16th October, Homicide Investigation

I came early in the morning to work. Had had hardly a wink of sleep at night. The only thing I could think was how I would have to reveal yet again another body of a cousin. I should have gone and seen the body immediately when I heard about it, but it was late and frankly, I hadn't been ready. Seeing the body would make this real, would really make it concrete that I'm catching Anna's killer, would kill all the hope I still had managed to harbor about finding her alive.

I nodded to the pathologist to reveal the face. For some reason, I was waiting for a body resembling Elsa. It was a silly notion, this body was found in a forest, she hadn't drowned. It was blunt head trauma that had killed this victim, not the deathly cradle of the fjord. And when I finally saw the face, it really didn't resemble Elsa at all. Not only by the way her face had turned because of drowning, but she didn't look like her at all. This wasn't Anna.

I let out a breathy laugh of relief. It was completely inappropriate; someone had still died. But this wasn't her, this wasn't my cousin, and I couldn't help but feel relieved. The pathologist looked at me, clearly confused and I mused up all my professionalism to say: "This is not Anna Árnadalr."

I was of course relieved that my cousin might still be alive, but as a detective I knew things would have been easier if the body had been Anna's and not some poor girl who had slipped on some rocks while hiking and met her early demise. No body meant no murder. We couldn't continue the investigation indefinitely if we had no proof of death. Sure, if we could find strong enough evidence, we could charge someone for the homicide, but that was a big if. So far cadaver dogs had come empty at every location. I knew only one thing for certain: I was missing the common thread here.

I was trying to piece the puzzle in my mind to figure out what way to even go next. Hans wouldn't reveal anything willingly, for him I needed to know more to throw him off the balance just to be given something vague that changed my whole perspective. Gerda was willing to help, but she didn't know anything. Hans' brothers only confirmed Hans' alibi, but hardly even knew the sisters or their relationship with Hans. The people who knew Hans, Elsa, and Anna had only been able to offer opinions of the characters of these three, but nothing concrete. None of the three had a best friend of some sort to grill, in fact they all seemed terribly lonely.

This left only one way to go. I needed to find out where did Anna go after the gas station. That was of course easier said than done, since the mountain roads had no cameras and very little traffic. On the other hand, those facts also limited options greatly. Anna had not been found during an extensive search around that area. Of course, the mountain range was extremely hard ground to search, so that didn't completely close that option, but I decided still to think she had not fell to her death like the other hiker.

Which means she either walked away, or she was picked up by someone. She was going away from the city, which leads me to assume she must have been going towards the mountains. There are not many places to go for her there, especially since she seemed to be traveling really lightly. In that case, it would be quite safe to assume she'd be searching for a shelter – Or someone there would have harmed her. But no, I didn't want to let my mind go there.

I searched for a map of the area with my computer and there were only about a dozen locations at a reasonable distance from the gas station. Well, at least I would have something to do that day.

The heavy fall dusk was setting in. Days were getting shorter and shorter. I had gone from summer cottage to another all day with little to no show for it. All of them were empty. Summer was far behind, and nights were getting cold, people didn't come for cottages anymore. If I drew completely empty today, I'd have to try to reach the owners via phone tomorrow, in case someone might have seen Anna in July.

I parked my car next to an old pick-up truck. I was trying to dim my hopes that someone would be at the cottage. The car could be someone's cottage car that they left there all year long. But after a short hike from the parking spot to the cottage, I could see light flickering on the window. I was gleeful, at least someone was there! I all but ran my way to the door and knocked.

As I knocked, I could hear some rustling inside and then silence. No one came to open, and I knocked more harshly for the second time. Just when I was about to yell that I'm a police and please come open the door this instant, I was knocked over by something hitting me behind the knees. I fell against the door, feeling winded, when something very wet ran across my cheek. It was a dog! Huge one at that. Where did it came from, I wondered when I saw the man coming from the dark forest, arms full of wood.

"Sven, c'mere boy!" The man ordered the dog, who obeyed. Then looked at me with suspicion. "Who are you?"

I got up, trying to straighten myself to look presentable, then showed my badge and said with all the professionalism I could muster after being knocked off my feet by a huge dog: "I'm Detective Fitzherbert, and I'm here to just ask a few questions about a missing girl named Anna Árnadalr."

"A cop, you say," He asked and glanced to his side. I was worried he might bolt when I nodded. But instead, he surprised me by throwing the collected firewood on the ground with expiration and groaned: "For Christ's sake just get inside!"

Then he walked past me, opened the door and gestured me in. I was a bit worried about the strange, bulky man, but went in, nevertheless. The cottage was small and humble, but warm and homely with the fireplace lit. The man waited for the dog to get in too, before closing the door. Before I could ask anything, the man's voice boomed around the cottage. His words not directed to me, but for the room: "Get your ass here! I'm not lying to a cop for you. This has gone for too long and you'll figure it out now!"

I was confused, even a bit afraid. What had I stepped into? But all my fear was dissolved when I heard soft sounds of crawling and a small figure emerging from underneath the bed. She had a sheepish smile and flushed face from mild embarrassment.

"Hi, Punzie," said the girl. And sure enough, there she was. Real, alive, and well: Anna Árnadalr.