The Rabbit Hunter

57

The evening light slants in through the windows of the orangery, settling in stripes on the kitchen floor.

The strips of potato start to quiver as Rex lowers the cage into the hot olive oil.

DJ is standing by the island prepping the dill.

‘I’m a suspect,’ Rex says as he watches the fries slowly colour.

‘If you were, you’d be lying strapped to a bench with a wet towel over your face,’ DJ jokes.

‘Really, though,’ Rex says. ‘Why else would the Security Police come here if they hadn’t identified me on the security-camera footage?’

‘Because you were the Foreign Minister’s friend.’

‘I think he was murdered.’

‘Then I can give you an alibi,’ DJ smiles, and scrapes the dill into the bowl of shrimp.

‘But... it would be a scandal.’

‘It can’t be,’ DJ says. ‘Even if the recordings were made public... You have no idea what a response we got to your television interview. Everyone loves the idea of you two playing pranks on each other.’

‘I’m so bad at lying,’ Rex mutters, lifting the potatoes from the oil.

‘We’ll go to the funeral tomorrow, and then we’re in the clear,’ DJ says, rinsing the heavy knife.

‘Yes,’ Rex sighs, noticing that DJ has somehow ended up with dill in his blond beard.

‘We’ve got the situation under control. It’s fine. The only thing that bothers me is that damn fight,’ DJ says.

‘I know.’

‘Rex, I’m so sorry I came here. I panicked.’

‘Don’t worry about it,’ Rex says.

‘Surely we’d know if the man had died?’

‘Well, you don’t know for sure that he...’

‘I’ve been through all the news bulletins, everything.’

‘What did he want from you?’

‘I don’t feel like talking about it,’ DJ says, shaking his head.

‘What is it?’

‘No, it’s nothing,’ DJ whispers, and turns away.

‘You need to talk to me,’ Rex says to DJ’s back.

‘I will,’ he replies, and takes several deep breaths. Sammy comes into the kitchen without a shirt on.

‘DJ?’ Rex says.

‘Later,’ he says quietly.

‘What are you two whispering about?’ Sammy asks with a smile.

‘Lots of secrets,’ Rex says with a wink.

Sammy goes over to the French balcony, opens the door slightly and lights a cigarette.

‘Are you still thinking of going to that party out in Nykvarn?’

‘Yes,’ Sammy nods, clicking to make his lighter produce a transparent flame.

‘As long as you’re home in time for the funeral.’

Sammy takes a deep drag, making the cigarette crackle, then exhales the smoke through the gap in the door before looking at Rex.

‘I’d come home tonight but there are no buses after nine o’clock,’ he says.

‘Get a taxi,’ Rex suggests. ‘I’ll pay.’

Sammy inhales deeply again, then scratches his cheek with his thumb.

‘You can’t get a taxi out there in the middle of the night... it’s not exactly Café Opera.’

‘Do you want me to pick you up?’

‘How?’

‘Don’t forget you’ve got the award ceremony tonight,’ DJ says, setting the table.

‘Aren’t you supposed to be staying at Lyra’s tonight?’

‘Yes,’ DJ says.

‘Can I borrow your car, then?’

‘Of course,’ DJ says, setting out cutlery.

‘Then I’ll pick you up from Nykvarn, Sammy.’

‘Sure?’ Sammy asks with a smile, stubbing his cigarette out on the balcony railing.

‘Give me an address and a time — preferably not too late. I’m an old man these days...’

‘Is one o’clock too late? Or we can say earlier, something like—’

‘One o’clock’s fine,’ Rex replies. ‘That’ll give me time to pick up the award and get rid of it.’

‘Thanks, Dad.’

‘Can I talk to you?’ DJ says, leading Rex out into the orangery.

‘What is it?’

DJ’s face is calm, but his movements are restrained and nervous.

‘Borrowing the car might not be such a great idea,’ he says. ‘I sat in it with blood all over my clothes, and I—’

‘But you cleaned it,’ Rex interrupts.

‘I know... it must be the cleanest car in Sweden, but still, you never know... We’ve all seen CSI. They could show up with their special lights and find DNA.’

‘I don’t think the Swedish police would call in CSI,’ Rex laughs.

‘But what if he died?’ DJ whispers. ‘I can’t stop thinking about it. I don’t understand how it could have come to this.’

Sammy appears in the doorway.

‘Now you’re whispering again,’ he says sternly.