Black Seconds Read Online Free PDF

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 dark with 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 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 for 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 the one vital clue that 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 someone has taken her. To use her. You know what for. 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 it could be." He buried his face in his hands. "How many people have called? Has anyone 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 kilometers. 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 anymore."
    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 pedophiles he had met during his time on the force. They were often nice to children to begin with,