For a long time.
C H A P T E R 1 0
September 3.
Mrs Winther seemed to have aged since her last visit. Her anger was gone, replaced by a growing panic, which was visible in the flickering light in her eyes.
'The fact that Andreas still hasn't come home is something that we're taking very seriously,' said Skarre sympathetically. 'But people have gone missing for longer than this and have still turned up safe and sound. There's always some explanation.'
She was listening, but the words made no impression.
'By now it's serious,' she stammered. 'By now something must have happened!'
'Have you been in touch with his father?' She opened wide her eyes. 'Let's leave him out of this.'
'We can't force you, of course, but I would strongly urge you to inform his father,' Skarre said.
'Maybe he could help us.'
'They practically never see each other. That much I know,' she said vehemently.
Skarre looked her in the eye. 'Forgive me for mentioning this, but if anything has happened to Andreas, how do you think his father will feel if you've kept him out of the whole thing?'
'Dear God! Didn't you just say that he's bound to turn up? What exactly do you mean?'
Skarre wiped his forehead, which already felt sweaty. 'For some reason he has disappeared. For two days now. I don't know why. But you shouldn't have to deal with this alone.'
She wrung her hands, seemed to try to shape some words with her mouth, but no words came out.
'Excuse me? What did you say?'
'All right,' she whispered.
'Does he live here in town?'
'Yes. You'll have to call him. I don't dare. There's certain to be trouble.'
'Why will there be trouble?' Skarre asked.
'We're not on speaking terms.'
'But this is about Andreas,' he said quietly.
'Yes. We're not exactly on speaking terms when it comes to Andreas.'
'Can you tell me a little about that?' She didn't answer.
'If you want us to help you, you're going to have to cooperate. Why will there be trouble?' he said again.
'We . . . He . . . Nicolai . . . His father . . . has the idea that Andreas is getting off on the wrong path or something. He says I have no idea what's going on. That Andreas has got involved in some bad things. But he doesn't live with the boy as I do!'
Skarre had been expecting this. He restrained an impulse at the last second.
'Andreas is a good boy,' she said. 'If there's anything at all, it's just a matter of those things that all boys do. Things that go with growing up.'
'Like what, for example?' Skarre said.
'Partying now and then. Throwing apples,' she said angrily.
'Throwing apples?' Skarre frowned. 'An 18year-old boy?'
'You know what I mean,' she muttered.
'Not really.'
'He has a friend. Zipp. His real name is Sivert Skorpe, but they call him Zipp. They're inseparable. I can't very well follow them, so I don't know exactly what they do, but I have no reason to believe that it's anything dangerous. Or illegal.'
'But his father takes a different view?'
'To be quite honest, I don't really know what his view is.'
'Is it possible that Andreas has more contact with his father than you realise?'
'You mean does he visit him on the sly?'
'He's a grown boy,' said Skarre with a smile.
'He may not tell you everything.'
'Isn't that the gods' truth! But live at home and eat for free – sure, they want to do that!' She regretted her outburst and hid her face. Mrs Winther was attractive, but her hands betrayed the beginnings of ageing.
'Why should I believe there's anything wrong when he never says anything? He gets up and goes to work. Dresses neatly. Goes out in the evening. I know that he's with Zipp. I know Zipp's mother and she's never said anything to me either. They watch a lot of videos. Drive around and look at girls. Zipp has an old car that his father gave him. If they have any money, they go to a bar. You're supposed to be 20, but they both manage to get in. Andreas is tall, 185 centimetres.'
'I see,' Skarre said. 'Tell me about Zipp.'
'He doesn't have a job and he doesn't want one. Andreas pays for his beer. I don't understand why he puts up with it; he's much too nice.' Skarre smiled. He had a dazzling smile, but he restrained himself, in view of the seriousness of the situation.
'I'll need a list of the people who know him. Girlfriends, buddies. Everyone you can think of.'
'He spends all his time with Zipp,' she said swiftly.
'But there must be others who know him. He has work colleagues. And a boss.'
'You don't understand,' she said. 'He spends all his time with Zipp. If anyone knows anything, it would be Zipp!'
Skarre fought back his impatience. 'I'll need more than that to get things started,' he said, trying to sound more stern. 'What about a girlfriend?'
'Right now he doesn't have one,' she said, sullenly.
'I'll settle for a former girlfriend,' he said, smiling again. 'Judging by his picture, there must have been quite a few over the years.'
She shrugged. 'Well, yes. But I don't know any of their names.'
'None of them?' Skarre said.
'He never wanted to bring any of them home.'
'I see.'
'But I'm sure I can think of someone who can vouch for him, if that's what you need.'
'That would be fine,' said Skarre, and began writing as she gave him two names.
'You called his friend? What did he say?'
'He couldn't help me,' she said. 'But they had spent the evening together.'
'And what did they do exactly?'
'Aren't you going to talk to him yourself?'
'Of course. I was just asking.'
'They had a pint at the Headline. After that they watched a video together, at Zipp's house. And I guess that was about it.'
'And when did Andreas leave Zipp's house? Did you get a time?'
'They went into town after they watched the film. Wandered around.'
'So they parted somewhere in town?'
'Yes,' she said, giving him an enquiring look.
'And where exactly did they part company?' Skarre narrowed his eyes and waited.
'Honestly! You can ask Zipp that question,' she said, sounding resigned.
'I want to know what he told you,' Skarre said.
'Please. Just let me do my job!'
'But I don't understand . . .'
'It doesn't matter!' He took her hand. 'Please just answer the question.'
She pulled her hand away and started sniffling.
'They said goodbye to each other around midnight. I think he said midnight. I asked him where and he said on Thornegata. Somewhere on Thornegata. I don't understand what they were doing there, in that part of town. Both of them live in the opposite direction.'
