cute?”
Leif made a wry face.
“Not much fun when you have to play nanny to every single person. Sometimes this place seems just like a day-care center. But never mind that, a lot of people means money in the bank, and that’s what we need during the long, cold winter. How are things with you?”
“Lots of work—just like you. The difference is that the profits are scanty.”
“How’s the investigation going?”
“We’ve got someone under arrest, although between you and me, I doubt he’s the guy. But I’m sure we’ll solve this case, too.”
“Wasn’t it one of his drinking buddies who did it?”
“That seems the most likely, but we’ll have to wait and see,” said Knutas.
Even though he and Leif were close friends, he didn’t like to discuss an investigation when he was in the middle of it. Leif was fully aware of this and respected his reticence.
“How are Ingrid and the kids?” asked Knutas.
“They’re all fine. This morning I went out and bought tickets to Paris. I’m thinking of surprising Ingrid with a week of romance right after New Year’s. We’re celebrating our fifteenth wedding anniversary.”
“Has it been that long?”
“Incredible but true.”
“You always manage to come up with such good ideas. I can’t think of what to buy Lina for her birthday. Do you have any suggestions?”
“No, you’re going to have to think of something yourself. I’ve filled my quota when it comes to your wife’s birthdays. At least until it’s time for her fiftieth.”
Knutas smiled with embarrassment. When Lina had turned forty they were going through a rough period financially. So the Almlövs had provided the place and the wait staff for the big celebration. Leif also happened to know the members of a band, and they had agreed to play for free. Leif was truly a thoughtful and generous friend. The entire Knutas family had been invited to the Almlöv mountain cabin and to their time-share apartment on the Costa del Sol in Spain.
The two families belonged to completely different economic brackets. This had bothered Knutas at first, but over time he had accepted this difference. Leif and Ingrid had a relaxed attitude toward their wealth, and they never talked about it.
Knutas asked for the bill, but Leif refused to let his friend pay for lunch. Every time Knutas came to the restaurant they had the same argument.
Johan was standing in front of the ATM on Adelsgatan when he noticed her. She came walking from Söderport, holding the hand of a child on either side. She was talking to them and laughing. Tall and slender, with her sand-colored hair hanging straight down to her shoulders. He saw the contours of her high cheek-bones as she turned her head. She was wearing jeans and a short, lion-yellow quilted jacket. A striped scarf was wrapped around her neck. And she had on mocha-colored boots with fringe.
His mouth went dry and he turned his back to peer down at the ATM. “Receipt requested?” Should he turn around and say hello? Last night’s conversation complicated matters. He didn’t know whether she was still angry.
He had never met the children, just seen them from a distance. Would she notice him, or would she just walk past? There was hardly anyone on the street, which meant that she was bound to see him. He felt a slight panic and turned around.
She had stopped to look in a window a short distance away. He gathered his courage.
“Hi!” He looked right into her shining eyes.
“Hi, Johan.”
The children looked up at him inquisitively, their cheeks red under brightly colored caps. One of them was slightly taller than the other.
“You must be Sara and Filip,” he said, holding out his hand. “I’m Johan.”
“How do you know our names?” asked the girl in her lilting Gotland accent.
She bore a striking resemblance to her mother. A mini-version of Emma.
“Your mother told me.”
Emma’s presence made him feel weak in the knees.
“Johan is sort of a friend
Leif made a wry face.
“Not much fun when you have to play nanny to every single person. Sometimes this place seems just like a day-care center. But never mind that, a lot of people means money in the bank, and that’s what we need during the long, cold winter. How are things with you?”
“Lots of work—just like you. The difference is that the profits are scanty.”
“How’s the investigation going?”
“We’ve got someone under arrest, although between you and me, I doubt he’s the guy. But I’m sure we’ll solve this case, too.”
“Wasn’t it one of his drinking buddies who did it?”
“That seems the most likely, but we’ll have to wait and see,” said Knutas.
Even though he and Leif were close friends, he didn’t like to discuss an investigation when he was in the middle of it. Leif was fully aware of this and respected his reticence.
“How are Ingrid and the kids?” asked Knutas.
“They’re all fine. This morning I went out and bought tickets to Paris. I’m thinking of surprising Ingrid with a week of romance right after New Year’s. We’re celebrating our fifteenth wedding anniversary.”
“Has it been that long?”
“Incredible but true.”
“You always manage to come up with such good ideas. I can’t think of what to buy Lina for her birthday. Do you have any suggestions?”
“No, you’re going to have to think of something yourself. I’ve filled my quota when it comes to your wife’s birthdays. At least until it’s time for her fiftieth.”
Knutas smiled with embarrassment. When Lina had turned forty they were going through a rough period financially. So the Almlövs had provided the place and the wait staff for the big celebration. Leif also happened to know the members of a band, and they had agreed to play for free. Leif was truly a thoughtful and generous friend. The entire Knutas family had been invited to the Almlöv mountain cabin and to their time-share apartment on the Costa del Sol in Spain.
The two families belonged to completely different economic brackets. This had bothered Knutas at first, but over time he had accepted this difference. Leif and Ingrid had a relaxed attitude toward their wealth, and they never talked about it.
Knutas asked for the bill, but Leif refused to let his friend pay for lunch. Every time Knutas came to the restaurant they had the same argument.
Johan was standing in front of the ATM on Adelsgatan when he noticed her. She came walking from Söderport, holding the hand of a child on either side. She was talking to them and laughing. Tall and slender, with her sand-colored hair hanging straight down to her shoulders. He saw the contours of her high cheek-bones as she turned her head. She was wearing jeans and a short, lion-yellow quilted jacket. A striped scarf was wrapped around her neck. And she had on mocha-colored boots with fringe.
His mouth went dry and he turned his back to peer down at the ATM. “Receipt requested?” Should he turn around and say hello? Last night’s conversation complicated matters. He didn’t know whether she was still angry.
He had never met the children, just seen them from a distance. Would she notice him, or would she just walk past? There was hardly anyone on the street, which meant that she was bound to see him. He felt a slight panic and turned around.
She had stopped to look in a window a short distance away. He gathered his courage.
“Hi!” He looked right into her shining eyes.
“Hi, Johan.”
The children looked up at him inquisitively, their cheeks red under brightly colored caps. One of them was slightly taller than the other.
“You must be Sara and Filip,” he said, holding out his hand. “I’m Johan.”
“How do you know our names?” asked the girl in her lilting Gotland accent.
She bore a striking resemblance to her mother. A mini-version of Emma.
“Your mother told me.”
Emma’s presence made him feel weak in the knees.
“Johan is sort of a friend
Similar Books
