The Exiled by Kati Hiekkapelto Read Free Book Online Page B

you. But it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s something fishy going on. I think you’re letting your emotions cloud your professional judgement. Have you ever had to deal with something like this as a civilian? As yourself?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘There you go.’
    Réka was right, but her words only served to confuse Anna all the more. What was she as a civilian other than a police officer? Was there such a thing as an off-duty Anna? Perhaps she should follow Réka’s advice, forget all about it and enjoy what was left of her holiday. I might even find the person hiding within this police officer’s body, she thought. Is finding the real Anna the thing I’m trying so hard to escape?
    ‘Give the bottle of wine to your mum,’ said Réka, as she opened the boot of her car and put the picnic basket and blanket inside.
    ‘Okay, thanks.’
    ‘Why didn’t you have any? You’re not pregnant, are you?’ Réka laughed and tapped her stomach.
    And before Anna could think of a way to reply, Réka continued. ‘Anna, I’ve got to tell you: I am.’
    She looked at Anna, radiant.
    ‘Réka, that’s wonderful,’ said Anna and hugged her friend, trying to force a note of happiness into her voice.
    ‘I’m still only in the early stages, but I’ve already put on a few kilos. Jebiga , I’m hungry all the time!’
    ‘When’s it due?’
    ‘At the beginning of December. József and I are going to have a Christmas baby.’
    ‘From now on, I’m going to call you Mary.’
    Again Réka chuckled. Her laugh sounded just as it had when she was a little girl. All of a sudden Anna thought of the rooms in their nursery school, the noise, the laughter, the large windows covered with paper flowers the children had made. Réka had stopped at Anna’s house every morning and they had walked to the nursery hand in hand. How small could they have been? Four or five, maybe. It’s a wonder we were allowed to walk all that distance by ourselves, thought Anna.
    ‘Did we ever have an adult with us when we walked to nursery?’
    ‘What? I’ll never get used to the way your thoughts bounce around. What made you think of that?’
    ‘But did we?’
    ‘When we were really small, our home help used to come with us. If I remember right, we were allowed to go by ourselves when we were about five.’
    ‘Five? Goodness.’
    ‘Anna, we lived right next to the nursery.’
    ‘Still. Would you let your Christmas baby out alone at the age of five?’
    ‘We were always together. And Kanizsa is a safe place. You’re right, though, I don’t know how to answer that. We’ll see when the time comes.’
    ‘How’s it been going, the pregnancy?’
    ‘Fine, except that I felt like being sick all day yesterday. But it’s all right. It’s wonderful.’
    ‘I’m really happy for you,’ said Anna.
    I am happy, I really am, Anna tried to convince herself.
    ‘Thank you, you really are a good friend. You’ve got to meet József as soon as possible. Let’s go to Szabadka together.’
    ‘Sounds good. I want to meet the lucky man.’
    Réka smiled. Then she hugged Anna again.
    ‘It’s so nice you’re here. I’ve missed you terribly. I hope you come again over Christmas; you’ll get to meet our baby. I wonder whether it’s a boy or a girl. Mum wants a boy, but József and I really don’t care. As long as it’s healthy. Even that doesn’t really matter. As long as it’s … a baby.’
    Anna stared at the shimmering sun as it dipped beneath the horizon. She didn’t want to continue this conversation. Not now. Not yet.
    ‘I wonder who the fisherman was. The one that found the body,’ she said.
    ‘There you go again, your mind won’t let up. It could have been anyone. You can’t buy fish in the supermarkets, so everybody fishes for their own.’
    ‘The police said it was an elderly man, a former professional fisherman.’
    ‘Ah, in that case it must be Nagy Béla.’
    ‘Should I speak to him?’
    ‘Absolutely not. I want to spend as much time