jarlsberg that weekend, provided the weather held. And ring Jorun Einarsson. He took his time, finished his meal and pushed the chair back in. ‘I’m going out for a bit.’
    ‘My goodness, you’ve been inside for almost half an hour! Moss is already growing on your shoes.’
    ‘The problem with people is that they stay inside all day long,’ Sejer replied. ‘Nothing’s happening here in the office, is it?’
    ‘No, you’re probably right. But you’re a devil for finding things to do out of doors. You’ve really got a talent for it, Konrad.’
    ‘You’ve got to use your imagination,’ he countered.
    ‘Hey, just a sec.’
    Karlsen looked sheepish and put his hand into his shirt pocket.
    ‘I’ve got a shopping list from my other half. D’you know much about women’s stuff?’
    ‘Try me.’
    ‘Here, after shoulder of pork – it says “Pantyliners”. Must be English. Got any ideas?’
    ‘Couldn’t you phone her and find out?’
    ‘She’s not answering.’
    ‘Try Mrs Brenningen. I think it sounds like tights or something. Well, good luck!’ He chuckled and went out.
    He’d just seated himself in the car and run his fingers through his hair, when suddenly he remembered. He got out again, locked the car, and went to one of the police cars instead, just as he’d promised little Jan Henry. Like most other people, Mikkelsen would almost certainly be at work now, so he headed for Rosenkrantzgate first. Jorun Einarsson was on the small lawn in front of the house hanging out washing. A pair of pyjamas with a Tom & Jerry print and a tee shirt with a picture of Donald Duck on it flapped lustily in the breeze. She had just fished out a pair of lacy black panties when he arrived in front of the house, and was now standing there clutching them, not quite sure what to do.
    ‘I didn’t have far to drive,’ he explained politely, trying not to look at her underwear, ‘so I thought I might as well come round. Please, finish what you’re doing.’
    She hung up the rest of her washing quickly and put the clothes basket under her arm.
    ‘Isn’t your son at home?’
    ‘He’s in the garage.’ She pointed along the road. ‘He used to hang out in there with his father. Before. Watched him mucking around with the car. Sometimes he still goes in there, and just sits staring at the wall. He’ll be out again in a while.’
    Sejer looked at the garage, which was a double one, green , the same colour as the house. Then he followed her inside.
    ‘What was it, Mrs Einarsson?’ he asked straight out. They were standing in the entrance to the living room. She put the basket on the floor and pushed a few wisps of bleached hair away from her face.
    ‘I rang my brother. He’s in Stavanger at a hardware trade fair. It was a boiler suit. You know, one of those green nylon ones with lots of pockets. Egil used it when he was working on the car and he always kept it in the boot. I searched for it, because I remembered it cost quite a lot. And he liked to have it handy in case the car broke down and he had to get out and start tinkering, as he used to call it. That was what my brother wanted it for, too. So when I didn’t find it in the car, I searched in the garage. But it wasn’t in there either. It’s simply vanished. That, and a large torch.’
    ‘Did you ask us about them?’
    ‘No, but surely the police can’t just take things from cars without saying?’
    ‘Certainly not. But I’ll check to make sure. Did he always have it with him?’
    ‘Always. He was very organised when it came to that car. He never drove anywhere without an extra can of petrol. And engine oil and screen wash and