In the Darkness by Karin Fossum Read Free Book Online Page A

some water. And that green boiler suit. I could have done with that torch myself really, the fuses go sometimes. The electrics are so bad here, something should be done about them. But the committee we’ve got now are the most useless bunch we’ve ever had, they put up the rent once a year and tell us they’re saving up for balconies. But that won’t happen in my time. Well, anyway, as I said, it was a boiler suit.’
    ‘That’s useful information,’ he said, praising her. ‘A good thing you remembered it.’
    And it had been useful to the murderer, too, he thought, something he could pull over his own bloody clothes.
    She blushed becomingly and picked the clothes basket up again. It was a large basket made of turquoise plastic, and when she balanced it on her hip as she was doing now, she assumed a somewhat strange and crooked posture.
    ‘I promised your boy a ride in the car. May I fetch him from the garage?’
    She glanced at him in surprise. ‘Certainly. But we’re going out later, so you mustn’t be too long.’
    ‘Just a short run.’
    He went outside again and made for the garage. On a workbench against one wall Jan Henry was sitting swinging his legs. He’d got oil on his trainers. When he caught sight of Sejer, he started slightly, then brightened up.
    ‘I’ve got the police car with me today. Your mum’s given me permission to take you on a little run, if you’d like to come. You can try the siren out.’
    He jumped down from the bench, which was quite high, and he had to take a couple of steps to regain his balance.
    ‘Is it a Volvo?’
    ‘No, it’s a Ford.’
    Jan Henry ran ahead and Sejer looked at his legs, at how pale and almost abnormally thin they were. He was nearly swallowed up by the front seat, and it was difficult to fasten the seat belt in a secure fashion, but it would have to do. He could barely see out over the dashboard, even if he craned his neck. Then Sejer started up and swung on to the road. There was silence for a while, just the even hum of the engine and the occasional swish of cars passing in the left-hand lane. The boy had stuffed his fingers between his thighs as if he was frightened of touching anything inadvertently.
    ‘D’you miss your dad, Jan Henry?’ Sejer asked quietly.
    The boy stared back in surprise, as if it were the first time anyone had thought to ask him such a question. His answer was clear.
    ‘Very much,’ he said simply.
    They fell silent again. Sejer headed down towards the textile mill, indicated right and drove towards the rapids.
    ‘It’s so quiet in the garage,’ the boy said suddenly.
    ‘Yes. A pity Mum can’t do car repairs.’
    ‘Mmm. Dad was always in there doing things. In his spare time.’
    ‘And all those nice smells,’ Sejer grinned, ‘oil and petrol and suchlike.’
    ‘He promised me a boiler suit,’ he went on, ‘just like his one. But he didn’t have time before he disappeared. The boiler suit had fourteen pockets in it. I was going to wear it when I was working on my bike. It’s called a mechanic’s suit.’
    ‘Yup, a mechanic’s suit, that’s right. I’ve got one myself, but mine’s blue, and it’s got FINA on the back. I’m not sure it’s got fourteen pockets. Eight or ten perhaps.’
    ‘The blue ones are nice, too. Do they have them in children’s sizes?’ he asked precociously.
    ‘I’m not sure about that, but I’ll definitely look into it.’
    He made a little mental note, indicated right again and drew up. They could see down to NRK’s local broadcasting centre in its idyllic setting down by the river. He pointed to the windows glinting in the sun.
    ‘Shall we wind them up a bit? With the sirens?’
    Jan Henry nodded.
    ‘Press here,’ he said pointing, ‘then we’ll see just how hungry they are for news down there. Perhaps they’ll come rushing out with all their microphones.’
    The siren started and wailed loudly in the silence, rebounded off the hillside opposite and came howling back