Red as Blood by Quentin Bates

Author:Quentin Bates
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Orenda Books
Published: 2022-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

45

Michael had called Flosi and given him the code to unlock the case from Áróra’s wrist and open it. When Flosi had finished stacking the bundles of notes in the safe in his bedroom, he signed a receipt for the cash, and Áróra could breathe more easily. It was always a relief when the cash she carried had been delivered into the right hands.

But her relief wasn’t just that she had handed over the money. It was also positive that Guðrún had been spotted walking nearby. That meant she didn’t need to tell Daníel about the mysterious financial traffic through Flosi’s account. Since the abduction was clearly a family affair that looked to be about to be resolved, there was no need to get the police involved in Flosi’s financial affairs. This wouldn’t stop her conducting her own investigations, but they would have to wait, because for now it was important to update Flosi on the latest developments. She meant to be there to provide him with moral support, but when they were back in the kitchen she could sense Daníel’s hesitation, how his eyes flicked at intervals in her direction as he explained the situation, and she felt that she was there no less to support him than Flosi.

‘We’ve finished examining all the CCTV footage from the district on the evening Guðrún disappeared,’ Daníel began, and glanced quickly in Áróra’s direction, as if he were seeking backup – as if hoping that she might provide some input that would make things easier for him.

But Flosi spoke first.

‘And?’ he demanded. ‘What’s on there?’

Daníel hesitated again.

‘There’s a … Well … Guðrún can be seen walking along Hraunbrún and onto Reykjavíkurvegur. She was alone.’

‘What … how?’ Flosi began, and the expected flood of questions dried up for a moment, before he groaned and started again. ‘And the kidnappers? Can’t they be seen?’

‘No. She was alone, and then she disappears out of shot and could have got in a car somewhere. That’s assuming someone had come to collect her.’

‘Abduct her, you mean? So why was this place a shambles? I thought she had been kidnapped from here,’ Flosi said, pointing at the kitchen floor, staring for a long moment from beneath frowning brows, clearly thinking back to that fateful Monday evening and the puddle of white wine, the burned bread, the broken glass.

‘You and Guðrún have a pre-nuptial agreement,’ Daníel said, ‘that sets out that in the event of a divorce, Guðrún would leave the marriage with practically nothing.’

‘Of course I would never leave Guðrún penniless. What are you insinuating? And what does our pre-nuptial agreement have to do with all this?’

Flosi’s voice rose in volume, but he seemed confused rather than angered.

‘Perhaps Guðrún had become concerned about her situation – maybe she had found out about your mistress.’

‘I’ve told you already that Guðrún knew nothing about Bergrós. It’s just not possible. And I don’t see why you’re so interested in her. She has nothing to do with all this, nothing at all.’

Áróra

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