Strange Shores by Indriðason Arnaldur

Author:Indriðason, Arnaldur [Indriðason, Arnaldur]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, Crime, thriller
Amazon: B00CQ1D30U
Goodreads: 19038635
Publisher: Vintage Digital
Published: 2010-11-01T07:00:00+00:00

30

EZRA DID NOT relinquish his grip on the shotgun but laid it across his knees as he sat down facing Erlendur in the kitchen. Keeping his finger on the trigger, he stroked the barrel as he recounted his tale in a low voice. He had difficulty putting it into words, partly because he hadn’t spoken of it for decades and was reluctant to do so now, partly because he had never really got over the events, though they had happened a lifetime ago. It was all so vivid – every detail, every conversation and incident, as if it had only just taken place. His account was punctuated by long silences that Erlendur was careful not to interrupt. Slowly, painfully, the story took shape. Ezra would not be rushed and Erlendur was content to let him dictate the pace.

The old man confirmed most of what Hrund had learned from her mother about how the affair had begun. The letter had been the tipping point, though Matthildur’s marriage had already been showing cracks.

‘Jakob was a mate of mine,’ said Ezra. ‘I don’t remember if I told you before or how much you know. I met him in Djúpivogur shortly after I moved out here to the fjords. He helped me out during my first season. I was the new boy in a strange place and got on well with him. As far as I knew, other people liked him too. He didn’t really stick out from the crowd, though he . . . he was popular with the ladies. I don’t know how else to put it. He had a way with women.’

‘Perhaps that explains his bad reputation.’

‘He didn’t care if they were married. I saw him get into a fight once because of that.’

‘Was it any different from your affair with Matthildur?’

‘I wasn’t like him,’ said Ezra sharply. ‘There’s no comparison.’

‘Do you remember Matthildur’s sister Ingunn from your time in Djúpivogur?’

‘No, not at all,’ replied Ezra. ‘Matthildur asked me that too. She showed me a picture of her. I told her Jakob had been a hit with the ladies, but I didn’t know who. I moved to Eskifjördur long before he did. By the time he arrived he was already involved with Matthildur. We joined the same fishing boat and that’s how I met her, after they were married. I used to drop by to fetch Jakob early in the morning, so Matthildur and I got to know each other.’

‘Several people have tried to describe Jakob to me but I can’t make him out at all,’ said Erlendur. ‘Someone told me he suffered from claustrophobia. Does that ring any bells?’

‘Well, all I know is Matthildur told me he couldn’t sleep with the bedroom door shut. He always kept it open and had to sleep on the side nearest to it.’

‘It must have come as a terrible shock when Matthildur heard about him and Ingunn,’ said Erlendur.

Ezra had grown visibly calmer, though he was still hugging the gun tightly. His defiance had largely evaporated, as if he were reconciled to there being no getting rid of Erlendur.

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