The Man In The Window by K.O. Dahl

Author:K.O. Dahl
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2011-02-20T00:00:00+00:00

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Chapter 26

Pas de Deux

'One, two, cha-cha-cha, one, two, cha-cha-cha!' There were just two people practising in the room which smelt strongly of stale gymnasium. The man pirouetting in the room had his back arched like a bullfighter's. He was wearing a short, baggy woollen sweater over a yellow leotard. He was medium height with longish, curly hair and a very athletic build. He was twirling round a young girl of maybe seventeen or eighteen who was trying to follow his movements. The music coming out of the speakers of a stereo-rack on the floor was easily drowned by the man's screaming voice. 'One, two, cha-cha-cha!' The man stamped his feet hard on the floor. 'Oh, come on!' he screamed, theatrically tossing his head and creating a swirl of glamorous locks around his head. 'Don't be so sluggish and slow! Pick up your feet!' The girl was wearing a gym outfit and legwarmers. Her blonde hair, which she had tied up in a ponytail, was beginning to come away from the elastic band. The man let go of her and demonstrated the dance steps once again. He studied his body in the mirror. The man's thigh and buttock muscles stood out through the leotard. For a brief second he exchanged glances with Frank Frølich, who was checking his wristwatch. He had been sitting on a bench in the large hall for twenty minutes. The young girl seemed so exhausted now that he guessed the lesson would soon be over.

Five minutes later the two men were alone in the hall.

'Eyolf Strømsted?' Frølich asked, reaching out his hand. 'This is about Ingrid Jespersen,' he said after introducing himself.

'My God, what a situation,' Strømsted said, wiping the sweat from his face.

'We have reason to believe that you're on very good terms with Ingrid Jespersen,' Frølich said.

'That's one way of putting it,' parried Strømsted with a fixed frontal gaze.

'I'm part of a team investigating the murder of her husband,' Frølich said and nothing more.

Strømsted held his rigid stare.

Frølich took his time. He was looking for the right words.

'We know you and Ingrid Jespersen are on very intimate terms.'

'And whose claim is that?' Strømsted said in a measured voice. 'Is it hers?'

'In fact we have seen you together.' Frølich stood up and rummaged in his bag. 'I have a few photos which would support what I'm saying, but…' He abandoned the search. 'I don't seem to have them with me, but you and the widow have been seen in somewhat intimate circumstances in a parked car the night after Reidar Folke Jespersen was found dead.'

Strømsted was breathing hard.

'When did you last meet her?' Frølich asked gently.

'On Sunday. We drove to the car park outside the Munch museum.'

'And before that?'

'The Friday… 13th January.'

Frølich took notes and peered up. 'Could you tell me what happened that Friday?'

'She dropped by to see me between half past eleven and twelve - in the morning. Half an hour later we went to bed. We had a cup of tea and chatted for a bit first.

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