CHAPTER 3

Henrik took his phone with trembling hands. Linn had insisted to call a doctor to asses his shock and he refused.
He had to return home to Astrid soon, she was with an old friend of Alice and her two children, around her age, a convenient school holiday; he couldn't prevail upon them for long.
But first an important call, he couldn't wait any more.
As soon as he entered in his car he breathed deeply and touched the screen.
Under the little star two numbers, in alphabetical order. He touched the second. Too hard. The phone asked if he wanted to delete it. Never. Never hers. Back to the list. Another try.
He prayed Saga would answer soon, fearing she had switched it off in the middle of some museum-visiting-day.
Her voice, enough to make him feel better; in the background sounds of a crowded street.
"Saga Noren."
"It's me. Anna is not in the grave."
"What?"
"She is not there!" He repeated, giving her time to process the news.
"How do you know?"
"They opened the grave for Frank's trial and it is just stones and strange bones, forensic said animal bones"
"Which forensic?"
"Yours, David."
"So it is true."
"But where is Anna? Where is she buried? "
"I don't know, you need to ask Frank."
"He's telling lies, only lies. I can't face…"
Henrik's voice broke.
Saga heard him sobbing and froze. A sound that like a knife pierced her heart
She eyed a bench nearby, she had to sit down. Her legs were not strong enough, suddenly her winter coat was too much in the early spring sun, she felt suffocated wearing it.
His pain become hers.
She took a sudden decision.
"I'm coming back, I'll be in Copenhagen by tonight."

Saga drove all day, crossing Holland, Germany and then the last border.
Her target was far, she was hungry and tired; she bought just a sandwich and a bottle of water at the gas station where she filled the tank. High speed not the best for environmental protection and low emissions.
The night arrived too soon, she reached the town borders shortly before midnight.
A fleeting thought, should she let Henrik rest and see him in the morning? Real tiredness or a sort of fear?
Because she has followed her heart and returned earlier her brain planned?
Astrid was living there, probably already asleep, sooner or later they had to meet each other, it was inevitable.
Still there was time to find an hotel for the night. She texted she was close, was he still awake?
"Please come now." was his immediate answer.
Saga put aside her fears and doubts and headed for his house.
She parked her car behind his; the house was dark, if not for a small light in the living area. She took the suitcase from her car and the keys from her pocket.
Henrik was half lying on the couch, staring at the silent television screen, barely moving his head when Saga turned the corner of the entrance wall.
Saga stopped, strangely shy, this was not the way she imagined their reunion would be. To say the truth, she did not conjured ideas in her mind about it, only she had longed a lot for him while away. Twice she was sure she had spotted him in a crowd and was angry her brain was playing tricks on her.
Saga knew her need would reach a breaking point and then she'd return to Henrik.
She still remembered the sensation of his lips, the claim she staked on him, something she had treasured in the most hidden place of her soul, and now here he was, the same eyes, the same face, the same hands, a different man. Her man.
It felt dangerous to be back and ant the same time it felt good,

Saga took off her coat and sat close to Henrik, who remained still, not daring to believe she'd come home so eagerly.
Her closeness was something he missed, like during the months in prison, and for him Saga she was like a drug, one he'd never recover from.
She had given him strength to face his ghosts and she was again the only one who could uncover the mistery.
Her body heath reached his cold frame and he felt he could breathe freely again.
"I m so glad you're here."
He eventually was able to whisper
"Me too."
She replied with the same low voice.
They remained silent for a while.
"I'll come with you to see Frank."
"Do you think we'll get clues? Maybe you'll read him in a different way?."
"We have to try."
"If he let her die, why not use that grave?"
Saga feared other reasons, too scary to discuss with Henrik. Young girls were valuable goods for some people involved in the traffic of human beings, or worse human organs.

An alarm from a house nearby and dogs barking woke Henrik up.
He reacted to the sound and his elbow hit Saga's head, resting on his chest.
She protested in her half sleep and straightened up. They had fallen asleep on the couch, the tv clock signalled 3.16.
Henrik stretched his back, his arm numb under Saga's weight.
The first time she snuggled into him.
"Astrid heard it?" Saga asked.
"She takes some drops to sleep."
"We should sleep, too."
"Have you travelled a lot yesterday?"
"I was in Bruxelles. I wanted to go to the Mediterranean. I did a 180 turn."
"I'm sorry."
"You called."
She stood and poured herself a glass of water.
Henrik had too many things running in his head; he wanted to thank, to apologize, to smile and to cry in the same moment.
Saga bent to take off her boots, putting them near the entrance door, under the shelf.
She entered into the main bedroom and looked back to see if henrik was following.
He turned off the lights and checked the doors; when he closed the bedroom door Saga was undressing, her body silhouetted against the window.
He went closer, she felt his breath against her neck.
Saga sighed and turned to face him, her tiredness had vanished, suddenly.
His eyes shone in the half darkness, her hands went to his hips, grabbing the t shirt and pulling it off his shoulders, hers followed.
They got undressed in a blink's eye, Saga pushed Henrik to make him fall on the bed, then she was on him, like a hunter on her prey, touching him, feeling every part of his body.
Henrik was tensed, his hands flat on the sheet to resist the urge to caress her.
Saga stopped and looked at him, looked into him, took a hand and placed it on her tight.
"You can touch me." She whispered, briefly closing her eyes. He was too eager to comply, finally allowed to express his desire.
His hands roamed on her skin, leaving trails, making goose bumps.
She was there, she was real, not a memory to recollect every night in a lonely bed.
She had returned for him, a great gift, a proof of their mutual need.
They rolled onto the mattress, more than once, not caring who was up or under, just wanting to be close, to feel skin, to melt again, until Saga blocked his hips with her legs and raise her pelvis to show she was ready.
They didn't last long, their desire too strong to make the intercourse last.
Henrik came with a cry of desperation that Saga muffled with her hand.
After, Henrik collapsed on her and took a few heavy breaths before rolling away. He took her hand between his and soon fell asleep.
_

I have to cook, wash and clean for the bear-man, as I call him, Ole is his real name.
He's often out hunting meat for all of us, for long hours.
I'm alone in the cabin, with nothing to do.
No Tv, no phone, nothing except some books.
I read them again and again, I know some parts by memory now.
i study an old map of Europe and try to understand where I'm forced to live.
I come to the conclusion we're very close to the Artic circle. The midnight sun lasts for so long that sometimes I stay awake for two days, so strong the light filters in the cold basement where my bed is.
Denmark is too far. I'll never reach it by foot.
And what can I find there, if my parents are dead?
I just want to see my sister again