The Shadow District

43

They stood silently in the drawing room as the unbelievable news Flóvent had brought them started to sink in: Jónatan, a young man they knew well, was not only dead but actually suspected of Rósamunda’s murder, and several months earlier he had allegedly assaulted her somewhere in the Shadow District. The MP and his wife seemed shattered by the news, while their son Hólmbert seemed unable to take it in. After giving them a little time to recover their composure, Flóvent began tentatively asking questions. They answered readily, volunteering information, until the woman suddenly announced that she could bear it no longer and asked her husband to take her outside.

‘I haven’t seen Jónatan for quite a while,’ she said. ‘But he used to come round occasionally, and he was a good boy, I can assure you of that, whatever else you may think of him.’

‘Talk to Hólmbert,’ said the MP as he escorted his wife out of the room. ‘He knew Jónatan best. Hólmbert, old man,’ he added to his son, ‘you’ll tell him all you know in case it can help the police get to the bottom of this dreadful affair.’

Hólmbert nodded distractedly, apparently still digesting the news. He took out a packet of cigarettes and lit one with a preoccupied air, then offered the packet to Flóvent, who declined.

‘I’m absolutely flabbergasted,’ he said. ‘Jónatan? Who would have believed it?’

‘It’s particularly hard when it involves someone you thought you knew well,’ said Flóvent.

Hólmbert looked at him. ‘Perhaps it’s...’

‘Sir?’

‘Perhaps it’s inappropriate of me to bring this up in the circumstances but...’

‘Bring up what, sir?’

‘At least, I didn’t like to say anything while my mother was present.’ Hólmbert went over to the door to check that it was definitely shut. ‘But to be honest I was on the verge of contacting the police about Jónatan.’

‘Oh?’ said Flóvent. ‘Why was that?’

‘He... it must have been about three days ago. He asked if we could meet up because he had something on his mind. I ran into him at the university — I’m reading law there, though actually it bores me silly. Anyway, he seemed rather weighed down by something, so I said all right. I went round to his digs that evening and immediately got the feeling he was very anxious, and when I asked what was wrong he started talking about the girl you mentioned. Rósamunda, wasn’t it? I’d read about her in the papers, of course. I found him strangely evasive, as if he had a bad conscience.’

‘What exactly did he say, sir?’

‘Not much. Just that he’d met her at a university dance a few months ago and they’d gone for a walk out to Seltjarnarnes, then intended to go to her place afterwards. He was reluctant to say much more. He’d recognised her from a shop where he’d taken some clothes to be mended.’

‘The Stitch?’

‘I’m afraid I don’t remember the name.’

‘What happened?’

‘Well, it wasn’t very coherent but my understanding was that he’d tried to... to take advantage of her. She’d seemed willing at first, then... then begged him to stop. But he didn’t.’

‘And he told you the girl in question was Rósamunda?’

Hólmbert nodded. ‘There was a struggle which left her in a bit of a mess, so he told her to say she’d had a run-in with the huldufólk. That was Jónatan’s area — he was obsessed with the elves and that kind of thing. He said he’d make her rue the day if she went to the police.’

‘And he told you all this?’

‘Well, I drew it out of him. I’d never have believed he was capable of such a thing. He was quite distraught — after the event. If it’s true, then naturally his behaviour was reprehensible.’

‘Was Jónatan aware that she’d been carrying his child and had an abortion?’

‘I very much doubt that,’ said Hólmbert. ‘At all events, he didn’t breathe a word about it.’

‘Did he openly admit to having killed her?’

‘He more or less came right out and said so.’

‘Whatever for?’

‘I think she’d threatened to report him. I was getting ready to pass all of this on to the police but couldn’t bring myself to do it straight away because... I knew Jónatan quite well. It was painful, and I could hardly believe it.’

‘He’s a relation of your mother’s?’

‘I suppose that was part of it,’ said Hólmbert, looking a little shamefaced. ‘Of course I urged Jónatan to come clean of his own accord because frankly I found the whole thing deeply shocking. And, as I said, I could tell he was suffering. I haven’t breathed a word of this to another soul, by the way; not even to my family.’

‘Not even to your father?’

‘No. Not to a soul.’

‘Did Jónatan happen to mention another girl, called Hrund?’

Hólmbert frowned pensively, then shook his head. He had a thin face, fair, prematurely receding hair, and a small mouth with lips so thin they formed a single line above his chin. His nose was narrow and finely sculpted and his whole appearance conveyed an air of sensitivity.

‘She lived in Öxarfjördur,’ said Flóvent. ‘Jónatan was working on the roads there when she disappeared.’

‘No, he only mentioned the one girl.’

‘What made him do it, do you think?’

Hólmbert stubbed out his cigarette. ‘As far as I could work out, it was the promiscuity that got to him. The Situation. He loathed it — the way women and girls were making sluts of themselves, running after the soldiers and the way the soldiers used them. He thought it was disgraceful. That came as no surprise to me because he’d often ranted about it. About how debauched and squalid the Situation was. It really got to him.’

‘And Rósamunda was forced to pay the price?’

‘Well, I don’t know if it was exactly like that, but those were his views,’ said Hólmbert. ‘Look, I’d be grateful if you could leave my name out of this. I feel rather a heel for telling you, as if I... Of course, I should have alerted you earlier. But we were good pals, you see, Jónatan and I.’

At that moment the door opened and the member of parliament reappeared and closed it carefully behind him.

‘Please forgive me,’ he said to Flóvent. ‘Has Hólmbert been able to provide any assistance? It’s shattering news you’ve brought us. I’ve already made arrangements to get in touch with his parents. In the circumstances I imagine they’d rather this whole affair was kept quiet. That the poor boy’s funeral should be conducted in private. There’s nothing standing in the way of that, is there?’

‘I don’t believe so,’ said Flóvent. ‘They’re free to collect his body for burial whenever they like, although the inquiry’s still in progress.’

‘Still in progress? Why’s that?’

‘Because we still need to interview his parents, piece the story together, verify the odd detail here and there. Your son has already been extremely helpful in that regard.’

‘I do appreciate that you’re only doing your job, officer, but don’t you think his parents will suffer enough without your interrogating them about this whole unfortunate business? From what you’ve told us, it sounds like an open and shut case. If you like, I could have a word with your superiors about winding it up.’

‘Well, sir, with all due respect, that—’

‘This matter impinges more or less directly on my family,’ continued the MP, his voice taking on an authoritative edge. ‘I do hope you understand my position. It’s unfortunate and could become very awkward if we don’t take steps to limit the damage. The boy was here in Reykjavík under our protection, thanks to my wife’s generosity and the family connection, but I’d be sorry if we were all dragged through the mud because of him. Merely because we offered him a helping hand. Naturally we feel a great deal of pity for the poor boy and the way he was led astray, and, it goes without saying, for the unfortunate girl, but that’s not the issue. The issue is how to prevent the damage from spreading any further than it already has. The situation is regrettable enough as it is. Do you follow me?’

The MP and his wife had used their time well, Flóvent reflected; he suspected that this had been their real reason for leaving the room.

‘You can count on me to act with discretion, sir,’ he said, ‘and you’re welcome to talk to my superiors, should you so wish. I appreciate that this is going to be an ordeal for all concerned, and I’ll bear that in mind.’

‘That’s all I wanted to hear,’ said the MP. ‘This is an extremely sensitive matter. Best to draw a tactful veil over it in the circumstances.’