The Exception: A Novel Part 53

Iben and Erik are completely on the same wavelength. Camilla, however, can easily see how badly Anne-Lise takes it, and feels she cant stand much more of it either.

Earlier Camilla might have shouted, What about Malene? Everyone is capable of choosing to be an exception from your theories! Otherwise life wouldnt be worth living. But theres no point in saying, What about Malene? If youre a guilt-ridden murderer and sick in the head, then you can be an exception.

Anne-Lise suddenly gets up and hurries off to the restroom. Shes behaving just like she used to.

On her way home Camilla collects Dennis from an after-school club and takes him with her to the supermarket.

When they arrive home, Finns car isnt there yet. Theyre just inside the door when the phone rings. She puts the shopping bags down and runs to answer.

A mans voice is speaking English. Hi, Camilla.

She recognizes the voice instantly. The skin down the back of her neck and spine seems to contract. If hes using his cell phone he could be nearby. Right outside the door, for all she knows! Hes capable of anything. He might get inside her home. It wouldnt matter a d.a.m.n to him if Finn were there. She concentrates on hiding her fear from her son and covers the mouthpiece of the telephone.

Dennis, its for me. Why dont you run along to play CounterStrike on your dads computer?

Dennis shouts, Yeaaah! and rushes away upstairs. With Dennis out of earshot, she speaks to the caller.

What do you want?

She knows already, of course. He wants what he always wants when hes in Denmark and has the time.

I hate you! Camilla shouts. You sold yourself and all your chances in life. Zigic had your name on his list. I know the kind of things youve done for him. Youve worked for him for years.

He only makes a snorting noise.

It upsets her even more, but she tells herself to remain cool or Dennis will hear her. She musters all her self-control.

Dragan, remember that I know you well. I know that you dont have to be like this.

And you know that I can get into your house anytime I like. Or turn up where you work. Camilla, for all you know, I could be in your bedroom now.

She takes a deep breath. You think that when you say things like that youll make me want you. I dont. Its no good. I think youre a loser.

Dennis is standing in the doorway. Hey, Mom, who are you talking to?

No one special, sweetie.

Its got to be someone.

Yep, thats right. Look, why dont you go out and play ball in the garden?

Why?

Because Id like you to.

Cant I play CounterStrike now?

No, not anymore. Go to the garden.

Aw, Mo-om.

Once she is sure her son has gone outside, she whispers into the mouthpiece: I dont want you anymore. You dont understand me at all.

Dragan laughs. Im staying at the Plaza and Ill be in my room tonight. My name is Guido Pirandello.

She can see Dennis. He runs up to the window, presses his face against it, then grimaces and giggles. She tries to smile back at her little boy and speak to Dragan at the same time.

Dragan, Ill report you. Ill tell the police where you are. Dont phone me again!

She slams the receiver down. Afterward she collapses on the sofa and cries, listening for Finn or Dennis at the door.

Finn doesnt return until about an hour later. She hugs him and kisses him warmly. They chat, mostly about the pipes Finn is supplying for the office kitchen in a large clothing company. She has made fishcakes for supper, served with boiled potatoes and her own homemade sour cream and mustard dressing.

When Finn has helped with clearing the table, they brew a pot of tea and settle down to watch Good Evening, Denmark and News Views on the television.

Later on, as she makes her way to the Plaza Hotel, she thinks: Hes the devil! Her head is full of images of Dragan. I havent hated anyone so much since I left school.

Shes told Finn that shes going over to Vibekes to practice a few songs for the choir. Youd better put the kids to bed, she told him. I might be a bit late.

She imagines her children grown up, and when they somehow learn what their mother got up to once or twice a year, she can hear them ask, Mom, is it true? When we were little, did you really make love to a murderer?

As the hotel elevator ascends, Camilla can feel her skin crawl as she thinks about her answer.

No, no, I didnt. Id never do that.

So what did you do together? You were unfaithful to Dad, werent you?

Goodness, where do you get such dreadful ideas? I wouldnt dream of it. How can you? Im your mother!

chapter 56.

it is half past one in the morning. Iben is leaning against the headboard of Gunnars big bed. He is next to her and they are both writing on their laptops. Doc.u.ments and books are spread all over the duvet. They are both absorbed in what theyre doing, but now and then one of them tells the other about a thought or a piece of text. Or they touch, kiss, and wait to see what will happen next.

Quietly, in the light from the bedside lamps, their minds play with each other in a private game they both love. Their bodies are at rest, as if as they were floating in a warm swimming pool.

Gunnars chest bears a small pink scar from Zigics knife. Iben covers it with her hand, as if she could protect him now, one month too late. Her hand moves on, slipping through the hair on his chest, and her other hand lets go of a book about the Armenian genocide.

Iben and Gunnar stay awake most of the night, but at the DCIG the next morning Iben is bursting with energy. She will always remember Malene and respect her memory, but its a fact that the office is running much better without her and there are no more problems with people not getting along. Anne-Lise has flourished in a totally unexpected way, and Paul turns up every morning in top form.

Ibens only worry concerns the Turkey issue of Genocide News. It has been a source of anxiety for her ever since she learned, on one hand, that Paul is pretty sure he will be the next head of the DIHR and, on the other, that he is chummy with a representative of the nationalist Danish Peoples Party.

All of a sudden Paul whipped the planned Chechnya issue off the schedule, meaning that a study of Christians killing Muslims went down the tube. Instead all the Centers resources are to be brought to bear on Turkey including how Muslims killed more than a million Christians.

Pauls stated reason was that Turkey was up for discussion in Brussels. Still, these days no one talks about the genocide carried out by the Turks. Inevitably, the suspicion comes to mind that Paul has made some secret agreement with influential figures in the Peoples Party, who are against all immigrants but the Muslim contingent most of all. They already stopped Ole from firing Paul. Maybe their next move is to install him at the top of the Human Rights Inst.i.tute?

And, if so, does Ibens work serve, above all, to fan the fear of Muslims and the growing hatred of them? Is she perhaps doing her bit to target the large Turkish community in Denmark? Naturally Paul would never tell her so straight out. She has no choice now, except to make the Turkey issue as good and comprehensive as possible, supporting the Center and the cause in general.

After work she goes to Gunnars place. Every second week his daughters are there too. Iben has liked them immensely from the very first time they met. It seems that they like her too. At a stroke Iben belongs to a family a brand-new one, but a family all the same.

Its incredible that less than half a year ago Iben and Gunnar met for the first time. At Sophies party. Three days later, she and Malene received threatening e-mails.

She is sitting on the bed in the oldest daughters room, listening to music, looking at the girls latest download of pop-star photos from the Internet.

When the intercom rings Iben answers. It is Dorte Jrgensen.

I hope Im not disturbing you?

Iben pulls herself together and smiles even though no one is there to watch her.

Not at all, Dorte. Come straight up.

All in all, Iben is happy. During the last few weeks she has discovered how much shes capable of. Although shes felt close to the edge once or twice, shes realized that its best to stay in her own apartment during those moments. She doesnt want Gunnar or the girls to notice anything odd about her.

Whenever Dorte turns up, her feeling of being in control begins to slip. Lurking at the back of Ibens mind is the fear that one of these visits will provoke an anxiety attack and the agonizing fear that she might give things away about herself.

Iben says h.e.l.lo and welcome, calls Gunnar, and offers to make coffee. The daughters wander in too and they all gather around the coffee table. Gunnars bloodstained sofa has been thrown out and replaced by Malenes elegant designer one, which her mother insisted that Iben should inherit although she has no room for it in her apartment.

Dorte looks around with an expression that seems to suggest that Ibens staying here is suspect. Iben serves coffee and asks Dorte what is on her mind this time. They will try to help in every way.

Keeping an eye on Iben, Dorte explains that she has been examining Malenes confessional letter to Rasmus. Everything about it is consistent with her other letters to Rasmus. With one exception. All the other letters have been saved repeatedly. It seems that Malene was a nervous writer and kept hitting Save every five minutes. But, if you check the Statistics option under File Properties for this particular letter, it has been revised only once.

I see. What does that mean?

The significance is that the letter might have been written by someone else. Not by Malene and, therefore, possibly after her death. Its easy to add a false Save date.

Really? Do you think Well, weve been wondering about it. Interestingly, we established that someone did boot up the computer and use it after the police had sealed Malenes apartment.

So it could only have been one of you or ?

Thats always possible, of course. Given that there seems to have been no break-in, its the likeliest answer, I suppose.

Iben feels that shes still herself. But the girls look worried. Maybe shes more transparent than she imagines. Iben glances at Gunnar, who understands at once.

Hey, its time to start fixing supper. Off to the kitchen we go.

Dorte begins from where she left her interrogation of Iben last time, renewing her verbal attacks from every angle. With regard to the e-mail you received, whoever wrote it called you self-righteous. Did that person know you? What do you think?

I really couldnt say.

You must have an idea. However vague it might be.

Malene has confessed to it, but its Ibens heart is beating hard. The pressure is on now. It will make her focus. Make her mind clear and calculating, like in Kenya. And in Anne-Lises house. And when Zigic caught her. Im changing now, becoming a survivor, she thinks.

But somehow it doesnt happen. Is it because Malene is dead? She cant focus. She cannot save herself.

Dorte continues: Iben, you have to live with your past. Your actions will affect you. And affect your husband too. The first month might be easy for you. And the next one, and the next one but sooner or later what you have done will catch up with you. Why do you think Im so certain of that?

Iben doesnt want to answer but replies as she must: I dont know.

Because were responsible. We have to take responsibility for what we do. In the end, you alone decide how to act. Look at Malene. No one would have predicted that shed sacrifice Malene was mentally ill. She wrote that herself.

Thats what you say.

Iben leans back and sighs. I must say, you do check everything thoroughly. Its very rea.s.suring. Id be happy to help in any way.

Dorte nods. Her eyes dont leave Iben for a second. Thats good to know.

Iben gets up. She walks over to Gunnars wall of pine shelving and then back.

Look, would you like to examine my computer? You can look for Rasmuss spyware, or e-mailed threats or drafts of Malenes confession.

Dorte has it in her to smile at this. Thank you! Ill accept your offer, thank you.

Your theory is a bit far-fetched, if you dont mind me saying so. I doubt whether its convincing enough to get you a search warrant. I just hope you realize that Ive nothing to hide.

Of course. Do you use any other computers?

No. I take my laptop to work.

Ill have to get independent confirmation of that.

I understand.

Maybe Iben leaves the room a little too eagerly. When she returns from the bedroom carrying the computer, Dorte sounds kind.

Both of you must miss Malene a great deal?

Yes, we do. And what she did was extraordinary.

When Iben hands over the laptop, Dorte produces a CD from her pocket and asks permission to install the useful little search program she has brought along.

Iben agrees, noting that Dorte expected to be given access to the computer.

As they wait, the program searches through the items on the hard disk. Dorte breaks the silence. Do you feel that your work affects you a lot?

Iben thinks that this might be another attempt to get at her when her guard is down. I dont know. But we are constantly reminded of how frail the bonds are that restrain our instincts and prevent us from doing terrible things.

Perhaps working day in, day out on such things might blunt your sensibility?

That could be true. Yes.

The search program has stopped. Dorte keys in a few commands, narrows her eyes, and leans toward the screen.