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generally takes people by surprise. The fact that she didn’t tell you anything doesn’t make it impossible that she could have killed herself. There’s no indication to the contrary.’
    ‘Also, I find it a bit strange that Baldvin should have had her cremated,’ Karen added.
    ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘Her funeral’s already been held. Didn’t you know?’
    ‘No,’ Erlendur said, mentally counting the days since he had first visited the house in Grafarvogur.
    ‘I never heard her say that she wanted to be cremated,’ the woman said. ‘Never.’
    ‘Would she have told you?’
    ‘I think so.’
    ‘Did you and María ever discuss your funerals – what you wanted done with your remains?’
    ‘No,’ Karen said stubbornly.
    ‘So you don’t really have any proof of whether she wanted to be cremated or not?’
    ‘No, but I just know. I knew María.’
    ‘You knew María. Have you come to this office to put it on record that you believe there’s something suspicious about her death?’
    Karen considered for a moment.
    ‘I find the whole thing very odd.’
    ‘But you have no actual evidence to back up your suspicion that something strange occurred.’
    ‘No.’
    ‘Then there’s very little we can do,’ Erlendur said. ‘Do you know anything about María’s relationship with her husband?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘And?’
    ‘It was okay,’ Karen said reluctantly.
    ‘So you don’t think her husband had anything to do with what happened?’
    ‘No. Perhaps someone came to the door of the cottage at Thingvellir. There are all sorts wandering about there. Foreign tourists, for example. Have you checked up on that angle at all?’
    ‘There’s nothing to suggest it,’ Erlendur said. ‘Did María intend to be at the cottage when you arrived?’
    ‘No,’ Karen said. ‘Not that we discussed.’
    ‘She told Baldvin she was going to wait for you.’
    ‘Why should she have told him that?’
    ‘Perhaps to be left in peace,’ Erlendur said.
    ‘Did Baldvin tell you about Leonóra, her mother?’
    ‘Yes,’ Erlendur said. ‘He said her death had been a terrible loss to her daughter.’
    ‘Leonóra and María had a special bond,’ Karen said. ‘I’ve never known such a close relationship, ever. Do you believe dreams can tell the truth?’
    ‘I don’t know if that’s any of your business,’ Erlendur said. ‘With all due respect.’
    The woman’s vehemence had taken him by surprise. Yet he understood what drove her. A dear friend had committed an act that she found impossible to understand and accept. If María had been in such a bad way, Karen felt that she, Karen, ought to have known and done something about it. Now, even though it was too late, she still wanted to do something – if nothing else, then at least to have an opinion about the tragic event.
    ‘What about life after death?’ the woman asked.
    Erlendur shook his head.
    ‘I don’t know what you—’
    ‘María believed in it. She believed in dreams, that they could tell her something, guide her. And she believed in life after death.’
    Erlendur was silent.
    ‘Her mother was going to send her a message,’ Karen said. ‘You know, if there was an afterlife.’
    ‘No, I’m not quite sure I follow,’ Erlendur said.
    ‘María told me that Leonóra was going to let her know if what they talked about so much towards the end turned out to be true. If there was life after death. She was going to send her a sign from the next world.’
    Erlendur cleared his throat.
    ‘A sign from the next world?’
    ‘Yes. If there turned out to be an afterlife.’
    ‘Do you know what it was? What sort of sign she was going to give her?’
    Karen didn’t answer.
    ‘Did she do it?’ Erlendur asked.
    ‘What?’
    ‘Did she send her daughter a message from the next world?’
    Karen gave Erlendur a long look.
    ‘You think I’m a fool, don’t you?’
    ‘I really couldn’t say,’ Erlendur said. ‘I don’t know you at all.’
    ‘You think I’m