been the most passionate experience of his life. Being with her had put his protracted relationship with Mona into perspective. He had experienced sensual pleasure with Baiba greater than he had previously thought possible. He had been keen to start a new life and wanted to marry her, but she turned him down. She didn’t want to live with another police officer, and risk becoming a widow again, which she had already been through.
Now they were facing each other in his living room. He still found it difficult to believe that it really was her who had reappeared from somewhere far away in time and space.
‘I never imagined this would happen,’ he said. ‘That we would meet again.’
‘You never got in touch.’
‘No. I didn’t. I wanted what was over and done with to be over and done with.’
He ushered her to the sofa and sat down beside her. He suddenly had the feeling that everything was not as it should be. She was too pale, too thin, too tired and awkward in her movements.
She read his mind, as she always had, and took his hand.
‘I wanted to see you again,’ she said. ‘You are convinced that people are gone forever, but then you wake up one day and realise that you can never break away entirely from people who have been especially important in your life.’
‘There’s some special reason why you’ve come here now,’ said Wallander.
‘I’d like a cup of tea,’ she said. ‘Are you sure I’m not disturbing you?’
‘There’s only me and a dog,’ said Wallander. ‘That’s all.’
‘How’s your daughter?’
‘Do you remember her name?’
Baiba looked offended. Wallander recalled how easily she had taken offence.
‘Do you really think I’ve forgotten about Linda?’
‘I suppose I thought that you’d erased everything to do with me.’
‘That was something about you that I never liked - you always made such a drama out of everything. How could anybody possibly “erase” somebody they’d once been in love with?’
Wallander was already on his way to the kitchen, to make tea.
‘I’ll come with you,’ she said, standing up.
When Wallander saw what an effort it was for her, he realised that she was ill.
She filled a saucepan with water and put it on the stove, giving the impression that she was immediately at home in his kitchen. He took out the cups he had inherited from his mother, the only items that remained to preserve her memory. They sat down at the kitchen table.
‘This is a lovely house you have here,’ she said. ‘I remember you used to talk about moving out to the country, but I didn’t believe you’d ever do it.’
‘I didn’t believe it either. Not to mention that I’d ever get myself a dog.’
‘What’s her name?’
‘It’s a he. Jussi.’
Their conversation died out. He eyed her without making it obvious. The bright sunshine coming in through the kitchen window emphasised her emaciated features.
‘I never left Riga,’ she said apropos of nothing. ‘I’ve managed to trade up to a better apartment twice, but I could never even think about living out in the country. When I was a child I was sent to live with my grandparents for a few years, in extreme poverty that I always associate with the Latvian countryside. Maybe it’s an image that no longer applies today, but I can’t shake it off.’
‘You were working at the university when we were together. What are you doing now?’
She didn’t respond, but took a sip of tea and then slid her cup to one side.
‘I’m actually a qualified engineer,’ she said. ‘Have you forgotten that? When we met I was translating scientific literature for the technical college. But I don’t do that any more. Not now that I’m ill.’
‘What’s the nature of your illness?’
She answered quietly, as if what she was saying wasn’t all that important.
‘I’m dying. I have cancer. But I don’t want to talk about that right now. Do you mind if I lie down for a while? I’m taking painkillers that are so strong, I find it hard to stay awake.’
She headed for the sofa, but Wallander ushered her into his bedroom. He had changed the sheets only a couple of days ago. He smoothed out the bed before she lay down. Her head almost disappeared into the pillow. She smiled wanly, as if she had recalled something.
‘Haven’t I been in this bed before?’
‘Of course you have. It’s an old bed.’
‘I’ll take a nap. Just an hour. They said at the police station that you were on holiday.’
‘You can sleep here for as long as you like.’
He wasn’t sure if she had heard him, or if she had already fallen asleep. Why has she come here to visit me? he wondered. I can’t cope with any more death and misery, any more wives drinking themselves to death, any more mothers being murdered. He regretted that thought the moment he had it. He sat down very carefully at the end of the bed and looked at her. The memory of their affair returned and upset him so much that he started shaking. I don’t want her to die, he thought. I want her to live. Maybe now she’s prepared to give living with a policeman another go.
Wallander went out and sat on one of the garden chairs. After a while he let Jussi out of his kennel. Baiba’s car was an old Citroen with Latvian plates. He switched on his mobile phone and saw that Linda had called. He called her back, and she sounded pleased when she heard his voice.
‘I just wanted to tell you that Hans has been awarded a bonus. Several hundred thousand kronor. That means we can rebuild the house.’
‘Did he really earn that kind of money?’ Wallander wondered, with a trace of cynicism in his voice.
‘Why shouldn’t he?’
Wallander told her that Baiba had come to visit him. Linda listened to what he said about the woman now lying asleep in his bed.
‘I’ve seen pictures of her,’ said Linda when he’d finished. ‘You’ve spoken about her. But according to Mum she was just a Latvian prostitute.’
Wallander was furious.
‘Your mother can be a terrible person sometimes. Making a claim like that is shameful. In many ways Baiba has all the qualities that Mona lacks. When did she say that?’
‘How do you expect me to remember?’
‘I think I’ll call her and tell her never to be in touch with me again.’
‘What good would that do? She was probably jealous. People say things like that when they’re jealous.’
Reluctantly, Wallander acknowledged that she was right, and calmed down. Then he told her that Baiba was seriously ill.
‘Has she come to say goodbye, then?’ she asked. ‘That sounds sad.’
‘That was my first reaction too. I was surprised and pleased to see her. But it only took a few minutes for me to feel depressed again. I seem to be surrounded by nothing but death and misery nowadays.’
‘You always have been,’ Linda said. ‘That was one of the first things they warned us about at the police academy - the kind of working life that lay ahead. But don’t forget that you have Klara.’
‘That’s not what I’m talking about. It’s the feeling of old age that’s creeping up and sticking its claws into the back of my neck. Wherever I look, my circle of friends is thinning out. When Dad died, I became next in line, if you get my meaning. Klara is at the end of that line, but I’m right at the front.’
‘If Baiba has come to see you, it’s because you mean a lot to her. That’s the only important thing.’
‘Come by,’ said Wallander. ‘I want you to meet the only woman who has really meant anything to me.’
‘Apart from Mona.’
‘That goes without saying.’
Linda thought for a while before speaking.
‘I have a friend visiting at the moment,’ she said. ‘Rakel - do you remember her? She’s a police officer in Malmo. She and Klara get along well.’
‘Aren’t you going to bring Klara with you?’
‘I’ll come on my own, very shortly.’
