We Shall Inherit the Wind Read Free Page A

company?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘And what does it do?’
    ‘Property, investments. Mostly property. Developing industrial complexes, housing estates, cabin sites. Lots here in Nordhordland.’
    ‘And the name of the company is …?’
    ‘Mæland Real Estate AS. We just call it MRE.’
    There was a slight pause, as a couple of us took the first swig of hot coffee. So far we had skated around the reason for our being here. But this was no chance meeting between friends or family. Nor was the cabin up for sale and we were not being shown around.
    I considered it an opportune moment to tackle the matter head-on. ‘So your husband has disappeared?’
    She had just lifted the mug to her lips. Now it hung in mid-air, in front of her gaping mouth. Her eyes widened a mite, and a helpless, hurt air came over her, which hadn’t really been there before.
    She put down the mug, splayed her fingers out on the table, as if to support herself, and said softly: ‘Yes, two days ago.’
    ‘And you haven’t contacted the police yet?’
    ‘Present company excepted …’ She glanced fleetingly at Brekkhus, who was sitting with a mug in his hand and a pensive expression on his face.
    ‘Why not?’
    ‘I don’t think … I don’t know … When I rang Karin she told me about you, and what you do. I don’t think Mons is … if you see what I mean. We had a … a difference of opinion. Which became a little heated. Raised voices. The upshot was he left, grabbed his coat and slammed the door, and not long afterwards I heard the boat starting up.’
    I nodded towards the window. ‘The one down there?’
    ‘No. We’ve got an Askeladden with an outboard motor.’
    Brekkhus cleared his throat to attract attention. ‘It was found adrift to the south of Radsund on Sunday afternoon.’
    ‘I see! And he disappeared …?’
    ‘On Saturday evening,’ she said.
    ‘But …’
    ‘But the car was gone,’ Brekkhus said.
    ‘Uhuh?’
    She took over. ‘His car was parked by the quay, where we met you. But now it’s gone.’
    ‘You both had a car?’
    ‘Yes, of course,’ she said in a tone that suggested she was talking to a young child. ‘Even at weekends he often had to travel because of his job, and I had more than enough to do here. At any rate, during the summer.’
    ‘All the indications are that he took it,’ Brekkhus said. ‘He may have moored the boat, and it worked its way loose or … well.’ He shrugged.
    ‘You’ve done some investigating?’ I asked. ‘Off your own bat?’
    ‘I made a couple of telephone calls. That’s about it.’
    ‘Well … in that case there are a number of leads, but … Karin probably told you, I don’t do, what in our branch we call matrimonials.’
    ‘Fine, but this isn’t,’ Ranveig said. ‘You do missing persons, don’t you?’
    ‘Yes, as far as they go. But rarely of this vintage.’
    ‘Is he too old, do you mean?’ She glowered at me.
    ‘No, no, please let me explain. What I meant was … the missing persons I am asked to find are usually young people with serious problems. What was your problem?’  
    ‘Problem?’
    ‘You said you’d had a row. Or a difference of opinion, as you called it. Could you tell me what it was about?’
    She licked her lips. The tip of her tongue was small and pink, like a naked little animal, it poked its head out, took fright and quickly retreated. ‘It was a family … matter.’
    ‘Mhm?’ I watched and waited.
    ‘You don’t need all the intimate details to find him, do you?’
    ‘Not everything maybe, but a rough sketch would help. If you want me to find him, that is.’
    ‘If I want …! What do you mean by that?’
    ‘The more you can tell me, the easier it will be.’
    Karin and Bjørn Brekkhus sat in silence, listening now. What Ranveig had to tell us was important. She took a mouthful of coffee and pulled a face before starting: ‘Everything centres around Brennøy.’
    ‘The island in …?’
    ‘The municipality of Gulen. Quite a way