Dark as Night by Lorenza Garcia

Author:Lorenza Garcia
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Orenda Books
Published: 2024-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

49

‘Why don’t you pick up Ester Lóa from the nursery and bring her down here to the station? Then you can hear it straight from her?’ Lárus seemed more frustrated than angry.

These informal chats had dragged on. In fact Daníel was amazed that neither Lárus nor Elísabet appeared to want to call it a day, just get up and leave, as he’d explained to them re­peatedly they were at liberty to do. On the contrary, he had the impression they wanted to stay longer. As if they felt this con­versation were necessary. And it only occurred to Daníel fairly late in the morning that this was because they themselves were looking for explanations for the things their daughter was saying. Of course, the case took on a whole new aspect if this were true.

‘Who is Ester Lóa in regular contact with, apart from the people she meets at the nursery?’

The question seemed to throw Lárus. ‘Just us and our friends and relatives,’ he said.

Daníel texted Helena to tell her to ask Elísabet the same ques­tion in the other room.

‘Presumably her grandparents?’ said Daníel. ‘Aunts and uncles, cousins? Anyone you leave her with regularly?’

Lárus shook his head slowly. ‘We don’t use a child minder, as such. She goes on visits but always with her mother and me. If we go to my sister’s, for example, Ester Lóa will play with her kids while we grown-ups chat over coffee.’

‘And how old are your sister’s children?’ asked Daníel.

‘Two and five,’ said Lárus.

‘And they haven’t exhibited similar behaviour? They haven’t talked about these things?’

‘No,’ Lárus said, folding his arms across his chest and leaning back in his chair. He looked sullen, as if his patience was wearing thin.

‘Okay,’ Daníel said, smiling amicably. ‘You understand we’re obliged to look into this, to make sure there’s no leak here at the station.’

Lárus nodded. ‘Yes, yes, of course.’

Daníel pushed a notepad and pen across the table to him. ‘I’m going to ask you to write down the names of everyone Ester Lóa has been in contact with during the last few months, or since she started saying she’s Ísafold.’

Lárus sat up straight, seized the pen and leaned over the pad. ‘I may not remember every last person we’ve met,’ he said.

‘That doesn’t matter. Focus on the people she’s been in fre­quent contact with, anyone she’s been alone with, people you’ve left her with, people she’s visited, etc. It would be good if you could also give us the names of the nursery teachers she spends most time with. We’ll print out a staff list ourselves, so just write down the names you can remember.’ Lárus sighed and muttered something under his breath but then began writing out a list on the pad.

Daníel had started for the door when Lárus called him back.

‘Daníel.’ He wheeled round to find Lárus gazing at him in despair. ‘I understand that you have your procedures, but you’re wasting unnecessary time and energy looking for someone who might have told Ester Lóa what to say.

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