Betrayal by Karin Alvtegen Page A

came over to him and again placed an unwelcome hand on his shoulder.
    ‘Jonas. We know that this comes as a shock for you but . . .’
    He took a step back to avoid the doctor’s touch.
    ‘You can do what you like with the body. She has nothing to do with me any longer.’
    The other two in the room exchanged a brief glance.
    ‘Jonas, we have to . . .’
    ‘I don’t have to do anything. You wanted me to let go and move on. Well, that’s what I’m doing.’
    Without looking at the body in the bed he threw out his hand in their direction.
    ‘Do whatever the hell you like.’
    He went towards the door. He felt like he was floating. As if his feet weren’t really touching the plastic mat they were walking on.
    ‘Jonas! Wait a minute!’
    They couldn’t stop him. Nothing could stop him. He was going to get out of here and never come back. He was going to eradicate the memory of all the minutes, hours, days he had wasted in his all-consuming yearning.
    Outside, life was waiting.
    The only thing she had achieved with her ingenious revenge was to give him back his freedom. The guilt was under control.
    An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
    One betrayal paid back with another.
    He was free.
    Now he was all Hers.
    All he had to do now was go home and wait for Her to call.

M aybe she had slept for an hour or so when the clock radio went on, she didn’t know. She had spent the hours of dawn in a half-slumber, something inside her prevented her from sleeping properly, she had to be on guard. Asleep she was defenceless.
    She reached out her arm and put off the alarm, got up and pulled on her robe. He lay there on the other side of the double bed, motionless and with his eyes closed; whether he was asleep or not it was impossible to tell. The distaste she felt made her wide awake. All feelings directed inward, in towards the dark. The fatigue could not reach her.
    Nothing could reach her.
    She leaned forward and slid her hands under Axel’s sleeping body. She carefully lifted him up, carried him from the room and pushed the bedroom door shut.
    She sank down in the sofa in the living room and looked at his sleeping face. So innocent, so completely free of guilt. She closed her eyes and forced back the pain prompted by his closeness. He was the only one who made her feel vulnerable, and there was no room for weakness now. In some way she had to defend herself against the feelings he awakened in her. Shield herself. If she allowed herself to give in she was lost, a victim, poor Axel’s rejected mamma who had lostcontrol over her life. Sometime in the future he would understand that she did it all for his sake. That she was the one who took responsibility and tried to protect him, not like his father.
    ‘Axel, you have to wake up now. It’s time to go to day-care.’
    They arrived a bit late, just as she had planned. The children were already sitting on the floor in the playroom waiting for the session, and all the parents had hurried off to their jobs. Axel hung his jacket on the hook and at the same moment Linda came in from the kitchen with the fruit bowl in her hands.
    ‘Hi, Axel.’
    ‘Hi.’
    A quick smile in her direction and then her gaze on Axel again.
    ‘Come on, Axel, let’s go in. The session is starting soon.’
    There was a calm about her. The hatred felt almost enjoyable. All her energy was focused and she herself was without guilt. None of this ever had to happen, they were the ones who were forcing her. It was odd how a couple of unfamiliar earrings in one’s shower could sharpen the senses.
    Her words sharpened to spear tips.
    ‘Oh Linda, have you got a moment? There’s something I have to say.’
    She could see a glint of fear in the other woman’s eyes and was enjoying her power.
    ‘Yes, of course. Axel, go in and sit down, then I’ll come in and we can wave out the window.’
    He did as she said. Maybe he could sense herresolve. He vanished into the playroom and she turned back to Linda, looked