Rudolf listened to this speech with a sober expression and for once didn’t rudely interrupt. Flóvent thought briefly that he might have succeeded in pacifying him and persuading him to face facts. But as the rancorous pause grew longer, Flóvent began to wonder if Rudolf intended to protest by refusing to speak at all. He cast around for a new way of getting through to the doctor, though it galled him to have to humour the man.
‘You’re not under arrest, sir,’ Flóvent said. ‘Let me stress that. You’ve only been brought in for an interview. How we proceed now is entirely up to you — whether you’re obliged to remain here longer or allowed to go home.’
‘I regard that as a threat,’ said Rudolf. ‘You had better not try to threaten me.’
‘It was no threat,’ said Flóvent. ‘But you have every right to know what your position is.’
Rudolf didn’t bother to respond to this.
‘I know that you’re a widower,’ said Flóvent. ‘I’m told you lost your wife in the autumn of 1918. It occurs to me that it might have been during the Spanish flu epidemic. Am I right?’
‘I fail to see what possible concern that is of yours.’
‘I only ask because I lost my mother and sister to the Spanish flu.’
Rudolf didn’t react.
‘It does a child no good to watch his loved ones suffer and die. I suppose Felix had to go through something similar?’
‘Felix does not remember his mother.’
‘Ah, I see.’
‘I demand to speak to your superiors,’ said Rudolf. ‘You are clearly not up to the job. You are making a serious mistake, and I wish to be sure that they are aware of the fact. Aware of how I am being treated. Of your disgraceful behaviour towards a man who... a man who has difficulty... a man who is handicapped.’
‘I assume you’re referring to Reykjavík’s police commissioner,’ said Flóvent. ‘Would you like me to fetch him for you? There’s nobody else. I’m the only detective in the Criminal Investigation Department at present. My head of department and my colleagues were assigned to other tasks following the occupation. Would you like me to call in the commissioner? I’m willing to do so.’
Rudolf vacillated, as though he couldn’t tell whether Flóvent was in earnest or merely calling his bluff. He seemed unsure whether he should summon the highest authority in the police at this stage or if it was better to deal with the underling facing him for the time being.
‘She gave birth to him shortly before she succumbed to the flu,’ Rudolf said at last, grudgingly. ‘There was little that could be done. Felix was... We do not discuss it.’
‘My mother and sister are buried in one of the two mass graves in the cemetery on Sudurgata,’ said Flóvent. ‘I often visit them there. My father’s keen to have them exhumed so we can rebury them in a family plot.’
‘Why are you...? Of what possible interest is that to me?’ said Rudolf. ‘I do not know why you are telling me this.’
‘I’m finding it hard to understand your hostility,’ said Flóvent. ‘Is it directed at the police? At the Icelanders? The war? The occupying army? Or are you being obstructive in an attempt to protect your son?’
Rudolf shook his head. It was clear that he had no patience with Flóvent. The tiny chink that had opened in his armour had snapped shut again.
‘I have been inside this building before,’ Rudolf said through gritted teeth. ‘You people do not frighten me. I have nothing to say to you. Nothing.’
‘I wanted to ask you about that,’ said Flóvent. ‘Why did the British arrest you?’
‘Because they are fools.’
‘Wasn’t it actually because you were a close friend of the German consul, Werner Gerlach?’
‘It was outrageous how they treated him. Outrageous.’
‘Were the British under the impression that you worked for him? Was that why they arrested you?’
‘I refuse to answer that,’ said Rudolf. ‘I am no spy. I never have been. I... I object to the insinuation.’
‘What was your relationship with Gerlach?’
‘I do not see what concern that is of yours.’
‘Did you have regular meetings with him?’
‘We were close acquaintances.’
‘What did you talk about?’
‘That is none of your business.’
‘About your son, Felix, perhaps?’
‘Felix? No. Why should we have talked about him?’
‘Did he accompany you to these meetings?’
‘No, he did not. Why should he have done? What kind of questions are these?’
‘I’m only trying to gather information about Felix,’ said Flóvent. ‘To find out who he is. Where he is. What sort of relationship you have with him. Whether you’re protecting him. I hope you appreciate that it would be best if he turned himself in. If not, it could make your position very difficult — if you know where he’s hiding, that is.’
‘I do not know where he is.’
‘Do you know the identity of the man found shot in the head in his flat?’
Rudolf shook his head.
‘Does Felix own a gun?’
‘He has never, to my knowledge, owned a firearm.’
‘Do you think his life could be in danger?’
‘Why should you think that?’ asked Rudolf, and for the first time Flóvent detected a flicker of interest.
‘We found something among his belongings that I’d like to ask you about,’ said Flóvent.
‘Among his belongings? What do you mean? What did you find?’
‘A pill,’ said Flóvent. ‘A capsule, in fact.’
‘A pill? What nonsense is this? What kind of pill?’
‘No ordinary pill,’ said Flóvent. ‘It has a very specific purpose. We believe it originated in Germany, that it’s what’s known as a suicide pill.’
‘A suicide...?’
‘It was hidden in a suitcase that your son uses for his samples, so he would have had it close to hand. A tiny capsule filled with cyanide. There are three questions I would like to put to you.’
‘What... what questions?’
‘Did you know about the cyanide pill?’ Flóvent saw that Rudolf was looking badly shaken, but he pressed on remorselessly. ‘Was it you who procured it for him? And was it agreed between you that he should use it in an emergency?’
12
Rudolf stared at Flóvent, his expression of astonishment slowly giving way to silent fury. The doctor had invited a tough response, and he had got one. It had proved so difficult to extract any information from him, about his son or himself, that the only tactic Flóvent could think of was to put pressure on him, shock him, knock him off balance. He had succeeded. Rudolf’s knuckles whitened on the arms of his chair.
‘Have you lost your mind?’ he snarled, drawing himself up as best he could. ‘How dare you ask such a question? Are you implying that I want my son dead? Is that what you think?’
‘Were you aware of the cyanide pill?’ asked Flóvent, feigning indifference to the rage he had provoked.
‘No,’ Rudolf exploded, then slumped in his chair again. ‘I had no idea. Not the faintest idea.’
‘Did you provide it?’
‘No!’
‘Did you urge Felix to use it if he was arrested?’
‘I refuse to answer that.’
‘Felix apparently thought it wise to keep the pill within reach. Do you have any idea why that might have been?’
‘I refuse to answer that.’
‘Did you acquire the pill from the consulate during Gerlach’s time in office? Did you pass it on to your son?’
Rudolf clamped his lips shut.
‘The British and Americans believe that enemy agents are active here in Iceland,’ said Flóvent. ‘That there are German spies transmitting reports on the build-up of forces and other Allied operations. Is your son one of these spies?’