Postcard killers

Chapter 76

"Shit," Jacob said. "That's a hel of a story."

He didn't seem horrified, more like impressed.

"Didn't your uncles come and ask for their money when they got out?"

She sighed.

"Of course. They were pretty persistent until I cal ed my cousin Robert in Kalix and asked him for a favor. For two hundred thousand and a bottle of Absolut every Christmas, he's promised to make sure the rest of the family leaves me alone. Which they pretty much do."

Jacob was staring at her, wide-eyed.

"Wow," he said.

"Robert's two meters tal and weighs a hundred and thirty kilos," Dessie said. "He's very persuasive."

"I might have guessed," Jacob said.

She looked at him.

The story of how she had been able to afford the apartment had gnawed away at her for almost four years now. She had been terrified that someone would find out what had real y happened. Now she had dragged her secret out, and Jacob didn't seem the least bit bothered. Instead, he seemed amused.

Al of a sudden she realized she was weak with tiredness from al the tension of the day.

She stood up, clutching her glass like someone's hand.

"I real y have to go to bed," she said.

Jacob took the almost empty bottle back to the kitchen. He pul ed on his shoes by the door and stood up straight again. He hesitated by the door.

"You're pretty cool," he said in a quiet voice.

"You're pretty weird," she said. "Do you know that?"

He shut the door soundlessly behind him.

She leaned her forehead against the door and listened to the sound of his footsteps as they disappeared down the marble staircase.

"Plus, I'm stubborn. And proud," said Dessie.