The Forgotten Girls Read Free Page B

yours.”
    “Yes,” he agreed as he unloaded the boxes on the desk. “And that agency is going to be you and me. I was just told to pack up my things and move in here with you.”
    “Then there’s been a misunderstanding. Who told you that?”
    Eik had tossed his leather jacket on the floor and started to unpack the two boxes.
    “Rønholt. He put me on the case involving the woman from the woods.”
    Louise stared at him in disbelief.
    “Sure, but you don’t have to be in here to work on that case, right?” she tried.
    “Yeah, ’cause I’ll be working with you,” he said and coughed as if his lungs hadn’t quite gotten their day started yet.
    She stood quietly for a moment, letting his words sink in. Then she grabbed the file from the desk and pushed past him as he started to maneuver the surplus chair out again.
    “Is R ØNHOLT IN THERE ?” she asked when she stood in front of her boss’s secretary. Hanne Munk had also worked in the Homicide Department some years ago, but only briefly. Her big red hair, multicolored clothing, and spiritual tendencies had not exactly been Detective Superintendent Willumsen’s cup of tea, so within a few months he had managed to scare her away.
    “You can’t go in right now!” she said. “Ragner is preparing for a meeting with the national commissioner.”
    “I need to speak with him. It’ll take two minutes.” Louise continued through the front office.
    Hanne leaped up and got to the door before Louise could raise her arm to knock.
    “You can’t just barge in and interrupt.” She blocked the way, giving Louise an angry stare. “And he won’t have any more time for the rest of the day. But of course you’re welcome to schedule a meeting later this week.”
    “Oh, would you stop it!” Louise said. She stayed right in Hanne’s face with no intention of giving in.
    Just then the door opened and Ragner Rønholt nearly tripped over his secretary, who was still blocking the threshold.
    “Well, hello there,” he said, grabbing Hanne’s shoulders to regain his balance while smiling at Louise. “I’m glad you were able to get Eik up and about. He’s a good guy once he gets out of vacation mode.”
    “Yeah, about that…” Louise slipped past Hanne while pulling Rønholt back into his office and closing the door behind them. “Our deal was crystal clear: I get to pick the other person who’ll work in the new department.”
    She handed her papers to him.
    “Here’s a list of the people I consider qualified.”
    As he accepted the file, Louise remembered the small notes she had made, which were meant for her eyes only, and pulled the papers back out of his hands.
    “No one ever said that you could just unload some drunk on me.”
    “Who said anything about unloading anyone?” Rønholt sounded defensive, a deep crease indented across his forehead. “Eik is my best guy, and I’m sure that the combination of the two of you could be world-class.”
    World-class? Louise was dumbfounded at both his choice of words and how effortlessly he’d dumped the colleague on her.
    “He was sleeping it off in a bar. Once he finally came around, he downed two shots before he even got on his feet. That is not world-class. Forget it. I want Lars Jørgensen. I’m sure he could be transferred over here quickly.”
    Rønholt had moved behind his desk. He looked at her. “You’re right that Eik is fighting some demons, which at times are stronger than him. But sometimes people’s weaknesses can also turn out to be their strengths,” he said. “Lars Jørgensen is a possibility. But give Eik a chance. For a start, I suggest that he and you find the woman’s identity, investigate if there are any next of kin who need to be notified, and then we’ll get this case closed.”
    It was not the reaction Louise had expected. She took a deep breath and exhaled. This wasn’t over yet.
    He looked at his watch and grabbed his coat from the rack. “I’m running a bit late.