"Could you get my cough syrup?," Gunnar asked.

"Sure, what's it called?," Ivan asked.

"Von Oosten," Gunnar said, holding up an empty bottle of alcohol.

'I have to wonder if Ivan knows the reality of all this and just ignores it, or if he's so checked out that he doesn't comprehend it,' Jessica thought as she watched their exchange.

"Right. Think about what we can do about the birds, if you have time," Ivan said, handing him the bottle.

Meanwhile with Adam...

"It can't be traced, but throw it away anyway. Can you shoot with that hand? Are you going to whack the priest?," Adam's comrade, Arne, asked.

"He's f*cked up. He got it in the *ss as a kid. Now he's all turned the other cheek."

"But you're getting out in eleven weeks. We're waiting for you. Esben can't control them."

"I'm not going to shoot him."

"I just want to understand."

"I need to break him. All that goodness sh*t."

"Does it involve the pear pie? Esben says you talk about a pie."

"It's an apple cake, okay? It doesn't matter. I said that I would bake a cake and the idiot won't let up. He says that the Devil is testing us. Because birds are eating the apples."

"Do you need help?"

"Who the f*ck do you think you're talking to?"

Jessica went out to the garden for some fresh air, when she noticed the apple tree was full of more birds than before, all of them pecking away at the apples. When Ivan joined her, he immediately took notice too, and called the others outside. They all took turns trying to find a way to rid the tree of the birds once and for all.

"Go on. Get them! Don't be afraid. Go on. Get them. He's making them nervous," Gunnar said as he tried to coerce his cat to attack the birds.

"They care f*cking not about the cat," Khalid said, annoyed.

"All can see. Yes. Lambert is not working," said Ivan.

"My granddad had a cherry tree. It was attacked by birds, so he shot a few in the morning and evening," Adam suggested.

'He's actually attempting to be helpful?,' Jessica thought.

"Shot them? With a gun?," Ivan asked.

"No, a waffle iron," Adam retorted sarcastically.

"Of course it was a gun. What gun?," Khalid asked.

"One like this," Adam said, pointing it in Ivan's direction.

Jessica felt panic setting in, not knowing what to expect from him. Surely he wouldn't be stupid enough to shoot someone in front of a group of people… would he?

"You know what? I think that we should try it. Can you take them from there?"

"Can we guns use? For sake of f*ck, why you not said?," Khalid asked, getting excited.

To everyone's surprise, he pulled a handgun out of his pants and began firing at the birds, hitting every one he aimed at. One of the birds was very close to Gunnar's cat; when Khalid pulled the trigger, it grazed the bird, but the cat got the bullett.

"Well…," Ivan began.

"Lambert? Lambert, are you okay? What just happened?," Gunnar asked.

"He's dead. It was a shit cat anyhow," Khalid said defensively.

"That wasn't necessary, Khalid," Jessica said, reprimanding him.

He looked down, disappointed that she was upset with him.

"He shot my cat," Gunnar said, pointing to Khalid.

"Let's stop with the accusations. It was an old cat. He just happened to fall down while we were shooting. If you want to discuss it now we can," Ivan said, trying to console Gunnar.

'What the hell, Ivan? That was on purpose, plain as day…,' Jessica fumed.

"Okay."

Judging that confrontation diffused for the time being, Ivan walked over to where Adam stood.

"Do you know what I think? I think it's going to be a good day," he said, walking into the church.

Jessica followed him, not wanting to be left behind. Gunnar and Adam soon filed in as well.

"It's too bad that Khalid won't come in when we're making his favorite food," Gunnar said, as Jessica stirred a pot of butter chicken.

"He's embarrassed about Lambert."

"Where did he get the gun? Is he a terrorist?," Adam asked.

"He wants to return to Saudi Arabia. You should see his dream house. It's really nice. With a bit more Statoil money he can go home."

"Why not just rob a bank?"

Jessica gave Adam a pointed look.

"Khalid is very committed to politics. He only robs multinational companies. That's why he robs Statoil. Statoil stole his father's land for the oil. Khalid is taking back his property."

"Statoil is Norwegian."

"No, I don't think so."

"Statoil is Norwegian!"

"Remember to tell Khalid that."

"Does it matter? No one give him ideas," Jessica said.

"So Ivan knows what he's doing?"

"Yes. Ivan just wants him to be calm."

"Ivan is not exactly normal."

"No, he's not. He's a good man, and an idealist," Jessica said.

"The anniversary of his wife's death is coming up," Gunnar blabbed.

Jessica facepalmed herself.

'Why? Why are people seeing a need to just constantly give this clown information he's not entitled to?'

"He had a wife?"

"Yes, Linda. She ate some pills and killed herself… because they got a handicapped son. He's got cerebral palsy. He can't move at all. She couldn't take that," Gunnar explained.

Ivan came through the door a few minutes later.

"Poul is dying in the hospital, and Dr. Kohlberg asked me to come comfort him until he passes. Does anyone want to come along? Adam, I think he might like to have company besides me."

Adam considered it for a minute before nodding.

"Jess, you're more than welcome to tag along too. Being in the presence of a woman besides nurses might bring him comfort too."

She nodded in agreement.

"Hello! I'm glad that you could make it. He's dying. He won't last through the night. I broke it to him gently," the doctor said, referring to Poul Nordkap from church.

'This man? Breaking bad news gently? What a joke,' Jessica thought skeptically.

"Well, let's give him a good sendoff," Ivan said, walking with Jessica and Adam into his room.

"How's the hand?," Dr. Kohlberg asked Adam.

"Okay."

"What about the honker, Ivan? It took quite a beating. You don't have to waste money on perfume anymore, Ivan. You won't smell anything again," the doctor said, keeping a cheery mood.

Ivan lightly laughed.

"Yes. Come on, Adam, Jess."

They all walked into Poul's room, seeing him in a very frail state.

"What's up with you, Poul? Have you lost your appetite? I've brought guests for you."

"Hello, Adam Pedersen," Adam said, introducing himself.

"And of course you know Jessica Larsen from church," Ivan said. "Are you feeling a bit low?"

"I'm scared."

"Relax. What have you been up to? Have the nurses been nicer to you?"

"Don't make them. I don't deserve it."

"They have been nagging Poul because of his past but we put a stop to that. Didn't we, Poul? Has Miriam been nicer to you?"

"Yes, she made me hot chocolate yesterday and tucked me in. They are all so nice to me," Poul said, becoming emotional.

"That's good. Don't be upset."

"I don't deserve it. Let it be," he said.

"Everybody deserves to be tucked in. Did she fluff your duvet and pillow?"

"Yes," Poul said with a quivering voice.

"There, there."

"I apologize for trying to cheat. I just don't like being inside the church."

"That's all forgotten now."

"I know that's what you always say. I'm scared, Ivan. I dare not sleep. I'm so afraid."

"Fiddlesticks! You have nothing to worry about. Let's focus on the people who care for you and all your lovely memories."

Jessica's lips set in a tight line… She imagined he didn't have too many good memories, especially right now when he was remorseful of his past.

"Oh God!," Poul exclaimed, bursting into tears.

"You're only human. We all make mistakes. No matter how bad they are, we all end up the same. We live our lives and we die. It's part of life. And since death is the ultimate price we pay, it's also the time when God forgives ALL of our sins."

Jessica couldn't help but have pity on the poor man. She moved forward and hesitantly put her hand over his. Without even thinking, he tightly grasped it.

Ivan gave her a proud look. He knew he made a good choice bringing her here to see Poul. Her gentleness was just what he needed.

"Poul, don't cry anymore. Don't be so hard on yourself. All has been forgiven."

"If you only knew what we did… All those poor people. It can't be forgiven."

"Stop it. Nobody remembers anymore."

"Oh God!"

"Stop your whining. It's not as bad as all that," Ivan snapped, becoming slightly frustrated that Poul wouldn't listen to his consolation. "We all make mistakes but we don't let it bring us down."

"You're crazy, man."

"Why do you say that? Why spoil the mood by being plain rude? I'd be happy to discuss it, but this is not the place. Let's focus on the word of God. God forgives all, Poul. God forgives all," Ivan said, stopping and observing Poul.

Jessica just then noticed his hand was ice cold, and his chest was no longer rising and falling. She released his hand, and stood back.

"It's difficult. Even though you've seen it before, it's still difficult every time," Ivan said.

After they informed Dr. Kohlberg of Poul's death, they shuffled back into the van and headed back to the church.

"Did you discuss your wife's death?," Adam asked.

"Yes, I talked to many people."

"A wife's suicide must be painful."

"Yes, it can't be nice. Linda didn't take her own life."

"But she took pills?"

"Yes, but it was an accident."

"Accident how?"

'Oh great…,' Jessica thought nervously.

"Christoffer had been playing with her pills and had put them in a candy dish. Linda always had a sweet tooth and she thought they were yellow MMs."

"Your son Christoffer? So he's actually able to move?"

"Why wouldn't he be?"

'Probably because he has cerebral palsy, Ivan… You just gave Adam arsenal for being a d*ck later.'

"I thought he was paralysed."

"No, I wish. There's no stopping him. Just

yesterday he was playing rounders."

"I don't believe you, Ivan. I just don't. I've never heard anything that crazy."

'Aaaand here we go,' Jessica thought.

"Has Gunnar told tall stories and played fast and loose with the truth? If he has, that's just plain rude."

"Why don't you bring him tomorrow?"

"He's already coming. He's been pestering me all week to come."

"Good."

"Then you can see for yourself."

She knew all too well that he was going to make a scene. When they got back to the church, Ivan went to prepare to go home for the evening. When he was out of earshot, Jessica addressed Adam.

"I know you think Ivan is stupid and crazy, but he cares about you; granted, why he does, I'm sure I'll never know. If you plan on trying to entertain yourself by causing a ruckus tomorrow, just know I can have Khalid whip your ass a second time."

And with that, she left Adam to himself, no doubt amused by her chastisement.

When she and Ivan got back to his apartment later, Jessica wanted to give him a chance to avoid bringing Christoffer to meet Adam.

"So, Chris wants to meet Adam, or he just wants to come to work with you?"

"Both. The people who look after him say he's too much of a handful. Way to hyper lately, and he needs some stimulation. Having only school and sports would be a drab life for anyone."

"So he's at boarding school, then?"

"Yes. Why? Did you think he was in a home?"

'Um… yeah.'

"N-no, just I never thought about it before," she said, trying to smooth over the fact she knew for certain he was definitely in a facility.

"Look, just don't be surprised if Adam looks to pick a fight tomorrow. He's already looking forward to it."

"What makes you say that?"

"Maybe the fact that he treated you like he was accusing you of lying? That he perked up when he found out you were bringing Chris tomorrow? He thinks he's going to prove you wrong. Don't you see, Ivan? He's trying to discourage you."

"I doubt that. He's just excited to meet Chris."

"I hope you're right. I really do," she said, knowing full well that this was going to be a disaster.