The Writing on the Wall by Gunnar Staalesen Read Free Book Online Page A

too cynical look for her age. ‘What’s up with Torild?’
    ‘Aren’t you going to sit down?’
    She sat down on the corner of the bed and nodded in the direction of the two leather beanbags. ‘Park yourself there.’
    ‘I think I’d rather stand, actually,’ I said leaning against the doorframe.
    She made a sucking noise between her teeth and shrugged her shoulders without insisting any further.
    ‘You two are friends, aren’t you?’
    ‘Oh, I wouldn’t go that far. We meet up in town now and then but not much more than that.’
    ‘In town?’
    ‘Yeah, at Jimmy’s and places like that.’
    ‘Jimmy’s, that’s an amusement arcade, isn’t it?’
    ‘Yeah, you can play the machines if you like. I just go there for a burger and to hang out with folk there. There’s always some all-right guys there.’
    ‘Oh? Know any of their names?’
    ‘No, why should I? What’s it to do with you anyway?’
    ‘But Torild used to go there too, did she?’
    She nodded.
    ‘And Åsa?’
    ‘Yeah, she did too. There was loads of us.’
    ‘What …’ I thought better of it. ‘Listen, places like that are expensive, aren’t they?’
    ‘So what’s free then apart from coffee and cake at church and stuff like that?’
    ‘Where did you all get the money from?’
    She gave me a look of contempt. ‘From home, of course. Pocket money. A few of us have part-time jobs. I have a Saturday job at the Mecca now and then.’
    ‘On the till?’
    ‘Nope, stocking shelves.’
    ‘Do you sometimes steal things?’
    ‘What’s the idea? Thought it was Torild you were supposed to be asking about!’
    ‘Åsa had to take back a leather jacket she’d stolen yesterday.’
    Her expression became slightly less cocky. ‘Oh?’
    ‘Her dad took her down there.’
    ‘What a pillock!’
    ‘You mean it was OK?’
    ‘Well, I’ve never stolen nothing anyway!’ But she avoided my eyes as she said this.
    ‘And what about drugs, can you get them down there?’
    ‘Down where? At Jimmy’s? In the loos you can buy anything you like, even at Hotel Norge!’
    ‘Is Torild on drugs?’
    ‘Is she on drugs? Don’t make me laugh! That stuck-up tart!’
    ‘At school they said that –’
    ‘Oh, at school maybe! Who was it you spoke to? Spotty?’
    ‘But her parents also thought …’
    ‘Well she probably was on drugs then, just to try it, like everybody does. But she’s not a smackhead, I can guarantee that!’
    ‘Hm?’
    ‘Yes, I mean it.’
    ‘Do you know where she is?’
    ‘Nope. Didn’t even know she was missing!’
    ‘When was the last time you saw her?’
    ‘The last time? Hey, Inspector Morse, what do you think I am, an elephant?’
    ‘I can’t bloody remember, can I? Probably sometime last week.’
    ‘Thursday, Friday?’
    ‘It wasn’t Friday, that’s for sure. I was at a party.’
    ‘Thursday though?’
    ‘Yeah … Can’t be dead certain she didn’t call in at Jimmy’s that day. Her and Åsa. And some guy or other.’
    ‘A – guy?’
    She looked shifty again. ‘Dunno. Could have imagined it. Nobody I knew at any rate.’
    ‘It could be important, Astrid!’
    Suddenly the doorbell rang: three short rings.
    She rolled her eyes. ‘Oh Christ, what a bloody din!’
    We heard the door being opened outside and immediately after the sound of a man’s voice.
    ‘I’m off! It’s Kenneth, there’ll be a right song and dance.’
    ‘How do you mean?’
    ‘They’ll be at it! So the whole street can hear! Get it? Tidying up, was she? You’re not kidding. I bet she’ll be changing the sheets after yesterday …’
    ‘Was Kenneth here too, then?’
    ‘No, it was some other guy, wasn’t it?’
    From the doorway there was the sound of someone clearing her throat. The woman who’d let me in glanced from me to her daughter. ‘I think it’s time your friend was off now, Astrid.’
    ‘And me too!’
    ‘But … don’t you want anything to eat?’
    ‘I’ll grab a burger or whatever – in town!’
    ‘OK, if you