Black Seconds Read Online Free PDF

was as normal. She was Helga waking up to a new day.
    Then she remembered. Reality hit her and forced her back down on the mattress. At the same time she heard the slamming of a car door and subdued, murmuring voices. Someone was coming to the house. She lay very still as if lying on a bed of needles, listening. They were moving very quietly, she could hear that. No hasty steps, no eager voices. She remained curled up in her bed. She was going to lie like this until Ida came home again. She would not move, eat or drink. If she stayed there long enough, the miracle would happen. And if it never happened she would let the mattress swallow her up. Lose herself in its stuffing. People could sleep on top of her, they could come and go as they pleased; she would not notice them. She would never feel anything ever again.
    She heard Anders’ voice. Feet dragging across the floor. The front door being closed ever so gently. If the worst had happened, Anders would be standing 33
    in the doorway looking at her. He would not have to say a single word, just stare at her with a silent cry. His eyes, his wide brown eyes, which Ida had inherited, would darken. And she would stand up and scream. Scream so the windows would shatter, so everyone would hear her and the world would cease rotating on its axis. People in the street would stop and listen. They would feel a tremor beneath their feet and know that the end was coming. But the seconds passed and he did not appear. The muted voices in the living room continued. So they haven’t found her, dead or alive, Helga thought. Hope is such a fragile thing. She clawed at the duvet to get hold of it and clutch it.
    Anders Joner showed Sejer and Skarre into the living room.
    ‘Helga’s asleep,’ he said. He fumbled in his shirt pocket for his glasses. His glasses were greasy. The state of his clothes indicated that he had slept on the sofa. If indeed he had slept at all.
    ‘What do we do now?’ he asked nervously. ‘You haven’t found her bicycle either?’
    ‘No,’ Sejer said.
    Jacob Skarre listened attentively, his blue eyes deep in concentration. While Sejer spoke, he studied Joner carefully. From time to time he made a quick note.
    ‘What does that mean?’ Joner said.
    ‘We don’t know,’ Sejer answered.
    Joner rubbed his scalp. It was almost bare. His eyes were wide like Ida’s and his mouth tiny. He 34
    appeared to be somewhat younger than Helga, neat and slender, bordering on the feminine.
    ‘But what do you think?’
    Sejer took his time before he answered. ‘We don’t think anything,’ he said simply. ‘We just keep looking.’
    They continued to watch one another. Sejer’s role was to confirm to Ida’s father how grave the situation was. That was what he needed, that was why he kept pressing him in this way.
    ‘I’m concerned,’ Sejer said. ‘I can’t deny it.’ His voice was steady as a rock. Sometimes he despaired at his own composure, but it was essential. He had to support Joner.
    Ida’s father nodded. He had got what he wanted.
    ‘But what’s going on right now?’ he said, his voice taking on a sudden dull tone. ‘What are you doing to find her?’
    ‘We’ve mapped out the route that Ida was cycling,’
    Sejer said. ‘And we’re looking for anyone who was in the area at the same time. We’re asking them to contact us, and people have started to call. We speak to anyone who might have seen anything of interest, and everything is recorded. That applies to cars, bicycles and pedestrians. We’re looking for this one vital clue which will give us a breakthrough.’
    ‘What kind of breakthrough?’ Joner stammered. He lowered his voice so that Helga would not be able to hear him. ‘When a kid goes missing like that,’ he continued, ‘you obviously fear that some one has taken her. To use her. You know what for. 35
    And later got rid of her, so she can’t tell. That’s what I’m scared of!’ he whispered. ‘And I just can’t imagine what else