The Valkyrie Song

9

‘I didn’t think you’d be back today,’ said Ivonne. She brought in a coffee and a pile of papers, which she laid on Sylvie’s desk. ‘How did you get on in the Far East?’

‘Fine. I’m close to finding who it is I’ve been after. The person with all the answers. I’m only back in Hamburg for a few days. Is this the stuff?’

‘Yep — everything you asked for. All the information I could dig up on Gennady Frolov as well as everything I could find on the NeuHansa companies you asked about. And the latest copy as well as a few back numbers of the magazine you asked about — the one behind the protest in the Kiez the night that English pop star was murdered. By the way, Andreas Knabbe is looking for you. You should answer your cellphone messages sometimes. Actually, you should answer your cellphone sometimes.’ Ivonne made a pained face. ‘When I say Herr Knabbe is looking for you, I mean it in an angry-mob-with-burning-torches way. I don’t think he was too happy that you weren’t here to cover that bomb blast down by the harbour. The word is that Gennady Frolov was one of the diners in the restaurant.’

‘Frolov?’ Sylvie frowned. ‘Sounds like he was probably the target. What does he want? Knabbe, I mean.’

‘Probably your scalp. Oh, another thing. There’s been something funny going on in Altona, not far from where you live. Four days ago the street was blocked off and a pile of police were going through a couple of apartments. Then nothing.’

‘What’s the official line?’

‘At the moment there isn’t one.’

‘They’re stalling,’ said Sylvie. ‘They won’t give out misinformation, so they’re trying to say nothing for as long as they can. Who’s on the story?’

‘That creep Brandt is following it up.’ Ivonne wrinkled her nose in distaste. ‘You know, the one who smells.’

‘He couldn’t find his ass with both hands, far less uncover a story,’ said Sylvie. ‘Anything else?’

‘Nope… should there be?’

‘It’s just that I was expecting a message. No one called Siegfried has phoned or emailed?’

‘Not that I’m aware of.’

After Ivonne had left her office, Sylvie began leafing through the information Ivonne had compiled. She was in the middle of the latest issue of Muliebritas when an announcement caught her eye: an extract from Njal’s Saga.

The heavens are stained with the blood of men,

As the Valkyries sing their song.

Now that, she thought to herself, is one hell of a coincidence.