Chapter 2

Magnus woke up the after only a few hours sleep with a tension headache and feeling as though he'd been hit by a bus. After taking a shower, he dressed and went into the kitchen where all he had was yoghurt in the fridge. It hadn't expired yet, so he found a stale box of muesli and at that for his breakfast.

Kurt was already there when he arrived at work looking as though hadn't slept or showered. He was scribbling all over the white board, obviously engrossed in what was surely a new case. Magnus sighed inwardly.

Kurt worked entirely too much, even for a detective. He was brilliant at his job but he didn't have any boundaries. He also didn't have any patience—especially for Magnus, and Magnus hadn't been able to figure out why. Sure, he was the youngest, the newest—but he always did as Kurt asked even when it wasn't in his job description, such as fixing his computer, or checking his email, or whatever research Kurt couldn't be bothered to do himself. And usually he wasn't happy with the results. On a daily basis he would lose his temper, most of the time taking it out on Magnus, who bore it without complaint. But Magnus had to admit it was tiring.

"Good morning, Kurt," Magnus said, dropping his bag on his desk. "You weren't here all night were you?"

Kurt looked over his shoulder, bleary-eyed and confused. "What? No." he said in an irritated tone. "I dropped Linda at the hotel and came back."

Magnus sighed again, this time rather audibly, but Kurt didn't notice. Magnus took off his coat and went over to the board.

"What are you working on?"

"There was a murder last night, at the Church of St. Peter. A teenage boy. He was strangled by the look of it."

Magnus gave an involuntary shudder. The cases became particularly personal with the victims were children.

"Alright, is there—"

"The parents have already been notified. I went to them myself. Go make a list of all the priests, and call them for interviews. Also, see if you can get a list of parishioners. I'm going back to the parents as soon as I'm done here."

Magnus balked and looked out the window. It was only six o'clock in the morning.

"Kurt—" he started.

Kurt looked up. "What is it?" he interrupted.

"It's only six. And I doubt they've slept much since they were told."

Kurt looked baffled for a moment. "Is it only six?"

"Why don't you go home. Linda might need you after yesterday," Magnus said gently and then regretted it as Kurt scowled at him.

"She wasn't the one puking in the bushes," he snapped. He must have seen Magnus's face blanche because he immediately looked ashamed. "I'm sorry," he said gruffly. "That was uncalled for."

Magnus didn't say anything. He didn't know what tosay.

Kurt cleared his throat in the awkward silence that followed and then said, "I'll check up on her at lunch. You go make the list and give it to me when you're finished."

With that he turned back to the white board and started scribbling again, forgetting that Magnus was there.
Magnus went to his desk and began the task he had been given, but he couldn't help the familiar feeling of rejection well up inside him, and he hated himself for it.

Magnus hadn't grown up with a father, and he supposed he had always imagined Kurt might be something of a father figure in his life. But he was kidding himself. Kurt would never see him as anything but an annoyance, a lackey to do the work he didn't want.

They worked in silence until a quarter to eight when Lisa arrived and ordered them both into her office.

Magnus knew what she was going to say and he didn't like it, but at least he had the grace to look sheepish. Kurt just stared at her, a stony expression on his face.

"There's going to be an inquest," she said sternly, addressing Magnus. "And you need to take some time off until it's done. You know the rules."

"But we're understaffed—" he tried to protest, but she raised her hand and shut his mouth.

"I've also arranged your first appointment with a counselor," she continued. "It's on Friday, and I want you to go."

Magnus knew there was no point in arguing with that, so he nodded grudgingly.

Great. This was just what he needed. More alone time in an empty flat.

"And you," she said sharply, turning to Kurt. "Go and spend time with your daughter. I can't order you to stay away from work, but I'm strongly suggesting it."

Kurt hesitated slightly before he gave a short nod.

"Now get out," Lisa ordered pointing to the door. "I don't want to see either of you for at least a week."

Magnus heard Kurt muttered something nasty under his breath, and he knew Kurt would be in tomorrow just as he always was. And there was little Lisa could do about it.

"I'll do the research for you from home," Magnus told Kurt as they walked out together. "And if you need anything else, let me know."

Kurt looked up, the look on his face suggesting he hadn't expected such an offer from him. Magnus felt the bitterness creep up inside him. Why was he always so surprised?

"Oh. Right," Kurt said. "Thank you, Magnus."

Magnus didn't answer, but threw his things in his bag and left. He looked back as he pushed open the door, but Kurt was staring at the white board again, oblivious to his surroundings.

Damn the man. Damn him to hell.

Magnus went home and after taking a pain killer and drinking a cup of coffee, he sat at his computer and made phone calls. It was one o'clock by the time he sent Kurt the list of priests. Immediately after hitting send, his phone began to ring. He picked it up and was surprised to see Kurt's name.

"Kurt," he said warily. "I just sent you the list."

"I know," came Kurt's voice. "I just realized it's after lunch and I don't have time to check on Linda. I have to go back to the church."

"D-do you want me to go see how she is?" Magnus asked hesitatingly.

There was a pause.

"Would you?" Kurt said finally. "She says she's fine, but—"

"I'll go now," Magnus said firmly. "Just give me the address and room number."

As soon as he hung up the phone, he sat back in his chair, staring at the paper he had written the information on in disbelief.

Why was he reacting this way? He didn't know Linda. Sure, he had met her a few times over the years, but he had never seen her as anything more than Kurt's daughter. Was it because of Ake? Was it because he had saved her life?

He was still puzzling it over in his mind as he knocked on her hotel room door.

After a moment it opened, and there was Linda was looking up at him, her hair tied back in a messy bun. He could only stare back, unable to find his voice as his heart thudded against his ribcage.

"Martinsson," she said, her voice betraying her surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"Hey," he said, finally finding his voice. "Um. Your dad….he asked me to come check on you."

It sounded lame and horrible and she obviously felt similarly because the change in her demeanor was noticeably apparent.

"Oh," she said flatly. "Well you can tell him I'm fine. I'm always fine."

The bitterness in her voice pained him. She was about to close the door, but he suddenly put his hand out.

"Actually I was wondering if you'd like to get a coffee," he said in a rush, feeling the heat flare up in his face. "There's a café downstairs, and I'm on suspension and—"

"I'll get my coat, she said quickly. She went in the room and Magnus let out a shaky sigh.

They walked down to the café in silence. Magnus was afraid if he did, he would bring up yesterday, and he didn't know if she wanted to talk about that.

He ordered two espressos and they sat down.

"So what is dad doing now?" she asked finally, pouring sugar onto the table. "I take it he's at work."

"He was when I left him," Magnus said slowly. "A boy was murdered."

She sighed and made patterns in the sugar with her finger. Magnus had a sudden vision of taking her finger coated with sugar and putting it in his mouth. He flushed and she looked at him curiously.

"Sorry, I'm just a bit tired," he lied. "I didn't sleep well last night."

She looked up at him seriously. "No, I don't suppose you did. I didn't either."

The subject had been broached, and there was nothing to do but continue. He did feel a sense of relief though. The elephant in the room had been addressed.

"I'm afraid to sleep," she continued, "even though I know he's dead. I keep seeing his face, and I feel so sorry for him. But I also hate him"
"I believe that's normal." Magnus said quietly. "I've never had anything like that happen to me before, but I—I'd never killed a man either. He was my first."

She jerked her head up suddenly, her eyes wide. "I just realized I never thanked you properly—at all." She put her hands on her cheeks that had just turned pink. "You must think me so ungrateful."

"No, no," Magnus protested with a shake of his head. "Of course not."

"God, I'm such an idiot. I'm so sorry, I just—"

She stumbled and then it all just spilled out.

"—you know my dad just dropped me off here last night and left. He left me alone, and you're the first person I've seen since yesterday. I was almost shot and he—he left me."

Her voice cracked and then she put her face in her hands. Her shoulders started shaking, and Magnus realized she was crying. It was bloody awful and he didn't know what to do.

"Can we leave?" she asked, her voice muffled. "Please?"

"Yeah," he replied, relieved that she had given him a way out. He put some kroner down on the table for the coffees and in a moment of impulsiveness, grasped her hand in his and took her outside. He pulled her along as she sobbed with her face in the crook of her arm.

"I'm sorry," she hiccupped. "I didn't mean to do this." They stopped in front of a park on the next block and he let go of her hand. She ran the back of her hand across her eyes, smearing her mascara in the process, making it look like someone had painted feathers under her eyes.

"Its fine," he said, and when she scoffed, he said, "No, really, I don't mind at all."

She gave him a watery smile. "Thanks, Martinsson."

"It's Magnus," he corrected her, digging around in his pocket for his handkerchief."Call me Magnus."

"Magnus." She repeated softly, and hearing his name on her lips sent shivers down his spine. "Thank you….for everything. For saving my life."

"You're welcome," he said handing her the handkerchief. She looked at it and then him.

"A handkerchief?"

He smiled sheepishly. "My mother always made me carry one as a child, and I suppose just got used to it. It's a bit old-fashioned."

Then she laughed, and Magnus's heart leapt with joy at the sound. She had a beautiful laugh.

"God, I must look like a mess."

"No, you still look very pretty."

She looked up in surprise and Magnus instantly wished he hadn't given himself away so easily. Becoming flustered, he turned back towards the hotel.

"Well, I can walk you back up if you like."

"No," Linda said. "I think I'll go for a walk. I need to clear my head"

Her cheeks were pink and she didn't meet his eyes. Feeling a fool, he said,

"Right. Well, I'll see you—talk to you later."

"Okay," she nodded. "See you."

Magnus cursed himself for his awkwardness as he watched her walk away. He had to do something.

"Wait, Linda?" he called after her.

"Yes?" she turned back to him expectantly.

"I—I was wondering," he stammered. "Do you want to meet tomorrow or sometime? We could go have…dinner."

Dinner? Oh, God, it was obviously a date. What the hell had he been thinking?

"That would be wonderful," she said softly, her eyes crinkling as she smiled.

"Really?" he asked, unable to help himself. "I mean…alright then. I'll pick you up at eight."

"Good-bye, Magnus."

And as he watched her walk off, he felt a tiny glimmer of hope.

It was the first he had had in a very long time.