The Shadow Killer

15

They watched a man of about sixty collect a bundle of fishing rods from his car, with a calm, unhurried air, then put them away in a shed. Flóvent had decided they should pay a visit to Rudolf’s brother-in-law, the headmaster, just on the off-chance that he had returned from his trip. Spotting the figure with the fishing rods, Flóvent parked in front of the drive, and he and Thorson got out and walked over.

‘Ebeneser?’ said Flóvent.

The man had noticed them parking outside his house but behaved as if it was of no consequence. He was dressed for salmon fishing, and wore a green waterproof over a traditional knitted lopapeysa, and a pair of waders. He looked as if he had come straight from the riverbank.

‘Do I know you gentlemen?’ he asked.

‘Are you Ebeneser Egilsson, sir?’ asked Flóvent.

‘Who’s asking? Who are you?’

‘My name’s Flóvent and I’m from the Criminal Investigation Department. My partner here is Thorson, from the military police. I don’t know if you’ve heard, sir, but we’re investigating a case involving your nephew, Felix Lunden.’

‘Felix? Really?’ The man sounded puzzled. ‘I... I haven’t heard anything about that. Is Felix all right? Is he in some kind of trouble?’

‘We’re not sure,’ said Flóvent. ‘But we’re keen to talk to him. Do you have any idea where he might be?’

‘Where he might be? Whatever’s going on? I’ve been out of... I’ve been fishing and... I don’t know what this is about. Why are you looking for him?’

‘So you haven’t heard from your brother-in-law, Rudolf?’ asked Flóvent.

‘Rudolf? No. Is anything the matter with him? Is he all right?’

‘Yes, we spoke to him earlier today. I take it you are Ebeneser Egilsson, sir? Headmaster of...?’

‘Yes, I am. I’m Ebeneser. Look, what’s this about Felix?’

‘We need to speak to him urgently.’

Flóvent asked if they might step inside as they had a few questions they would like to put to him. Ebeneser objected at first, pleading exhaustion after spending all day driving on bone-shaking roads. But when he saw the determination on Flóvent’s face, he clearly thought it would be better to get it over with, and besides he seemed curious to know what sort of hot water his nephew was in. The house bore all the signs of a cultured home. Tightly packed bookshelves had been fitted in wherever there was space, paintings by some of Iceland’s leading landscape artists graced the walls, and there were magazines and academic journals scattered across the tables. Many of the books were on genealogy. When Flóvent enquired about these, Ebeneser explained that he was an enthusiast and enjoyed tracing people’s family trees.

Flóvent gave him an account of the case, starting with the moment the police were notified about the body in the basement flat, but was careful not to give too much away. He described the scene but omitted the details about the American firearm and the symbol on the victim’s forehead. He said only that the police had yet to identify the body but that they had spoken to Rudolf.

Ebeneser reacted with incredulity and seemed to have difficulty taking in what they were telling him. Little by little, though, the shocking news sank in. He kept asking about Felix. Did they think he was dead as well, or in some sort of danger? Who was the man in his flat? Was Felix suspected of murder? But there were no answers to be had from Flóvent and Thorson.

‘I presume you were away at the time, sir?’ said Flóvent, who had done most of the talking.

‘I’ve been away for a week,’ said Ebeneser. ‘Fishing. My two companions came back to town the day before yesterday. Do you mean... Are you asking me for some sort of... alibi?’

‘Just a formality,’ said Flóvent. ‘I’ll need the names of anyone who can back up your statement.’

Ebeneser provided these, though he added huffily that he wasn’t happy about being required to do so. His word ought to be more than sufficient.

Flóvent assured him there was no need to worry and repeated that it was a formality. The man was not as aggressive as the brother-in-law, but beneath his aggrieved air Flóvent sensed some of the same reactions Rudolf had shown: defensiveness, unwillingness to cooperate, dissimulation, impatience. From Ebeneser’s unkempt appearance and hoarse voice, he got the impression that the man had been holed up in a hut with a bottle.

‘I can’t believe Felix... would be capable of anything like that,’ said Ebeneser. He cleared his throat. ‘He’s bound to come forward sooner or later to provide an explanation. I don’t doubt that for a moment.’

‘Well, we’ll see. Have you any idea where he might be?’

‘No, none at all. The last I heard, he was working as a travelling salesman, out of town for longer or shorter periods. Are you sure he isn’t on one of his sales trips?’

Thorson caught Flóvent’s eye. He’d detected a hint of contempt for Felix in his uncle’s voice, as if being a salesman was an unworthy occupation for a young man of his background. He wondered if Felix had been a disappointment to this family of schoolmasters, doctors and academics. But he kept his thoughts from his face and couldn’t tell if Flóvent had picked up on it as well.

‘It’s possible,’ said Flóvent. ‘Do you happen to know if he’s familiar with the German consulate on Túngata?’

‘No... The consulate?’

‘Was he a frequent guest there?’

‘No, I... I wouldn’t know. Why should...?’

‘Do you own or have access to a firearm?’ asked Flóvent, keeping up an unrelenting flow of questions.

‘No, I don’t own a gun, nor do I have access to one,’ said Ebeneser sharply, as if the questions were getting on his nerves. ‘I sometimes cast a line for salmon. That’s the nearest I come to hunting for sport. I don’t use firearms and, frankly, I find it hard to understand why you should think it necessary to ask me if I own a pistol.’

‘These are merely routine enquiries we’re putting to everyone connected to Felix. You shouldn’t read too much into them, sir.’

‘Well, I’m not sure I appreciate your... your tone or your questions. It’s almost as if you take me for a common criminal.’

‘On the contrary,’ Flóvent assured him, and ploughed on unperturbed. ‘May I ask if you’re on friendly terms with any American or British servicemen?’

‘No, I can’t say I am. Naturally I’ve had dealings with them. They’ve made use of some of the school buildings, for example, but I’m not personally acquainted with any of them.’

‘What about Felix? Do you know if he spends much time around members of the occupation force?’

‘Not that I’m aware. But I wouldn’t know.’

‘How’s his relationship with his father?’ asked Flóvent. ‘Are he and Rudolf on good terms?’

‘I think you had better ask them about that.’

‘Yes, of course. When did you last see Felix?’

Ebeneser couldn’t say exactly. He frowned, apparently trying to remember when their paths had last crossed, and finally said he thought it had been earlier that summer, about a month ago perhaps, when Felix had returned from one of his sales trips. Ebeneser had run into him in the centre of town, on Pósthússtræti, and Felix had told him he’d just arrived on the Súd after a stint in the West Fjords. He had been his usual ebullient self. Felix had always been an outgoing character and found it easy to meet people. Doubtless that helped him peddle his wares to them. That’s to say, he had mentioned how well the trip had gone, but they’d only exchanged a few words before Felix had to dash off.

‘Did you notice if he was carrying a suitcase?’

‘Yes, I daresay he was,’ said Ebeneser. ‘Though I didn’t pay any particular attention to it.’

‘Do you know what a cyanide capsule is?’ asked Flóvent.

‘A cyanide capsule?’

‘Would it come as a surprise to you that we found a cyanide pill in Felix’s suitcase and that analysis has revealed that it was manufactured in Germany?’

The headmaster stared dumbly at Flóvent. He appeared not to understand the question.

‘Would it come as a surprise to you?’ Flóvent repeated.

‘I’ve never even heard of such a thing,’ said Ebeneser. ‘A cyanide...?’

‘A capsule of the type we found is known as a suicide pill,’ Flóvent explained. You bite it and death follows in a matter of seconds. Can you imagine why Felix would have wanted to keep a pill like that close to hand?’

‘No, I have to admit... I have to admit I’ve absolutely no idea. I’m astonished, frankly. Why would Felix have a... a pill like that in his possession? Surely there’s been some mistake?’

‘Did you meet Dr Hans Lunden when he visited the country a couple of years back?’

‘Hans?’ repeated the headmaster in surprise. ‘What about him?’

‘Did you meet him? Do you know him?’

‘Well, I... no, not very well. He’s...’

‘Yes?’

‘He’s Rudolf’s brother. But perhaps you already knew that. He lives in Germany.’

‘Is he there now?’

‘As far as I’m aware. But I’m not sure why you’re asking me. What has he got to do with this?’

‘I understand that Hans Lunden visited Iceland in ’39,’ Flóvent went on, as though he hadn’t heard the question. ‘Am I correct?’

‘That sounds about right,’ said Ebeneser. ‘Shortly before the war. During the spring, if memory serves.’

‘So you’ve met him?’

‘Yes, once. At a party given by my brother-in-law. Look, I feel as though I’m being subjected to some sort of interrogation. Have I committed an offence? Why are you bombarding me with questions like this? Could it not wait until tomorrow? I... It’s been a long, hard day and, as I’ve already explained, I’m really rather tired.’

‘Of course,’ said Flóvent. ‘We won’t take up any more of your time. There are just a couple more points I’d like to clear up. Do you think it’s plausible that Hans Lunden could have provided Felix with the cyanide capsule? Or does the notion strike you as absurd?’

Ebeneser looked from one of them to the other, his face registering surprise and suspicion.

‘Is it possible that he brought more of these pills to the country, do you think?’ Flóvent asked, when it became evident that the headmaster wasn’t going to answer. ‘Do you have any inkling?’

‘I can’t imagine what you’re insinuating,’ said Ebeneser. ‘I don’t know what Hans Lunden did or didn’t bring to Iceland. It’s a mystery to me why you’re asking me all these questions. Are you trying to incriminate me by linking me to some... some suicide pill? I simply can’t work out where all these questions are leading. I’m completely at a loss and can’t think what you expect me to say.’

‘No, that’s hardly surprising,’ said Flóvent. ‘Please believe me when I say that this is as new to me as it is to you, but I hope you understand that I’m compelled to ask. Please bear with me just a little longer. I gather you and Rudolf were members of the Nationalist Party. Did Dr Hans Lunden come to Iceland under their auspices? Under the auspices of the Nationalist Party, I mean?’

‘I don’t believe so. But I wasn’t a very active member and know little about their arrangements, so I’m afraid I can’t answer that.’

‘Are you still a Nazi sympathiser?’

‘Certainly not,’ said Ebeneser, flicking a glance at Thorson. ‘Not that it’s any of your business. I simply can’t work out what it is that you want from me. Besides which, it’s extremely late...’

‘I suppose Felix had direct links to Germany, to his relatives there,’ said Flóvent, changing tack. He didn’t want to alienate the headmaster, as he suspected that their paths would cross again, sooner rather than later.

‘Actually he’s spent more time in Denmark. Perhaps you’re aware that his grandmother’s Danish?’ said Ebeneser, sounding weary. ‘Look, I’d be grateful if we could wrap this up now. If you don’t mind.’

‘Of course. It’s late, as you said.’ Flóvent made as if to leave. ‘Thank you for seeing us at such an inconvenient time. We only dropped by on the off-chance that you’d be home. Has he been in Denmark recently? Felix, I mean.’

‘Actually, it’s not that long since he came home,’ said Ebeneser. ‘Felix was trapped there when the Nazis... when the Germans invaded last year, and he stayed on in Copenhagen until he was able to get a ship back to Iceland.’

‘Really, so he was in Denmark fairly recently? Do you know what he was doing there?’

‘He was there almost two years. And no, I’m not sure what he was up to.’

‘All right, thank you very much. We won’t keep you any longer. You’ve been most helpful. Oh, just one last thing. Have you seen Rudolf at all recently?’

‘No,’ said Ebeneser emphatically. ‘I haven’t seen Rudolf for a while.’

‘You haven’t visited him? Haven’t seen him at all?’

‘No. No, I haven’t seen him.’

They shook hands in parting, and Flóvent smiled amiably to hide the fact that he knew better.