Read Online Last Rituals by Bernard Scudder - Free Book Online
Authors: Bernard Scudder
hesitated for a moment before agreeing. She had a feeling that when she said those words, Matthew heaved a deep sigh of relief. "Sehr gut," he said in an exceptionally perky tone.
"Actually, I still have to study the contract. I brought it home to read tonight. If it's true that it's 'fair and normal,' I can't see any objections to signing it tomorrow."
"Great."
"Listen, one thing made me curious: why wasn't the section about the autopsy in the folder?" Although Thóra knew this could wait until morning, she wanted to know the answer now.
"We had to make a special application to obtain the documents and I didn't get them alljust a summary of the main points. I thought it was rather sparse, so I've insisted on seeing the entire report," Matthew replied.
After a moment's pause he added by way of explanation: "It complicated the matter a little, me being a representative and not a relative, but fortunately it's been settled now. In fact, that's why I rang now instead of waiting to hear from you tomorrow as we had discussed."
"Sorry?" Thóra said, not quite grasping the context.
"I have an appointment at nine tomorrow morning with the pathologist who performed the autopsy on Harald. He's going to present me with the documents and go through various aspects of them with me. I'd like you to come along."
"Well," Thóra said in surprise. "Okay, that's fine. I'm game."
"Good, I'll pick you up from the office at half past eight."
Thóra bit her tongue to stop herself saying that she generally did not turn up that early. "Half past eight. I'll see you then."
"Frau Gudmundsdóttir" said Matthew.
"Do call me Thóra, it's much simpler," Thóra interrupted him. She felt like a ninety-year-old widow every time he called her Frau Gudmundsdóttir.
"Okay, Thóra," Matthew said. "Just one more thing."
"What?" asked Thóra.
"I'd resist having a heavy breakfast. It's not going to be a pleasant conversation."
CHAPTER 6
DECEMBER 7, 2005
Finding a parking space at the national hospital was definitely not the easiest task in the world. Matthew eventually found one some distance from the building where the pathology lab was located. Thóra had turned up at her office early and drafted a letter to the police, demanding access to the documents as the representative of the family. The letter was in its envelope and waiting in Bella's tray; hopefully it would be posted today, but Thóra still decided to up the odds by labeling the envelope with the words: "Must not be posted before the weekend."
Thóra had also called the aviation school to inquire about a debit from Harald's card in September. She was told that Harald had hired a small private plane and pilot to fly up to Hólmavík and back the same day. After checking Hólmavík on the Internet, Thóra soon realized what had attracted Harald thereits museum of witchcraft and sorcery. She had also telephoned Hótel Rangá to investigate Harald's trips there, and she was told that he had booked and paid for two rooms for two nightsthe names in the guest book were Harald Guntlieb and Harry Potter. As a pseudonym, the latter displayed a singular lack of imagination. She told Matthew about this and Harald's trip to Hólmavík as they circled the parking lot.
"At last," Matthew said, slipping his rental car into a newly abandoned parking space.
They walked in the direction of the laboratory, which was located behind the main building. It had snowed during the night and Matthew walked ahead of Thóra, stomping through the piles of slush and ice. The weather was blustery and the bracing north wind tugged at Thóra's hair. That morning she had decided to wear her hair down but regretted that decision now as the wind swept it in all directions. I'll look really good by the time I get inside, she thought. She stopped for a moment, turned her back to
"Actually, I still have to study the contract. I brought it home to read tonight. If it's true that it's 'fair and normal,' I can't see any objections to signing it tomorrow."
"Great."
"Listen, one thing made me curious: why wasn't the section about the autopsy in the folder?" Although Thóra knew this could wait until morning, she wanted to know the answer now.
"We had to make a special application to obtain the documents and I didn't get them alljust a summary of the main points. I thought it was rather sparse, so I've insisted on seeing the entire report," Matthew replied.
After a moment's pause he added by way of explanation: "It complicated the matter a little, me being a representative and not a relative, but fortunately it's been settled now. In fact, that's why I rang now instead of waiting to hear from you tomorrow as we had discussed."
"Sorry?" Thóra said, not quite grasping the context.
"I have an appointment at nine tomorrow morning with the pathologist who performed the autopsy on Harald. He's going to present me with the documents and go through various aspects of them with me. I'd like you to come along."
"Well," Thóra said in surprise. "Okay, that's fine. I'm game."
"Good, I'll pick you up from the office at half past eight."
Thóra bit her tongue to stop herself saying that she generally did not turn up that early. "Half past eight. I'll see you then."
"Frau Gudmundsdóttir" said Matthew.
"Do call me Thóra, it's much simpler," Thóra interrupted him. She felt like a ninety-year-old widow every time he called her Frau Gudmundsdóttir.
"Okay, Thóra," Matthew said. "Just one more thing."
"What?" asked Thóra.
"I'd resist having a heavy breakfast. It's not going to be a pleasant conversation."
CHAPTER 6
DECEMBER 7, 2005
Finding a parking space at the national hospital was definitely not the easiest task in the world. Matthew eventually found one some distance from the building where the pathology lab was located. Thóra had turned up at her office early and drafted a letter to the police, demanding access to the documents as the representative of the family. The letter was in its envelope and waiting in Bella's tray; hopefully it would be posted today, but Thóra still decided to up the odds by labeling the envelope with the words: "Must not be posted before the weekend."
Thóra had also called the aviation school to inquire about a debit from Harald's card in September. She was told that Harald had hired a small private plane and pilot to fly up to Hólmavík and back the same day. After checking Hólmavík on the Internet, Thóra soon realized what had attracted Harald thereits museum of witchcraft and sorcery. She had also telephoned Hótel Rangá to investigate Harald's trips there, and she was told that he had booked and paid for two rooms for two nightsthe names in the guest book were Harald Guntlieb and Harry Potter. As a pseudonym, the latter displayed a singular lack of imagination. She told Matthew about this and Harald's trip to Hólmavík as they circled the parking lot.
"At last," Matthew said, slipping his rental car into a newly abandoned parking space.
They walked in the direction of the laboratory, which was located behind the main building. It had snowed during the night and Matthew walked ahead of Thóra, stomping through the piles of slush and ice. The weather was blustery and the bracing north wind tugged at Thóra's hair. That morning she had decided to wear her hair down but regretted that decision now as the wind swept it in all directions. I'll look really good by the time I get inside, she thought. She stopped for a moment, turned her back to
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