The Fire Witness

85

At five minutes to six, Elin walks through the door to Ward 52A. She greets a nursing assistant and says that she’s here to see Daniel Grim.

“Visiting hours are over,” the woman says, and walks away.

“I’ve driven the whole way from Stockholm,” Elin pleads.

The nurse turns and looks at her. “If we make an exception for everyone, we’ll be running around twenty-four hours a day,” she says.

“Please, just let me-”

“You won’t even have time to drink a cup of coffee.”

“That doesn’t matter,” Elin insists.

The nurse looks at Elin doubtfully, but then nods to Elin to follow her. She goes down the hall and knocks on the door of a patient’s room to the right.

“Thanks,” Elin says, and waits until the nurse leaves before she walks in.

Standing by the window is a man with an ashen face. He hasn’t shaved this morning and perhaps not the day before, either. He’s wearing jeans and a wrinkled shirt. He looks at her with a slight frown and runs his hand through his thin hair.

“My name is Elin Frank,” Elin says softly. “I know I’m disturbing you and I apologize in advance.”

“No, it’s… it’s…”

He appears to have been crying, crying for many days. In a different context, Elin might have thought he was handsome. He has a friendly face and intelligent eyes.

“I need to talk to you, but I understand if you’re not up to it,” she says.

“It’s all right,” he says in a voice that sounds as if it will break at any moment. “The reporters kept coming by the first days, but I couldn’t speak… I couldn’t handle talking to them. There was nothing I could say. I mean, I wanted to help the police, but I couldn’t make it work. I couldn’t get my thoughts together…”

Elin tries to think of a way to bring up the subject of Vicky. She understands that Vicky is a monster as far as he is concerned. She’s ruined his life. It won’t be easy to make him want to help out.

“Do you mind if I ask you a few things?”

“Honestly, I don’t know.” Daniel rubs his face.

“Daniel, I’m very sorry about what happened to you.”

He whispers a thank-you. Then he looks up and says, “I just said thank you for your sympathy, but I really don’t understand what happened. I was worried about Elisabet’s heart… and…”

The light leaves his face, which turns inward and ashen again.

“I truly can’t comprehend what happened to you,” Elin says quietly.

“I have my own psychologist now,” he says. He tries to smile but can’t. “I never thought I’d need my own psychologist. He listens to me. He listens and waits while I cry like a baby. I feel… You know, he won’t let the police talk to me. I would have made the same decision if I were in his place. At the same time, I know myself… It wouldn’t hurt me to talk. I should tell him I can talk to them… not that I know if I’d be of any real help.”

“It’s probably good to listen to your psychologist,” she says.

“Do I sound that confused?” he asks.

“No, but…”

“Sometimes I remember something that I think I should tell the police, but I immediately forget what it is. It’s strange. I can’t keep my thoughts straight. It’s as if I am absolutely exhausted.”

“I’m sure things will get better again.”

He rubs his finger under his nose. Then he looks at her.

“Did you tell me which newspaper you’re working for?”

She shakes her head and says, “I’m here because Vicky Bennet lived with me when she was six years old.”