He greeted her politely, hoping that she wouldn’t see how concerned he was about her appearance. She led the way into the house. They walked through a lovely living room with ceiling beams and floral-patterned curtains and continued out to the terrace at the back. The sun was shining on the small courtyard, and they sat down at a patio table.
‘How are you doing?’ he asked.
Veronika smiled wanly.
‘Well, I’ll live. At least I hope so.’
Knutas studied her in silence as she served the coffee from an old-fashioned ceramic pot adorned with roses. He noticed that the cup she handed him wasn’t quite clean, but he took a sip anyway as he gathered his thoughts. Veronika seemed almost bewildered. The coffee was weak and barely lukewarm.
‘How have things been going since you got out of hospital?’
‘Fine. Thanks for asking.’
Knutas frowned. The impression he was getting from Veronika indicated that things were far from fine.
‘Have you noticed any strangers around here, or anything suspicious?’
‘You wouldn’t believe how many strange and unsavoury people there are wandering about. I haven’t wanted to leave the house since I got back from hospital.’
‘So how have you been managing?’
‘I ask my son, Andreas, to get groceries for me. He’s the only child that I have here on Gotland.’
She pressed her lips together to keep them from quivering. Then she pulled a pack of cigarettes out of her cardigan pocket and lit one. Knutas noticed that her hand was shaking.
‘Well, it was actually your children that I wanted to talk to you about. How would you describe your relationship with them?’
‘I live for my children and always have. They’re a real blessing, and I’m so lucky to have them. Otherwise I probably wouldn’t have lasted this long.’
Knutas shifted position uneasily.
‘Why don’t we start with Andreas. How do you view your relationship with him?’
‘It’s wonderful. He’s my safety net. I can always count on him, no matter what happens. He’s been a bachelor all these years since he moved away from home, but we’ve always had each other, and that has been a great support for me.’
‘So you’re saying that you’ve been single all these years too?’
Veronika gave him a disapproving look.
‘More or less, after I got divorced. Yes, I think you could say that.’
‘But weren’t you having an affair with Viktor Algård?’
‘My dear inspector, that had been going on for only a couple of months. We’d just met.’
Knutas stared at her pensively. When they last spoke, she had described Viktor as the love of her life and claimed that they were on the verge of getting married.
‘What about your other children? Simon, for example?’
‘He’s the one I’m closest to. We think so much alike, Simon and I. We understand each other.’
‘But he lives in Stockholm now.’
‘That’s just temporary. He had to get away for a while, you see. Away from that awful Polish woman he was living with. Or was she Hungarian? She treated him horribly, to tell you the truth. I could tell from the start that it wasn’t going to last.’
‘Why was that?’
She grimaced, her expression almost spiteful.
‘Well, my dear. First of all, they were polar opposites. Simon is a gentle and open person, just like me. But that Katrina was harsh and silent and uptight. Always sullen and surly. I’m really glad he’s rid of her.’
‘From what I understand, he’s not doing very well.’
‘And no wonder. She broke his spirit over the years. She was terribly domineering, and he was always having to dance to her tune. She ruled that home with an iron hand. You could see that the minute you stepped in the door. I’m sure he’ll be feeling better soon. And then he’ll come back here where he belongs. I’ve told him that he can live with me. I have plenty of room, you know.’
‘How often do you speak to each other?’
‘Every day on the phone.’
‘Every day?’
‘Yes. Ours is a special relationship. We understand each other. We’re on the same wavelength. He always knows what I mean. But it’s not good for him to be all alone over there in Stockholm.’
‘If you get along so well, why doesn’t he move in with you now? Then he’d be closer to his own son. What’s stopping him?’
‘My dear sir, that’s not really so surprising, is it? Simon is suffering from depression. He needs peace and quiet for a while. But soon he’ll be back on his feet, and then he’ll move back over here. I’m convinced of that.’
‘How long has he been gone?’
‘I don’t really remember. Now wait a minute, I think it’s been since Christmas.’
‘So over four months.’
Veronika Hammar didn’t reply. Her lips were pressed so tight that they were no more than a thin line.
‘What about your daughter Mikaela? How often do you see each other?’
‘Ah, yes, Mikaela.’ She sighed a bit and then smiled again. ‘My little daughter. She’s always gone her own way.’
‘She lives quite a distance from here. Is it difficult to stay in contact?’
‘Difficult? Why should it be difficult? Some people have children living in Australia.’
‘From what I understand, you never see each other. Is that right?’