‘I’ve decided not to apply for it. Family reasons. I’m a single parent and I really don’t want to uproot my daughter before she’s finished school. Didn’t the Sheriff tell you?’
His face brightened. ‘Well, yes, he did. But I wanted to hear it from you. Interesting.’
Gunna was immediately puzzled that he should be pleased. ‘Why’s that?’
‘Well, of course in the light of what’s happened in the last few days and the uncertain economic future, we have to be prepared for different eventualities . . .’
‘You mean Glitnir going bust, all the rumours about Landsbanki going the same way and the whole country going to the dogs?’
‘Precisely. However, the National Commissioner and the Minister had already decided that we need to follow the precedent of forces in other countries and set up a dedicated serious crime unit, headquartered in Reykjavík.’
‘That’s nice.’
‘We decided that if you were to turn down the Egilstadir posting, then you should be invited to apply to join the serious crime unit. You’d stay a sergeant initially, but there’d be a travel allowance and I expect you’d probably be an inspector inside a year.’
For a moment Gunna could think of nothing to say.
‘Why? I mean, why me? Surely the mess that this Hårde case turned out to be isn’t much of a recommendation?’
A thin smile ran round Ívar Laxdal’s face. ‘On the contrary. Between ourselves, you resisted interference that came all the way from ministerial level, ran a small team extremely well and simply stuck with it all the way. A fine job, although I couldn’t possibly say that officially. You have my number. Let me know in the next few days, would you?’ He smiled again, shrugging his way into his overcoat and tucking a briefcase under one arm.
‘What did our stuffed shirt want?’ Haddi asked, scratching thoughtfully at the side of his nose as Gunna swept past. ‘Not leaving us, are you?’
At the back of the building, Gunna lit a Camel and tried to take in Ívar Laxdal’s offer. She pulled her phone from her jacket pocket, scrolled through the numbers and pressed the green button.
‘Steini, hi, it’s me. Yup, fine. Just thought you’d like to know I’ll be staying after all.’