he knew it was time for a walk.
Irene put on her rain clothes since it was bucketing down outside. Even when it poured in the spring it never got dark. Despite that, Irene didn’t see anyone until the woman and her dog were almost on top of her. She suddenly became aware of movement out of the corner of her eye. Before she had the chance to turn, she heard a piercing voice say, “Have you found a home for the puppies yet?”
Sammie became excited and threw himself at his black girlfriend. She was reserved but nothing compared with her mistress. The elderly woman looked as though she had just drunk a bottle of vinegar.
Furious, Irene didn’t make any attempt at being friendly. “No. I’ve worked late every evening this week. Police officers usually don’t have time to have a dog, and the others I meet in my line of work aren’t allowed to have them. They are forbidden both in holding cells and prisons.
“Actually, it takes two people to care for a child and that goes for dogs as well. We’ll get in touch if we hear of anyone who is thinking about getting a dog, but you also need to do your part. Put in an ad, for example.”
“That costs money. If you had any idea what I’ve had to pay for the vet and food. .”
“Even if they’re mixed breed, you’ll still be paid for them. We aren’t going to request a stud fee. A healthy mixed-breed puppy costs fifteen hundred SEK.”*
The pursed look on the neighbor lady’s face lessened a bit.
“That much?”
“Yes. Purebred wheaten terriers cost about seven thousand SEK.”
“That much!”
She was a really boring person to talk with. Irene had to end this conversation before her entire Friday evening was ruined.
“You’ll have to excuse me but I have food in the oven. We’ll get in touch as soon as someone who is interested shows up,” she said.
THE.FOOD was exquisite. Salmon filet baked on a bed of coarse salt, saffron sauce, lightly steamed sugar peas, and a green salad put Irene in a good mood again. Krister had bought a new wine that they were trying.
“Somerton. Australian. Comes in red as well,” he said.
“Fantastic with the salmon.” Irene was no expert but she had learned a great deal from Krister over the years.
“Where are the girls?” she asked.
“Jenny was going to a try out with a band. Katarina was picked up by that kid, Micke. Apparently, he was allowed to borrow his father’s car.”
“As long as he drives carefully. Where were they going?”
“To a party in Askim. A classmate of Micke’s has a birthday.”
“Did Jenny want to be picked up somewhere?”
“No. Pia’s parents were going to drive them.”
“Good. Then we can open another bottle.”
THE PHONE rang just before three o’clock. Half awake, Irene heard Krister answer. Then he sat up straight and swung his legs over the edge of the bed.
“I understand. I’ll come as soon as I can.”
Heavy with sleep, Irene mumbled, “What was that about?”
“It was Sahlgren Hospital. Katarina and Micke were in an accident. They aren’t seriously hurt but they had to be patched up at the emergency room. It was Katarina herself who called. She wants to be picked up. Micke has to stay overnight for observation. It seems he had a head injury.”
Irene started to come out of her wine-induced sleep. Her heart began to race and, suddenly, she was wide awake. Her daughter had been injured. She quickly got out of bed but then had to sink back down when the floor started moving under her feet. She had probably consumed a bottle and a half by herself, far too much when she was tired to begin with.
Krister said, “Stay here. I’ll go get her. She was able to call so she can’t be hurt that bad. There’s no reason to wake up Jenny. She may wake on her own when we come home.”
He patted Irene on the cheek and dressed. Irene lay down again but now she couldn’t relax. She was wide awake. That something horrible could happen to your kids when they were out on their own was every parent’s worst nightmare! Monika Lind and Isabell, who was missing in Copenhagen, came to mind.
She wrapped herself in her bathrobe and went down to the kitchen. With a heavy snore, Sammie rolled over into the wonderfully warm hollow in the bed that she had vacated.
It would have to be a cup of instant coffee. She warmed the water in the microwave, and while she waited found a package of old rice cakes.
* SEK refers to Krona, the basic unit of money in Sweden. One Krona equals 0.128085 dollars, so fifteen hundred SEK is about $192. When the coffee was ready, she sat at the kitchen table and chewed listlessly on one of the dry cakes.
Jenny was home, at least. She had been very satisfied with her evening’s performance. The audition had turned out even better than she’d expected. They had asked her to come back and rehearse with them. She had been very excited and had bubbled with enthusiasm as she sat on the end of their bed telling them about the band. Polo, that was the name. Irene was pretty sure that Jenny had said Polo.
Irene had barely had time to finish her coffee when Jenny came downstairs.
“What’s happened to Katarina?” she asked, and yawned.
How did she know anything had happened to her sister? Was it an example of the telepathic contact twins were said to have in certain situations? But wasn’t that only for identical twins, thought Irene.
“I dreamed that Katarina was sad and in pain. And then she had a bandage on her face,” Jenny continued.
Irene tried to hide her surprise. “Pappa has gone to get her at the emergency room. She and Micke were in an accident. It can’t be that bad since she’s allowed to come home.”
The last sentence was mostly to comfort herself. Jenny filled a glass with apple juice and fixed herself a sandwich while they waited.
When they heard steps at the outside door, both of them jumped up and rushed out into the hall. Krister opened the door and let Katarina in. She had a large bandage over her right eyebrow.
Krister smiled broadly. “Everything’s fine. She has a bruised shoulder and a few stitches above her eyebrow.”
ON SATURDAY afternoon the Huss family ate a late breakfast. The mood around the breakfast table was uneasy. Katarina complained about pain in her shoulder and neck muscles, but otherwise she felt pretty good.
“How did the accident happen?” Irene asked.
“We were going through an intersection and we had a green light. Then that idiot came and drove right into the side of Micke’s car. Or rather his father’s car. It’s almost new. His father is going to go insane!”
“Was Micke drinking at the party?”
Katarina tried to shake her head fiercely but stopped herself and with a small whimper rubbed the side of her neck.
“No, he had Coca-Cola because he’s scared to death about his new driver’s license. And the car-”
“What about the driver of the other car? Was he sober?”
“Don’t know. I was looking out the window on my side of the car and didn’t see him when he drove into us. There was just a
“Who called the ambulance?”
“I did. Micke had his cell phone with him, so I called.”
“What time was it when the accident happened?”
“Just before one o’clock.”
“The nurse at the emergency room thought that we should make an appointment at the clinic and have a
