Far North - Michael Ridpath [132]
‘And?’
‘Björn was on a flight from Reykjavík to Amsterdam on Friday. Returned on a flight Saturday evening.’
‘In time to get back to Grundarfjördur for Sunday when I saw him,’ said Magnus.
‘And when Julian Lister was shot,’ said Baldur. ‘Sounds like he was preparing the ground for someone else.’
‘What about Ísak?’ Magnus asked.
‘Aren’t the British arresting him now?’
‘Probably,’ said Magnus. ‘Shall I call them to make sure?’
Baldur thought a moment. ‘No. Better to leave all communications with the British police to the Commissioner from now on. This could get delicate.’
Magnus understood that.
‘OK, everyone move,’ Baldur said. ‘And when you get them all back here, we’ll start asking them questions. Like who is Ingólfur Arnarson?’
‘We need to warn the Outvaders,’ Magnus said.
‘I’ll talk to the Commissioner and Thorkell about that,’ said Baldur.
‘Do you mind if I interview Sindri?’ Magnus asked Baldur after everyone else had left the conference room.
‘I’ll do that with Vigdís. I’d like you to be available, though.’
‘Be available?’ Magnus was frustrated. He knew Baldur was the boss, but Magnus was the one who had the case clearest in his mind.
‘Look, Magnús. We all have a lot to do. You can start by getting in touch with Grundarfjördur.’
Magnus went back to his desk and called Constable Páll, telling him to arrest Björn for the murder of Gabríel Örn Bergsson and bring him to police headquarters in Reykjavík as soon as he could. Magnus got the impression that Páll had been expecting his call. He was a good man: Magnus was sure he could trust him to arrest his friend.
Magnus struggled to control his impatience. Vigdís called in to say that they had found Sindri at his home and he was coming quietly. Then Baldur appeared at Magnus’s desk.
‘Árni called. Harpa wasn’t at the bakery. She left with Björn yesterday afternoon and didn’t show up for work today. No one answered at home and her mobile is switched off.’
‘How did she seem when she was with Björn?’
‘I don’t know,’ said Baldur. ‘Árni is checking her house now.’
‘She’s got a small kid,’ said Magnus. ‘Three years old, I think. Árni should look for the kid. Whoever has the kid may know where Harpa is.’
Baldur bit back his frustration. It was obvious he didn’t like taking instructions from Magnus. But it was a good point.
Magnus called Páll back.
‘Páll, it’s Magnús. Apparently Björn was with Harpa in Reykjavík yesterday afternoon. They left together.’
‘Right,’ said Páll. ‘He’s not at his house, I’ve just checked. But I’m talking to the next-door neighbour now. I think she saw something. I’ll call you right back.’
Magnus drummed his fingers. The Benedikt Jóhannesson pathologist’s report caught his eye. He would look at that later, when he could concentrate on it.
It was only five minutes before Páll called back but it seemed much longer.
‘The neighbour saw Björn come back home yesterday evening. About six o’clock. He was driving his pickup. She saw him as she was getting out of her own car. She remembers it because she saw his girlfriend fast asleep in the front seat.’
‘Asleep?’
‘That’s what she said.’
‘And she recognized Harpa?’
‘Yes. Dark curly hair. She’s seen her around a couple of times. Her kitchen looks out over Björn’s driveway and she saw Björn putting stuff in the pickup. He drove off about a quarter of an hour later.’
‘What sort of stuff?’
‘Food. A sleeping bag. She assumed they were going off on a camping trip together. She didn’t actually see a tent, but then she wasn’t watching Björn’s every move.’
‘She was pretty close,’ said Magnus. ‘Thank God for nosy neighbours.’ He thought quickly. ‘OK, see if you can find him. Your regional HQ is Stykkishólmur, right?’
‘Yes.’
‘I’ll get people here to talk to your superintendent.’
Magnus considered what to do. The inactivity here was killing him. He’d love to have a go at Sindri himself, but he knew it would be very frustrating to be second fiddle to Baldur. Or third fiddle. He might not even be allowed into the interview room.
And if Sindri had any sense