Black Seconds Read Online Free PDF Page B

it could be.’ He buried his face in his hands. ‘How many people have called? Has any one called at all?’
    ‘Unfortunately we have had very few calls,’ Sejer admitted. ‘The roads were quiet when Ida went out. And we’re talking about a stretch of several kilometres. However, these things take time. So far, we know that Ida was spotted at Solberg Farm. Another, less reliable sighting came from Madseberget.’
    Suddenly Joner leapt up from his chair. ‘For God’s sake. I can’t take it any more.’
    Sejer tried to rein in Joner’s panic by remaining calm himself. Joner slumped back into his chair.
    ‘Helga says that Ida would never ignore the rules she’s been taught,’ Sejer said. ‘The rules all kids need to know about strangers and not getting into cars with them. What do you think?’
    Joner considered this. ‘Ida’s very trusting,’ he said. ‘She is curious and sweet. And she thinks the best of everyone. If she met someone who was nice to her, if he promised her something, well, I couldn’t say for certain.’ He was restless as he spoke. He kept taking off his glasses and putting them back on, unable to keep his hands still.
    For a while Sejer thought about the paedophiles he had met during his time in the force. They were often nice to children to begin with, kind, inviting and friendly. They knew how to groom them, and 36
    they had the ability to spot the most trusting children quickly. A bizarre skill, Sejer thought.
    ‘So she could have gone with someone of her own accord?’ he said out loud.
    ‘I suppose so,’ Joner said helplessly. ‘Anything’s possible. I can’t answer yes or no to a question like that.’
    Sejer knew that Joner was right.
    Skarre spoke up. ‘Is she interested in boys?’ he asked cautiously.
    Joner shook his head. ‘She’s only nine. But then again, she could be starting to take an interest in them. Even though I personally think it’s a bit early.’
    ‘How about a diary? Does she keep one?’
    ‘You’ll have to ask Helga later,’ he said. ‘I don’t want to wake her now.’
    ‘You and Helga,’ Sejer said delicately, ‘you get on well?’
    Joner nodded. ‘Yes, very much so!’
    ‘She called you last night, but didn’t manage to get hold of you. Where did you spend the evening?’
    Joner blinked nervously. ‘At work. I often switch off my mobile so I won’t get disturbed.’
    ‘You work shifts?’ Sejer asked him.
    ‘No. But I no longer have a family. I mean, not like I used to. So I spend most of my time working. I’m at the office a lot. From time to time I even sleep there,’ he said.
    ‘What do you do?’
    ‘I’m in advertising. I work with text and layout. 37
    The agency is called Heartbreak,’ he added. ‘In case you need to know.’
    Skarre noted down the name and address of the agency. Joner started talking about his work. It was a welcome distraction from this terrible situation and it seemed to cheer him up. His face took on a boyish expression. He radiated the instant appeal people acquire when they love their work and are given a chance to talk about it.
    ‘Helga’s on incapacity benefit,’ he said. ‘Because of her migraines. So I support both her and Ida.’ His face darkened because his daughter was once more at the forefront of his mind. ‘Ida is very forward,’ he said suddenly.
    ‘Forward?’ Sejer said. ‘In what way?’
    ‘Pushy. Eager. She’s not afraid of anything. She has a great deal of self-confidence,’ he said, ‘and she thinks very highly of herself. It would never occur to her that she might meet someone who would want to hurt her. She’s no experience of that.’ Joner placed his glasses on the table. Finally he managed to leave them alone. ‘Isn’t there anything I can do?’
    ‘We’ll round up all the volunteers we can find and organise a search party,’ Sejer said. ‘It’s no problem finding people for something like that. Everyone in the area knows that Ida’s gone missing. It will be