Oblivion

20

Nanna didn’t comment on the lateness of the hour. She was clearing up after supper but invited them in and asked if the police were any closer to finding out how Kristvin had died; if that was the reason for this unexpected visit. Marion said they weren’t, but that various facts had emerged that they needed to run by her.

She finished tidying up the kitchen, put on some coffee and they sat down. The odour of Skúlakaffi still hung around Marion and Erlendur.

‘Have you been eating skate?’ Nanna asked bluntly.

‘He has,’ said Marion, pointing accusingly at Erlendur. ‘The place stank to high heaven. Has it followed us here?’

‘We could take our coats off, if you like,’ Erlendur offered apologetically.

‘No, it doesn’t matter,’ said Nanna, ‘I like skate.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Yes.’

Erlendur removed his coat anyway and, taking Marion’s too, went and hung them up in the small cloakroom. When he returned, he told her that Vernhardur had been in to the station and had described how her brother had gone about smuggling the marijuana off base. He had quite simply concealed the drugs in a hollowed-out compartment in the car door, then driven through the gate on a wing and a prayer. The panel on the passenger door had clearly been tampered with and forensics had found the compartment which, though empty, still contained traces of the marijuana. This had to some extent corroborated Vernhardur’s story. It was clear that Kristvin had taken a major risk every time he carried the drugs off the base in such an amateurish fashion.

‘He said he had a good excuse,’ said Nanna, when Erlendur had finished. ‘Said they’d listen when he told them why he was doing it. I know he was inexperienced — he was a complete amateur, like you said. I was always afraid he’d get into... into some kind of trouble, and begged him to stop. It wasn’t worth it.’

‘Are you positive he didn’t tell you where he got the drugs from?’ asked Marion.

‘He wanted to keep me out of it. Said the less I knew, the better it would be for both of us. Kristvin could be very stubborn like that. I stopped asking and he never told me anything.’

‘I’m afraid that doesn’t sound very plausible to us,’ said Marion. ‘I hope you understand that.’

‘I’m not lying. It’s how he wanted it.’

‘One would have thought you’d have been anxious to know what kind of risks your brother was running by scoring drugs for you. You don’t seem like the type to let him hide things from you. Even if he was only acting in your interests.’

‘I don’t know what else to say. It’s up to you whether you believe me or not. I... I’m trying not to think about the fact that he might have... that it might have been my fault he died in such a terrible way.’

‘You must understand how vital it is that you tell us the absolute truth.’

‘I do. Of course I do.’

‘Did your brother ever mention working in one of the American hangars, Hangar 885?’ asked Erlendur.

‘Yes, he mentioned it from time to time,’ said Nanna, thinking back. ‘They could use the facilities there when they had a lot on. They had a bay or something, but they had to keep to it. It was a controlled area. The army kept planes in there that they weren’t allowed anywhere near. They steered clear of them or it would have jeopardised Icelandair’s relations with the military. Nobody wanted that.’

‘So he didn’t snoop around at all?’

‘No... that is...’

‘What?’

‘No, I don’t suppose it’s relevant, it’s... it must have been about a year ago...’

‘What?’

‘There’s a man I used to know, a journalist,’ said Nanna, and from her expression it was clear she was reluctant to speak of him. ‘He and Kristvin were mates — at least until we split up. He was my boyfriend. A bit of a jerk, really. Rúdólf. He...’ Nanna shook her head.

‘What?’ prompted Marion.

‘It was my fault for getting into such a rubbish relationship. I didn’t see it until too late.’

‘What didn’t you see?’ asked Erlendur.

‘What a little shit he was. He made a quick exit when he heard about my cancer. I don’t know what I saw in him. We met at a disco and... anyway... His name’s Rúdólf, did I already mention that?’

Marion nodded.

‘He asked Kristvin to look into some business on the base for him. In that hangar, if I’m remembering this right. There was some airline Rúdólf wanted information about.’

‘Which airline?’

‘I’ve forgotten.’

‘Northern Cargo Transport?’ suggested Erlendur.

‘Something like that, yes, I’m not sure. Northern Cargo Transport. That sort of name. Rúdólf wanted Kristvin to take pictures for him and do a bit of digging around. But that was, you know, about a year ago, so I don’t think... Is it likely to be relevant at all?’

‘I don’t know,’ said Marion. ‘We may need to speak to this Rúdólf.’

‘Please don’t let on that I gave you his name. There’s no need, is there? I’d managed to wipe him from my memory. Completely. Oh God, he might start ringing again.’

‘We won’t say a word,’ promised Erlendur. ‘Do you know what he was after — Rúdólf, I mean?’

‘No. He was curious about this airline. I think Kristvin had mentioned it. That it was a bit fishy. Rúdólf thought there might be a story in it. Offered to get him a camera and everything.’

‘In what way fishy?’

‘I don’t know. But I don’t think Kristvin did anything about it. He was shit-scared of losing his job if he did what Rúdólf wanted, though that didn’t stop Rúdólf bugging him about it. Saw himself as some kind of... hotshot reporter — what do they call it?’

‘Investigative journalist?’

‘That’s it,’ said Nanna. ‘The pathetic little creep.’

‘Is it possible that your brother was in trouble because he owed money to someone on the base?’ asked Erlendur. ‘Did he ever drop any hints to that effect?’

‘No.’

‘There’s another matter we wanted to ask you about, regarding your brother’s activities on the base,’ said Marion.

‘Oh?’

‘I don’t know if you’re aware, at least you haven’t told us...’

‘Of what?’

‘Vernhardur reckons Kristvin had a woman there.’

‘Seriously?’

‘Do you know anything about that?’

‘A woman? No.’

‘Your brother didn’t go into any details but that was the impression he gave Vernhardur,’ said Erlendur.

‘Then it must have been very recent,’ said Nanna. ‘Or he’d have told me.’

‘Not necessarily that recent,’ said Marion. ‘Vernhardur found out, or at least your brother hinted as much, some time ago, when Kristvin accidentally mixed him up in one of his smuggling trips.’

‘Who’s the woman?’

‘She’s married, apparently,’ said Marion.

‘Married? No... no way. Really?’

‘So you didn’t know?’

‘No. Not a thing. This is the first I’ve heard of it. Married?’

‘To a member of the Defense Force,’ said Marion. ‘An American serviceman.’

‘You’ve got to be kidding.’

‘Perhaps it was over straight away,’ said Erlendur, seeing how much the news had upset Nanna. ‘Just a quick fling he didn’t think it worth telling you about.’

Erlendur seemed to be going out of his way to excuse her brother and soften the blow. Marion wondered if it was a good or bad quality in a policeman to let oneself become involved in a case like this.

‘Anyway,’ intervened Marion, ‘it’s possible that the husband, this soldier, had a bone to pick with your brother.’

‘I just had no idea.’

‘No,’ said Marion. ‘Maybe there was more to your brother than met the eye.’