Hidden in Snow (The ?re Murders, #1)(14)
Right on cue, loud noises emanate from the bedroom.
Suddenly Amanda has had enough.
She ought to stay and console Ebba, help her to bed, and make a start on cleaning up the mess. Instead she gets to her feet. She is tired of drunken classmates and the smell of beer and vomit. She’d so looked forward to this evening, but nothing has turned out the way it was supposed to.
She can’t help brooding, just as she’s done all week since she realized what was going on, how terrible it was.
Her drunken classmates suddenly seem childish and naive; they have no idea.
She can’t keep the dark thoughts at bay, and the situation is made worse by the fact that her fear is now mixed with anger at Viktor. Why did he have to be so vile, tonight of all nights?
She wants to go home and sleep in her own bed, try to work out a solution to the whole horrible mess.
She’d really like to tell her mother everything. Get a big hug, hear her mom say that everything will be all right.
Then again, she knows exactly what Mom would say if she found out the truth.
Found out what Amanda has been up to with Ebba.
“Listen, I’m going now,” she says. “I’ll help you clean up over the weekend. By the way, I’ve had enough of Viktor.
He’s completely wasted tonight.”
Ebba gives a slight nod.
“Mmm,” she mumbles, eyes fixed on the floor.
“See you tomorrow,” Amanda says.
That’s a bit of an exaggeration; it’s almost one o’clock in the morning. In six and a half hours, they have to be in school for the Lucia procession. Both Ebba and Amanda are taking part. She hopes that Ebba will manage to sober up before it starts; otherwise the music teacher will go crazy.
They’ve been practicing Christmas songs and carols since October.
Amanda goes down to the hall, rummages for her jacket among the pile of garments on the floor. She pulls on her hat and boots—it’s freezing outside.
She lingers for a moment with her hand resting on the door handle. It’s snowing now, big white flakes whirling in the wind. The buses don’t run at this hour, and it will take her forty minutes to walk home.
The quickest route is via the E14, but it’s not really safe; the cars drive so fast along there.
Should she change her mind and stay over?
She glances toward the kitchen. She can just see Wille through the doorway, but there’s no sign of Viktor. The music is just as loud as before, even though nobody’s dancing anymore. The cigarette smoke mingles with the smell of something else, something sweeter.
Viktor appears, staggering past on his way to the downstairs bathroom. He’s in such a hurry that he doesn’t bother closing the door. Amanda can hear the stream of urine hitting the bowl, no doubt splashing on the floor.
Waste of fucking space.
She makes a face and turns away.
She hears Viktor emerge, but ignores him. She doesn’t even want to look at him.
“Are you leaving?” he shouts.
Amanda doesn’t answer.
Suddenly he’s in front of her, blocking the door.
“Come on, Amanda . . .”
He tries to kiss her, but this time she’s ready for him.
“Don’t touch me!”
He’s had several hours to fix things between them, but instead he chose to hang out with Wille, drinking. Although to be fair he does seem slightly more sober now.
“What’s wrong with you tonight?” Viktor looks irritated as she turns away. “Why are you so miserable?”
“Seriously?” Amanda snaps.
He makes another attempt to put his arms around her, and she pushes him away. She doesn’t mean to use so much force, but she’s stronger than he thinks—and Viktor is drunk and unprepared. He loses his balance and crashes into the wall. He lands heavily on the stone floor and swears out loud.
Amanda stares at him. He looks furious; his face is distorted with rage. She doesn’t know whether to say Sorry or You only have yourself to blame.
Her mouth goes dry with stress.
Viktor scrambles to his feet, narrowing his eyes.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing? Bitch!”
His tone frightens her. Viktor has never spoken to her like that. For the first time she wonders whether what he did to that girl in Ume? really was an accident.
Whether he’s capable of doing it again . . .
When he comes toward her, she doesn’t know if he’s going to hit her or kiss her.
Amanda yanks open the front door and races out into the night. Viktor calls out after her, but she keeps on running.
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13
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15
The bedroom is in darkness when Lena Halvorssen is woken by her alarm.
She gropes around on the bedside table, switches it off.
It’s six o’clock on the morning of Lucia. It’s hard to get her body moving, but the kids have to go to school, and her first patient is due at eight fifteen.
Harald is still asleep. She gives him a little push, but he merely grunts. His stubble is more gray than black these days, and his double chin is clearly visible, resting on the covers.
Lena sighs and swings her legs over the side of the bed.
Ludde is there in a second, wagging his tail. She bends down and strokes the black retriever before she pulls on her dressing gown. It’s time to wake the twins. Mimi and Kalle are still sharing a room even though they’re nine years old.