The Man In The Window [Mannen i vinduet - no]

'Butif it isn't possible?'

'What?'

'Forsome it may be impossible to unite the physical with the emotional.' Then sheadded: 'For Reidar it was like that.'

'Reidar?'the policeman said. 'I thought you were talking about yourself.'

Sheshook her head. 'I don't know what I think about this. I've never had aconsistent policy on such things. But I have long wondered why I should havehad to live in abstinence for seven years.'

'Washe impotent?'

'Impotent?'She sent him another weary smile. 'Do you realize you are trying to justifymany years of imbalance with one word? Was he impotent, you ask, and youapparently expect me to clarify the situation with a yes or a no.Well, what sort of clarification? Have you considered at all what it is you'reasking? Fine, let me take you at your word. I can say yes. Yes, inrecent years

Reidarwas not capable of performing the physical activity with me which is requiredto make a child. And so what? Does that make our love less pure or…' shecontemplated the ceiling as she searched for words… 'less tender, less warm? Idon't think so. You didn't object when I claimed there was a distinctionbetween eroticism and longing. They were his words. Reidar said it so often,and I have thought about those words so many times that I know the reasoningoff by heart. Reidar didn't have any hormonal problems. The distinction betweensexuality and longing was an intellectual standpoint on his part. He wasfinished with eroticism. He didn't want to make love to me, to use a cliché.For a long time I thought he despised me, that he found me unattractive orloathsome. But of course he didn't. Reidar was so straightforward, souncomplicated – that he told the truth. When he grew older, he made adistinction between physical love and psychological longing. He despised theone and prized the other.'

'Butwhat does it mean?'

Sheshook her head in desperation. 'What does it mean? It means you know somethingabout me no one else does. It means you have made me declare my love for myhusband. It means I feel sordid!'

'Didhe have any other women?'

'No.Not at all.'

'Didhe use prostitutes?'

'Hewould rather have died than go to a prostitute.'

'Whodid he long for?'

'Well,you tell me.' Ingrid had a faraway look in her eyes, and a furrowed brow. 'Iwould guess he longed for the wife who died, my predecessor.'

'Didhe say that in so many words?'

'No.He never admitted it, if that's what you're asking. It's my guess. On the otherhand, it's based on many years of practical experience. All in all, my marriagewas a fiasco.'

'Afiasco?'

'The wordmay be an exaggeration. Let's just say you can rely on my assessment.'

'Whatabout your current relationship? Which category of love does that fall under -eroticism or longing?'

'Idon't think the same way as Reidar. I do what I feel is right. And, for me,meeting Eyolf feels right.'

'Butthen my earlier question is very pertinent: Have you two got any plans?'

Sheshook her head. 'No, we have no plans.'

'Haveyou split up?'

'No,but…' She shrugged her shoulders. 'I assume we will continue as before.'

'Andwhat is that supposed to mean?'

Shepulled a wry grin. 'Inspector…'

Heraised a hand to stop her. 'What is that supposed to mean?' he repeated withemphasis.

Shewas at a loss for a few moments.

'We'llmeet once a week.'

'Where?'

'Inhis flat. He lives in Jacob Aalls gate. But you already know that.' Shebreathed in and steadied herself. 'Now I think about it, I suppose he could cometo my place as Reidar is… no longer there.' She looked into his eyes,provocatively.

Henodded slowly. 'Well, you wouldn't have to resort to car parks…'

Shesat up in her chair, glared at the table for a while before raising her eyes tomeet his. She was flushed, he realized, flushed with anger.

'I'minvestigating a murder,' he said gently. 'What you and Strømsted do in vehiclesin Oslo car parks does not interest me.'

'Ohno? Why are there people spying on us then?' she snapped.

'BecauseI want to solve a crime, a task which entails needing to know more about youand your acquaintances. Also we don't know why your husband was murdered andtherefore we need to be close at hand. But- above all I want to know what youand your husband were doing on the days before the murder. Did you meetStrømsted during this time?'

'Yes.'

'When?'

'Thesame day. I visited Eyolf on Friday the 13th.' She looked down as thoughcollecting her strength before staring provocatively into the policeman's eyesagain, with a malicious little smile. 'We went to bed at some time betweentwelve and one, and stayed there… for a couple of hours. I dozed off whileEyolf made us lunch. We had pasta. Penne all'arrabbiata. His is better than theone they serve here, in fact. And I left at about three. Happy?'

'Iwill be soon,' the policeman said, leaning over and resting his elbows on thetable. 'You didn't say anything about this in your earlier statement.'

Shedidn't answer.

Gunnarstrandamused. He was questioning her, but you weren't supposed to question suspects incafes. Too late to stop now, though. He said:

'Doesthis mean you will change your statement?'

Shestared at him. 'Are you taking my statement here?'

'Youcould pop into Gronlandsleiret today after five. Your new statement will beready in reception. You only have to sign. Read it through first. If there isanything which does not accord with what really happened, leave it and get intouch with me immediately.'

'Right.'

'Immediatelymeans that very instant!'

'I'vegot the point.'

'Theday after your husband was found dead in the shop window, you went to thisdancing school run by your lover. You took him out and he had to find aninstructor to step in for him. You drove to the car park between the Munchmuseum and the Botanical Gardens – why?'

'Because,'she said dismissively, and pinched her mouth shut.

Gunnarstrandagave a lop-sided smile. 'You mean this is private?'

'Ofcourse.'

'Iwill repeat the question and you are requested to answer: Why did you visitEyolf Strømsted on the Sunday in question?'

'Becausewe have the relationship we do,' she growled. 'I needed to be near him.' 'Butwhy in a car park?'

'Whynot?'

Theysat eyeing each other in silence. 'I'm sorry if you're not satisfied,' she saidat last. 'But that's my answer to the question.'

'Whatdid you say to Reidar when he rang?'

'What?'

Gunnarstranda'seyes flashed. 'You heard what I said. I know Reidar rang when you and Strømstedwere in bed that Friday.'

Sheclosed her eyes and blanched as though he had slapped her. 'Has Eyolf…?'

'Answerme,' the policeman insisted with force.

'Idon't like to talk about this,' she whispered.

'Answerme.'

'Hedemanded that I…'

Gunnarstrandadrummed his fingers with impatience.

Shebreathed in and gazed out of the window. The policeman followed her gaze. Awoman in a tight-fitting winter coat got out of a car and slipped into ahairdresser's on the other side of the street.

'Itwas typical Reidar,' Ingrid said. 'He was efficient in everything he did. Herang me up, presumably to show me he knew. He asked me to stop meeting Eyolf.That was all.'

'Heasked you?'

'Well,it was more of a demand.'

'Whatdid you say?'

'Nothing.He rang off.'