Thorson knew that plenty of women were the exact opposite. He was acquainted with a girl who worked at Hótel Borg, and even though he came from an Icelandic family and spoke the language fluently, he had found it hard to get to know her. His uniform was the problem. She wanted nothing to do with him or any other serviceman. Recently he had run into her outside the Ísafold printworks and stopped for a chat, only to notice that she seemed on edge and kept glancing around almost fearfully at the passers-by, before abruptly breaking off the conversation and scurrying away. Thorson knew it was because she didn’t want to be seen talking to a soldier in the street, however briefly, and risk tarnishing her family’s reputation. Gossip spread like wildfire in this town, none of it charitable.
Thorson reached the shed and peered in through a dirty windowpane but couldn’t see anything. The door was locked. He was just turning away when he heard a rustle behind him.
‘Want to try again, darling?’
Looking round, he saw that his friend had stolen up behind him. She blew out a cloud of cigarette smoke. Usually she was well groomed. Now the lipstick on her upper lip was smudged and her mascara had run down to mingle with her rouge. She was wearing nylon stockings and a flimsy dress, a khaki military jacket slung over her shoulders and a white sailor’s cap on her head.
‘No,’ he said with an embarrassed smile.
‘What are you doing here then?’
‘I wanted to talk to you,’ said Thorson. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘Waiting,’ she said.
She burst out laughing and he realised she wasn’t her usual self. He had never seen her in this state before. Never seen her so drunk.
‘Are you OK?’
‘Don’t worry about me, darling,’ she said. ‘Why are you here? What do you want? To talk to me? I can’t help you. You know that. You aren’t that way inclined.’
‘I’m looking for a woman,’ said Thorson, anxious not to be reminded of their last encounter. ‘I thought you might know her. Her name’s Vera. I wanted to ask if you recognised the name.’
‘What made you think I’d know her?’
‘Because you’re both... She may be involved with soldiers...’
‘Do you find it difficult to say? You can say it. I am what I am. I’ve never tried to hide it.’
‘Yes, well, she... she’s said to be on friendly terms with soldiers.’
‘On friendly terms with soldiers. What a polite way of putting it. And that’s why you think I might know her?’
‘I thought of asking you. In case you recognised the name.’
‘Vera?’
‘Yes. She left her boyfriend. Used to entertain guests at night when he was out of town. Soldiers.’
‘I don’t know her.’
‘Maybe you could ask around about her? Ask your friends? It looks like she’s taking in laundry for the troops. We’re making enquiries, but that sort of thing takes time because there are so many women offering that kind of service.’
‘Maybe you should talk to the ladies at Landakot Hospital.’
‘Ladies...?’
‘The French nuns. We all end up there sooner or later.’
Thorson stared at her blankly.
‘You’ve never had the clap, have you, darling?’
Just then, three US Marines appeared round the corner and headed in their direction. They were carrying beer and bottles of vodka and one of them had a carton of cigarettes.
‘Were you waiting for them?’ asked Thorson.
‘They told me about a Nissen hut over at Melar that’s kind of like a nightclub.’
The men greeted Thorson, and he replied in English. Since he wasn’t in uniform, they reacted with surprise, saying they’d taken him for a local. They laughed. One of them put his arm round Thorson’s friend and started pawing at her. Thorson had never seen them before. They were enlisted men, a little younger than him, not yet twenty, and exceptionally foul-mouthed. They lit up and swigged from their bottles. Thorson heard one mention Chicago. Maybe that’s where they were from. His friend was also listening to their conversation, but he suspected she hardly understood a word.
‘Were you fucking her?’ one of them asked bluntly.
‘There’s no need to be crude,’ said Thorson.
‘Well, excuse me. I didn’t mean to be crude. I just wanted to know if you were done so you could get lost and leave us to it. Capeesh?’
His friends broke into ugly, jeering laughter.
‘I don’t think she wants to go anywhere,’ said Thorson. ‘She was just saying she didn’t feel like hanging around with you. Maybe because you’re such pimply little jerks.’
The three men exchanged glances. The one who had his arm round his friend let her go, and they all squared up to Thorson. He considered taking out his police ID but wanted to keep that as a last resort. Besides, he didn’t know if it would have any effect on the men at this stage. His friend looked on without making any move to intervene.
‘So you’re a wise guy,’ said the marine.
‘I don’t want any trouble,’ said Thorson. ‘Just back off and leave her alone.’
‘You think you’re going to stop her coming with us? What’s it to you? Are you her pimp?’
‘No, I’m not her pimp.’
‘Then can’t she decide for herself?’
‘What are they saying?’ asked his friend. ‘Is everything all right?’
‘Well, it’s your choice, of course, but maybe you shouldn’t go with them,’ Thorson said to her. ‘Maybe it’s not such a good idea.’
‘Don’t be silly,’ she said. ‘They’re nice boys.’
‘They’re not talking about you very respectfully.’
‘I don’t know anyone who does, darling. Except you, maybe.’
‘What are you two jabbering about?’ said the marine, eyeing Thorson. ‘You understand that gobbledegook?’
Thorson was going to ignore them and carry on trying to talk his friend round, when one of the men stepped forward menacingly. His friend, sensing that he had put himself in danger and wouldn’t stand a chance against the three of them, slipped between them, took the marine by the arm and pulled him away with her. The other two backed off and Thorson watched the group disappear round the corner.
He wished he hadn’t met her under those circumstances. Tried not to think about what went on in the Nissen hut over at Melar that they’d said was kind of like a nightclub.
24
The wholesaler who had employed Felix Lunden was none too pleased to receive a visit from Flóvent so late in the evening. He was getting on in years, set in his ways and very protective of his reputation. And quite unused to visits at this hour of the night, as he told Flóvent after he had finally relented and invited him in. The wholesaler lived alone; his wife was dead and his three sons had left home years ago. One of them worked alongside him and was gradually taking over the reins.
Flóvent explained the reason for his visit, telling him about the murder committed in Felix’s flat, which he had no doubt heard about in the news. The wholesaler acknowledged that he was aware of the case. But he hadn’t heard from Felix for a while and had no idea where he might be. It was about six months ago that Felix had approached him about a job. He had been so keen that when the wholesaler told him he wasn’t hiring at present, Felix had offered to work for free to begin with, until he had proved himself. It was an unusual offer, to say the least, one that was too good to refuse.