The Darkness Knows

19

Steinar had been rushed to the National Hospital after being found lying in the corridor of the nursing home. He’d been suffering severe chest pains and was about to call for help when he collapsed. A member of staff had found him and raised the alarm, and now he was in intensive care. The only thing he had asked for was to see Konrád, but Konrád was warned that he couldn’t stay with the patient more than a few minutes. It was touch-and-go whether he would survive the night.

Steinar opened his eyes after Konrád had been standing over him for a while. It took the old man a moment or two to recognise him. Then a faint smile twitched at the corner of his mouth before his eyelids drooped again.

‘I don’t want to take it to my grave,’ Steinar murmured, so quietly that it was hardly more than a breath.

‘What?’

‘Luckily, that Hjaltalín was never convicted, and now the poor man’s dead, so... And then the body turning up like that... it’s been preying on my mind ever since I saw the news.’

‘What has? What are you talking about?’

Steinar opened his eyes again and looked at Konrád. ‘That Leó was a piece of work. When he used to nick you in the old days... the bloody sadist. He wasn’t above knocking you about a bit. He kicked me so hard once I could hardly walk for days. Shoved my head down the toilet too. But maybe you knew about that. Maybe you were no better yourself.’

‘I’m not like Leó.’

‘I don’t give a... shit,’ Steinar whispered. ‘He can’t touch me now. The whole thing was his idea.’

‘What was?’

‘He threatened to frame me for the murder. Said I didn’t have an alibi. And I was shit-scared because of my...’ Steinar’s eyes closed again. He was so weak that Konrád knew he shouldn’t stay with him much longer. After a moment, the old man struggled on, his voice a hoarse whisper: ‘... my past. I knew he could make trouble for me. He was sure Hjaltalín was guilty and that all they needed was to get a conviction in the bag. That’s what he said: “in the bag”.’

‘Then what happened?’

‘I saw them arguing in the car park — Hjaltalín and Sigurvin. That’s no lie. And Hjaltalín was pretty worked up, like he was ready to go for Sigurvin.’

‘But...?’

‘But I didn’t actually hear what they said.’

Konrád stared at the old man. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I never heard Hjaltalín shout that he was going to kill Sigurvin.’

‘What are you saying?’

‘I never heard him shout “kill you, you bastard”. I never heard him say that. Not really. Leó put the words into my mouth. He claimed Hjaltalín had said them. Maybe he did, but he could just as well have said something else.’

‘Are you seriously telling me this now?’ Konrád said.

‘I don’t want to take it to my grave.’

‘Steinar...?’

‘It’s true,’ Steinar insisted. ‘It’s the truth.’

‘Do you expect me to believe that? Aren’t you just lying to get back at Leó? To get your revenge on him?’

Steinar murmured something Konrád couldn’t hear and he bent over, bringing his ear closer to the old man’s mouth.

‘It’s up to you what you believe,’ Steinar whispered. ‘I never heard the actual words. Leó put pressure on me. He threatened me. He was going to frame me. I didn’t dare refuse. And Hjaltalín could have said it, for all I know. He looked very threatening. So did Sigurvin. But I didn’t hear what they were saying. That... that was Leó. It was all his invention. He made me believe I’d be banged up and that the words could have been said. That it was very likely.’

‘Well, Steinar, I can’t—’

‘That’s the truth of it.’

‘What were they quarrelling about, then?’

‘Haven’t a clue. All I know is that Leó forced me to say it, the fucking bastard.’

‘This is... Steinar?’

Steinar closed his eyes and a nurse appeared by the bed. After taking one look at the patient, she told Konrád he would have to go. He hesitated, still leaning over the old man, but Steinar didn’t stir. Konrád thanked the nurse, then took out his phone and rang Marta.