At the Metro station, Alice called Connie. This time she answered.
“Yay Alice. Sorry, I’ve been with clients all day. Have you arrived?”
“Yes. Checked into the hotel a while ago. Can’t wait to see you.”
“Me too. There’s so much you need to tell me.”
“Patience, Connie. I’ll tell you everything later.”
“You're killing me.”
Alice laughed. “I’ll see you at 7.”
*
Later that evening, Alice leaned against the kitchen wall in Connie’s apartment and heard Lucas leave to buy wine for dinner. Connie looked to her and smiled. “You sure you’re okay with water? Lucas is going to splash out. He remembered the Amarone.”
Alice shook her head. “I’ve given up on wine. At least for a while. Lost almost half a kilo already.”
“Like you needed to.” Connie put her hand on Alice’s arm. “Stop keeping me in suspense. I’ve waited too long for the details. Tell me everything.”
“All right then,” Alice took a deep breath and nodded. “I’m good. Therapy helps. I lost people along the way. Ian. Kristin…”
“I spoke to her.”
“What did she say?”
“Sorry.”
“Uh huh. Perhaps in time.”
“She lost a lot too. You. Olivia.”
Alice shrugged. “Be better if she lost her suspicion and jealousy.”
“You think she wanted you?”
Alice laughed. “Maybe that’s unfair.”
“Will you forgive her?”
“Dunno.”
“Might help.”
“Yeah. Perhaps…?”
Connie nodded. “I could...”
“Might work.”
They said nothing for a moment, then Connie asked, “What about Ian? What’s happening?”
Alice sighed. “He was seeing someone else.”
“What?” Connie shook her head. “Shit.”
“I know. He claimed it was only sex, and that if I had been more interested, it never would have happened.”
“You mean he tried to blame you?”
Alice shrugged. “Doesn't matter anymore. But the bitch he was sleeping with encouraged the guy to rape me. Seems she wanted me to go back here and leave Ian to her.”
“Will she get what she wants?”
“Dunno. Can't imagine Ian would be happy with someone like that.”
“No.”
“It was my choice to leave. Not hers. Or Ian’s. I know Ian nearly died trying to save me, but I couldn't stay. Not after all that.”
“You feel guilty?”
“No. I don't see the point in carrying that weight. I want something else.”
“Like what?”
“Someone new. A fresh start.”
“Good for you.” Connie hugged her. “And what about the TV show?”
“Can you believe they gave it Laura Bowfield?”
“Yeah?”
“She got an exclusive of the police storming my house. Perhaps that even swung it for her. Ironic, isn't it? The nasty, scheming bitch.”
Connie put up a hand. “You don't mean that, do you?”
Alice put her hands on her hips and tried to look indignant, but all she could manage was a wry smile. “No. Guess not...”
“What then? There’s something else. I can tell.”
Alice’s smile broadened. “I wanted to tell you in person. I’ve had an offer here.”
Connie’s mouth opened and her eyes lit up. “Really? You’re coming home?”
“It’s split between London and Copenhagen. Best of both worlds.”
Connie grabbed Alice and squeezed her tight. “Yay Alice, Yay.”
“Thanks. I guess I’ll see Mama one more time. Kasper said she’s near the end but fighting hard.”
“Sorry. At least you made things better between yourselves.”
Alice shrugged. “Suppose. But no matter what way you look at it, it’s sad. Sad because looking back it was pointless.”
“Our mums and dads fuck us up.”
“How very Freudian of you.” Alice looked at Connie’s expression and added, “I mean that in a light-hearted way.”
Connie laughed. “I mean it in a Larkin kind of way.”
Alice held on to Connie for moment then pulled back and looked her in the eye. “I did it, you know. Went back to Ved Volden.”
Connie raised her eyebrows. “Yeah?”
Alice nodded. “After I checked into the hotel.”
“What did you feel?”
Alice shrugged. “No fear. No anxiety. But I don't feel like I’m finished with it yet. It’s strange. Closure is still elusive.”
The apartment door opened, and Lucas came into the kitchen. “Hey guys.” He hugged Alice and pulled a bottle of wine from a bag. “Amarone for you.”
Alice smiled. “Thanks.”
Connie put her hand up. “Lucas has some information. It might help?”
Lucas gestured with his head. “Let’s go inside.”
In the lounge they sat around the coffee table. “Luc,” Connie said. “Why don't you tell us what you found out about ... you know...” Connie glanced from Alice to Lucas and back again.
Alice put her hand on Connie’s shoulder. “It’s okay.” Alice turned to Lucas. “Tell us about the rapists. Let’s call them what they are.”
Lucas cleared his throat. “Jesper Gronning hung himself three years ago. It seems he had been suffering from depression and alcohol problems. There wasn’t much information available on him, so it’s a dead end. Literally.” Lucas looked at Alice. “However, Thorsten Pederson is alive and well. He’s a planning officer with the city. Married, three children. Normal life. No police problems. I met him.”
Alice bit her lip. When she realised what she was doing, she stopped. “What’s he like?”
Lucas rubbed his forehead. “In a word? Terrified.”
“Terrified?” Alice asked.
“I told him I was a private detective hired to investigate a rape 12 years ago. I said I had witnesses from the party in Ved Volden who claimed two guys raped a girl and one was Pederson. He almost cried when I asked what his wife and children would think if they knew he was a rapist. Then he said he was sorry. That he regretted it every day.”
“Yeah, right,”
