The Girl in the Photo by Heidi Amsinck

Author:Heidi Amsinck [Amsinck, Heidi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

40

Saturday 13:53

‘I will have to warn you,’ said Anette Olsen, intercepting Henrik and Mark outside the hospital room. ‘Mum is extremely confused and what happened has only made matters worse.’

‘I understand,’ said Henrik. The last few times he had visited his father, they had been forced to talk outside in the garden, because his stepmother had been upset at repeatedly finding what she thought was a stranger in the house.

‘Just as long as you manage your expectations,’ said Anette. ‘And I am going to have to ask you to be quick.’

‘We’ll be out of there before you know it,’ said Henrik.

The room smelled of disinfectant and decay. Ulla Olsen had a bandage around her head and an oxygen tube under her nose. Her face was swollen, one eye closed and puffed up like a blue egg.

‘Mum,’ said Anette. ‘There are some men here to see you. They need to ask you a few questions.’

Ulla Olsen moaned quietly, her one good eye staying closed.

‘Ulla,’ Henrik began. ‘Someone came into your room and hurt you. Do you remember? We need you to try and describe the person to us.’

There was no reply. In the silence, Henrik could hear the rhythmical whirring of the drip next to Ulla’s bed, and the low hiss of the oxygen flowing into her nose.

‘Mum,’ said Anette. ‘Try to look at us.’

Finally, Ulla Olsen blinked. She squinted at Anette. ‘Åse?’ she said.

Anette glanced at Henrik. ‘Åse was her little sister. I think I must look like her.’

‘Åse,’ said Ulla, beginning to cry.

‘No, it’s me, Anette. Who attacked you, Mum? Try to remember.’

Ulla looked at her daughter. ‘I want Åse,’ she said.

The conversation was going nowhere, but there was one more question Henrik needed to ask and quickly. Ulla was getting agitated. She was jerking her hands back and forth, pulling at the drip. ‘Åse …’ she repeated.

Anette tried to calm her down. ‘Mum … it’s OK. Nothing is going to happen to you.’

It was now or never.

Henrik pulled the picture of the girl in the swimming costume from the inside pocket of his leather jacket and held it in front of Ulla’s face, ignoring the questioning look Mark sent in his direction. ‘Ulla, Ulla, look at me.’

Finally, she turned to him, with a look of terror.

‘We found this picture in your bedside drawer. Do you know who it is?’

Ulla Olsen began to scream.

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