Free Cold Hearts by Gunnar Staalesen

for him.
    ‘Hunting? What for?’
    ‘Deer. We’ve got a deal with a landowner in the Gulen area.’
    ‘Dalsøyra, to be precise,’ Lill said.
    Torvaldsen met my eyes and nodded. ‘Carsten and Lill have got a cabin, not so far from the sea. We used to stay there when we went hunting in the mountains.’
    ‘When did you last see him?’
    He sent Lill Mobekk a fleeting glance and half-turned to the side. ‘Just before the weekend,’ he said in a low voice. ‘We had a long, cosy evening together last Friday. After Wenche, my wife, died last autumn … She had a protracted, painful death and was rendered pretty lethargic by the medicine she was taking. It was cancer. She couldn’t do much during the last six months before she found peace. At this time Carsten and I became closer again. I talked and he listened. Or vice versa.’
    ‘A long, cosy evening you say.’
    ‘Yeah.’ He smiled wryly. ‘We had a few drinks. Lill was away, had been for more than a week, he said.’
    I turned my gaze to her. She had somewhat pointed features, which gave her face a V shape. Her eyebrows were plucked, but her tears must have removed the make-up she had been wearing. There were streaks of mascara down her cheeks and at the corners of her eyes, and her half-open mouth sagged, reflecting the shock she must have experienced on finding her husband in such a state.
    I would have liked to ask her when she had last spoken to him, but I knew that was a question I should leave to the police.
    Again I focused on Torvaldsen. ‘In other words, when did you see him last?’
    ‘Friday night as he left to go home.’
    ‘So you were in your flat?’
    ‘Yes. I was away at the weekend. I get very restless at weekends. I took the car and went for a drive, up to Sandane and back. Wenche loved trips like that, at any time of the year. Doing things we did together brings back memories.’
    I nodded.
    ‘I came back Sunday night, but I didn’t talk to him. Nor yesterday.’
    ‘I wish I’d come home a bit earlier!’ Lill blurted.
    He looked at her with melancholy eyes and tilted his head, without saying a word.
    Then Helleve and Solheim re-emerged, affected by what they had witnessed. Helleve said: ‘In fact, I agree with Veum. In principle the whole house has to be considered a crime scene. Solheim will stay here until the SOC officers arrive. As soon as we have some snaps of him and we’ve marked the position he’ll be removed. He shouldn’t be there much longer now.’
    ‘H-how long has he been there?’ Lill asked in a faint voice.
    Helleve sighed. ‘In fact that’s what we’d like to talk to you about.’
    ‘But I haven’t a clue! I was away for more than a week, and I wasn’t in touch with him from the moment I left. When I rang yesterday to say I was coming home today there was no reply.’
    He nodded, and I could see he was formulating his own ideas. He shifted his gaze to Torvaldsen. ‘Could we perhaps adjourn to yours since we can’t stay here?’
    ‘Naturally. No problem at all. Come with me.’ He opened the gate and went into the street. Helleve and Lill Mobekk followed. I brought up the rear.
    Helleve eyed me doubtfully. ‘Er, Veum … We can talk later, can’t we?’
    ‘I’m sure we can, but … The reason I’m here at all is that I have to see someone in Torvaldsen’s house.’
    ‘Uhuh?’
    ‘There’s a woman on the floor above with whom I’d like a little chat.’
    ‘Fine, fine … But you’re not with us.’
    ‘No, no, I understand that.’
    We had reached the gate, which had been left open after Torvaldsen and me. I went into the entrance and while Torvaldsen was finding the key I started up the stairs to the first floor. Torvaldsen looked up at me. ‘Knock on the door. She’ll open.’
    ‘OK. Thank you.’
    ‘Get in touch tomorrow, Veum,’ Helleve said. ‘I don’t want to miss hearing your version of this story. If nothing else, consider yourself a witness.’
    ‘I’ll give you a