She shook her head, and didn’t seem troubled by this news.
‘I heard this morning that it might be a fifth victim from 1973,’ he said. He paused and looked in vain for a reaction in her eyes. ‘There were only four girls—is that right?’
‘Yes, we were four.’
Matthew shook his head. ‘It’s just too much of a coincidence. The man on the ice cap was killed in the same way, but his body was hidden. And if he was also murdered in ’73, you would think there’d be a connection.’
‘I wouldn’t know.’
There was no expression in her eyes. No fear, anxiety or grief. Not even relief. Matthew looked at the brown chest of drawers, where the candles glowed over the small fossil.
‘Do you know where the Hemplers used to live? I believe they died in the 1960s, in a plane crash near Kolonihavnen, but as far as I know they had a house here in Nuuk. I’m curious about whether the house is still there.’
Paneeraq hesitated, then nodded. ‘I visited that house myself as a child, but I don’t want to talk about that now. Perhaps some other time.’ She smiled distantly. ‘It was where I got my sea urchin.’
‘But do you know if the house still stands?’
‘Oh, it does. It’s near Kolonihavnen.’
Matthew’s mobile interrupted her. Leiff—newspaper said the display on the screen.
‘Go on, answer it,’ she said. ‘I don’t mind.’
Matthew pressed Answer. ‘Hi, Leiff.’
‘Hi. You need to meet Malik out by that Tupaarnaq’s apartment. They’ve found Lyberth inside it. Dead. More than dead, as far as I can gather.’
‘Dead, really? Are they sure it’s him?’
‘They’re quite sure. Hurry up.’
‘Okay, I’ll be there in ten, fifteen minutes max.’ He checked the time on his mobile. ‘I’ll be there before eight o’clock.’
‘All right—but there’s something you need to know first.’
‘Go on…’
‘You know I can never let sleeping dogs lie? I decided to find out what became of the surviving boy in the Tasiilaq murders. You know, the ones involving Tupaarnaq?’
‘I’m with you.’
‘Now, it just so happens that Ulrik Heilmann came to Nuuk a mere three days after the Tasiilaq murders. And not only is he the same age as the surviving boy, he also shares the same birthday and has no known family. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?’
‘You’re saying that he—’
‘Yes. I’m trying to get a copy of his birth certificate, but it’s not easy. Perhaps Lyberth helped him out—he was the local vicar back then. But, yes, I’m pretty sure that Ulrik is Tupaarnaq’s brother. How he met Lyberth I’ve yet to find out. By the way, I think we can safely assume that he knows who Tupaarnaq is. In such a small police station, everyone is bound to know when a convicted murderer comes to town.’ He paused briefly. ‘Right, you had better get going. I’ll keep digging. Just bear it in mind in case you see them, will you?’
‘I will,’ Matthew said. ‘And Malik is already out there, you said?’
‘Yes, he’s waiting for you. Oh, by the way, how did your meeting with the woman who knew your father go?’
‘She said that she lived with him for ten years, but that she doesn’t know where he is now. She also said I have a sister who is at school in Denmark.’ Matthew shook his head. ‘This day just gets more and more bizarre.’
54
As Matthew farewelled Paneeraq, she told him he could visit her again if he had any more questions, or if it became necessary for her to read his article before he posted it.
After reaching the yard between Blocks 1 and 2, he hurried through the centre of town towards Tupaarnaq’s apartment, which was less than a ten-minute walk away. Red and white police tape had been put up around the stairwell by Block 17. Near the tape a couple of police officers in black trousers and light-blue shirts were talking to a group of people—perhaps curious onlookers, or maybe residents now denied access to their own homes.
‘Hey,’ a voice called out to Matthew. ‘Got any cigarettes? I seem to have forgotten mine.’
‘What’s going on in there?’ Matthew asked as he lit two cigarettes and handed one to Malik, who accepted it and took a drag deep into his lungs.
‘It’s mind-blowing,’ Malik said, smoke seeping out of the corners of his mouth. ‘Batshit crazy. It’s none other than Lyberth—would you believe it?’
‘Ulrik’s Lyberth?’
‘Yes, that’s the one.’
‘Have you been inside?’
‘No, they’ve restricted access to the whole area, but we know it’s Lyberth.’ He nodded towards the police officers by the tape. ‘I’ve taken a few shots of the guys over there, and a few more from the other side, up towards the balcony and windows.’
‘Great—that’ll do for now.’
‘Oh, no, it won’t.’ Malik shook his head. ‘We’ll hang around for a bit longer. They’ll have to bring him out at some point.’
‘I don’t know,’ Matthew said, staring at the wet car park in front of the apartment building. ‘We might be in for a long wait.’
‘So what? We’re talking about Lyberth! Don’t you want to see what happens?’
‘Yes, of course I do.’ Matthew closed his eyes. The wind had eased off, and the rain was no longer quite so intense, but the smell of a wet world still hung around them like a thick, damp fog. ‘Only I have some stories I need to finish writing.’ He took a long drag on his cigarette. ‘And I need to check out the garden of a house down by Kolonihavnen.’
‘A garden—in Greenland?’
‘Yes, or whatever you have here. Rocks. Heather. I just need to take a look around.’
‘Today? Why?’
‘I think an eleven-year-old girl was buried there in 1973, and that her skeleton might still be there.’
Malik threw aside his cigarette butt. ‘Seriously? Is this a joke?’
‘No. That notebook Ottesen gave me hints at something like that.’
‘Bloody hell, what a day!’ Malik exclaimed, and he slapped Matthew on the shoulder. ‘I’ll join you later, if that’s all right. I want to see what happens here first.’
‘Someone’s trying to get our attention,’ Matthew said, nodding towards the tape.
‘Ah, I know her,’ Malik said. He waved back and started marching down the gallery towards the officer. ‘Come with me. We’re about to be allowed in.’
‘Hello.’ The young female officer’s voice was mild but firm.
‘Hey… Can we come in now?’ Malik tried hopefully.
‘No, that’s not why I waved you over.’ She looked at Matthew. ‘Ottesen would like a word with you.’
‘With me?’ Matthew said, every muscle in his body freezing. ‘Why?’
‘I don’t know, but in you go.’
‘Right, we’ll do just that,’ Malik said, putting his hand on Matthew’s shoulder.
‘Not you, Malik,’ the officer added swiftly. ‘Just Matthew.’ She took a small black walkie-talkie from her belt and raised it to her mouth. ‘Matthew is on his way.’
The walkie-talkie crackled briefly before a voice broke through: Okay, I’m coming down.
Matthew avoided looking at her. The short distance to the heavy, wonky swing door felt like a funeral march.
‘Hello again,’ Ottesen said the moment the door had slammed behind Matthew.
‘Hello,’ Matthew squawked, with absolutely no control over his voice.
‘You may have heard that we’ve found Jørgen Emil Lyberth dead in Tupaarnaq’s apartment.’
Matthew nodded slowly, while he tried to steady his breathing. His gaze scanned the junk mail on the floor, where the vagrant to whom he’d given his cigarettes had been sitting.