Free The House That Jack Built by Jakob Melander

didn’t hear anything.”
    â€œCome in here for a moment.” It was Toke, yelling from the kitchen.
    Lars went into the kitchen. Toke was holding a charcoal-grey denim shirt out in front of him with two fingers.
    â€œHello there,” Toke said. “Doesn’t this look like Mikkel’s shirt?”
    Dark splatters were spread in a speckled pattern across the chest.

Chapter 14
    H e RAN INTO Sanne in the square just outside the main entrance to the Copenhagen Police Department. Her sunglasses were resting in her hair. The top buttons of her shirt were undone. The two of them stood awkwardly, squinting in the bright sunlight.
    Lars was the first to speak.
    â€œI’m sorry about yesterday. I was tired, and Ulrik —”
    â€œCan we just forget about that?” She waved her hand. “Where have you been?”
    â€œOn a search. It’s the rape case. Actually I was going to go for a walk. It’s hard to think in there sometimes.”
    She smiled at him. “Do you mind if I join you?”
    â€œYes — I mean no, I don’t mind. It’s fine.”
    She laughed and slid her sunglasses on.
    They walked across the square, turned down Bernstorffsgade, and headed toward Kalvebod Brygge. Neither of them said anything. Lars walked with his hands in his pockets. Sanne turned her head to the sun. Behind the dark glasses, her eyes were shut.
    They crossed Kalvebod Brygge, passed the Marriott Hotel, and stopped by the harbour. Across the water, they could make out people swimming in the harbour baths on Islands Brygge, tiny black insects swarming on the promenade on the far side, dots popping up and down in the glistening water.
    Sanne followed his gaze. “It looks lovely. Have you been in?”
    He shook his head. “No, it’s still too urban for me. I have to go out to Amager Beach Park before I show myself in swim trunks.”
    Sanne laughed and followed him along the harbour. “There ought to be a café around here. The view is absolutely fantastic.”
    â€œA little different from Kolding?”
    â€œActually we do have a harbour — your typical small-town commercial harbour. Not as big as this one.”
    â€œI think we can get some coffee just around the corner here.” Lars led Sanne along the boardwalk, around the next building to where a small café was nestled in a corner between two buildings. He bought a latte for Sanne and a black coffee for himself. They continued south along the water’s edge with their drinks.
    The towering head offices of banks, the engineering union, and the elite of the Danish corporate world cut off the view to downtown Copenhagen. A broad, low tour boat shot past. Gulls hung in the air above, squawking.
    Sanne pushed her sunglasses up on her head and squinted.
    â€œWhat is it with —?” She stopped herself. “No, just forget it.”
    Lars stopped. She had latte foam on her upper lip. She looked lovely in the sunlight and by the glistening water. The air smelled of salt and sea.
    â€œIt’s just the two of us. We’re far away from the station and the others.” He smiled. “Spit it out.”
    She took a sip of her latte and looked across the water.
    â€œYou can’t get annoyed,” she began.
    â€œI’m the one who asked you.”
    â€œFine. Nobody’s said anything to me, but I can sense grumbling in the corners. From your team too, according to the rumours.” She looked up. “What’s the deal with you and Ulrik?”
    His eyes wandered. He ran the bottom of the cardboard cup against his palm, coughed with his fist covering his mouth. There was only one way to say it. Quickly and to the point.
    â€œA little over two months ago, my wife Elena came home and told me she was moving out, taking our daughter with her. To Ulrik’s.” Lars stared across the harbour. “He and I have been friends since the academy. We’ve been on