The Last Fix [En liten gyllen ring no]

'Andhow did she go on?'

Sigridshrugged. 'Words to the effect of… then we can chat later, or something likethat. I wasn't so happy with that because I knew she was very touchy in thatarea, about being rejected, so I asked: Are you sure? And once again Ioffered to drive down to hers. But then she asked me if I had time tomorrow,that is, the day after, on Sunday. And I said yes, but, well, that didn'tmaterialize.'

'Canyou remember what she said had happened, the precise words she used?'

Thewoman on the sofa turned this over in her mind. Gunnarstranda sipped his coffeeand sent her another complimentary glance.

Sigridclosed her eyes. 'She said: I've had a visit… or: Something happened atwork… I've had a visit from the past. I have to talk to you or I'm going tosnap. Something like that – I can't remember the exact words.'

'… orI'm going to snap?'

Sigridnodded.

'Howdid you interpret that expression?'

'Notin any special way. As a way of speaking, like: I think I'm going to faintor: I think I'm going to die, as some people say.'

'Andwhat did you answer?'

'Isaid: Who was it then, my love? Or: My dear, who was it then?'

'Youwere so intimate? My dear? My love?'

'Yes,in fact we were.'

'Doyou address other patients in the same way?'

'Igenerally get on well with patients.'

'Butyou address them all in the same way?'

'Youcould say that Katrine was… I suppose it is true to say there was somethingspecial about our relationship.'

'Whywas that?'

Sigridtook her time. In the end, she said: 'Because it was her, and it was me.' Shethought a bit more. 'Maybe Katrine was different, yes, I think she was. Katrinewas special.' Sigrid seemed to be clarifying her thinking to herself. She satstaring into space, lost in thought. 'There was something about Katrine,' shesaid at length, and added, 'Oh, I don't know. When it comes to the crunch itmight just have been the chemistry, but on top of that she had confided in meover a long period.'

'Confided?'

'Yes,it wasn't perhaps very therapeutic, but she preferred me to many others.'

'Butshe didn't say who it was that had visited her or what had happened?'

'No.The conversation turned into a discussion of when to meet.' 'Did you try tocontact her on Sunday?'

'Irang her in the afternoon, but got no answer.'

'Howdid you interpret that?'

'Ithought she had forgotten or she would get back to me later. After all, wehadn't made any specific arrangement.'

Gunnarstrandacoughed. He considered his next question. 'What sort of person is herboyfriend?'

'Anempty shell.'

'Shell?'

'Ithink so. There's a lot of facade, but not much in here.' She tapped her templewith her middle finger. 'He was also jealous, not very mature… yes, in factthat covers it… not very mature.'

'Ishe violent?'

'Idon't think so.'

'Doyou think he hit her?'

'No.'She shook her head. 'No, I would have known.'

'Howdid the jealousy manifest itself?'

'Iguess he was afraid she was intimate with other men.'

'Wasshe?'

'Ihave no idea.'

'Shedidn't take you into her confidence about everything?' 'It would be morecorrect to say I wasn't interested in that type of confidence.'

'Didanyone at the party make advances to her?'

'Advances?'

Gunnarstrandalooked her straight in the eye. 'I think you understand what I mean. Did anyoneat the party "follow her, have sexual intentions, that is?'

'Idoubt it.'

'Why?'

Sigridstared into space. She was thinking. 'Then the individual concerned must haveleft the party,' she said at last. 'And…' She continued to think. 'And so asnot to be found out this individual must have returned…'

'Yes,that's a possibility.'

'No…'she took her time, staring upwards. 'That seems quite unlikely.'

'Butdoes it seem impossible?'

'Whatdo you mean?'

'Well,'said the policeman. 'You knew her, she confided in you some of the time andthere is a good chance someone followed her. Whether it was feasible is anothermatter. Can you say, with your hand on your heart, that everyone at the partystayed in the house all that evening and night?'

'No.''Why not?'

'Somewent into town. After all, the meal was over. Some were upstairs, some weredownstairs, some were at the bottom of the garden or behind the bushes. Whoknows.'

'Doyou remember who went into the city centre?'

'Agang of them went to dance at Smuget… there was a man we called Goggen who wasthe leader and desperate to go – he's an ergonomist – his real name is GeorgBeck. I know Bjørn Gerhardsen left…'

'Thehost, Annabeth's husband?'

'Yes,he's just an overgrown schoolboy. He wanted others to join them. Quite a few ofthe younger ones went along. I don't know how many there were. At any rate,Goggen and Bjørn Gerhardsen. Plus a few others. Katrine's boyfriend, OleEidesen, may have been with them.'

'Whydo you think that?'

'Icouldn't see him or Katrine anywhere. Either he went with Katrine or he wentwith Goggen and the others to town.'

'Andyou?'

'Me?I went hither and thither.' She put on a tentative smile. 'Do you think I…?'

'Wedon't think anything, but we may need to hear some of the confidences.' 'Howso?'

'Shemay have said something that has a connection with the case. So I would likeyou to contact us if you remember anything.' He rose to his feet. Sigridfollowed suit. 'Of course,' she assured him.

Gunnarstranda:'How did you hear about her death?'

'Well,at today's morning meeting I brought the issue up as I hadn't heard fromKatrine, and someone had seen the news last night, an item about a dead womanbeing found in Mastemyr. I don't know why but suddenly everyone was frightenedit could be Katrine. Henning,- a social worker with us, was given the task ofringing her at work to check.' Sigrid's smile was weary. 'And I don't know ifthat was before or after you were contacted,' she added.

'Andyou have no idea why she fell ill at the party or where she went after leavingyou?'

'Nota clue.'

'Whendid you leave the party?'

'Iwas picked up by my husband.'

'When?'

'Late,very late, it was beginning to get light.'

'Youhave a nice husband.' 'He's always there for me. When we were younger I thoughtthis self-sacrifice was a bit wearing. Now it's just great.'

'Butwhy did you stay so long?'

'Wekept going. I talked to Annabeth for a long time. It was a cross between asewing circle and a business meeting. The last guests left at around half pastfour, I think. Afterwards I helped Annabeth to tidy up. Before I left, Bjørncame back from town.'

'Whattime was that?'

'As Isaid, it was beginning to get light, so I would guess it must have been aroundfour in the morning.'

'Wasthe party a success?'

'Yes,I think so.'

'Wasthere anyone in particular Katrine spoke a lot to during the evening?'

'Well,that's hard for me to say. She left the party early and I sat quite a distancefrom her during the meal. I saw her with her boyfriend having coffee. That wasall I noticed about her – until she was ill.'

Gunnarstrandagot to his feet and walked to the door.

'Verynice to meet you,' Sigrid Haugom said to his back. The detective inspectorturned in the doorway. He stood thinking.

'Yes?'Sigrid said.

'Doyou know anything about her background, her childhood?'

Sigridshook her head. 'I went home with her once.'