Read Online Sun on Fire by Viktor Arnar Ingólfsson - Free Book Online

practical issues. Counselor Arngrímur is in charge of that, and he should have attended this meeting, but, because of other duties, he was unable to.”
    “Why was this meeting held on a Sunday?”
    “It was a convenient arrangement, as they’d planned to attend the reading anyway. We scheduled our meeting some time in advance.”
    “What about the other meetings? Were they also planned ahead?”
    “No. They were really just chats after the reception. I spoke with Jón and his companion about the Frankfurt Book Fair. They wanted me to go there and attend a reception to celebrate his anthology’s publication. They were probably hoping I’d offer to pay for the refreshments, too. And finally there was a brief meeting for me to introduce Anton to David, the fashion designer. Anton had some extremely good connections in Asia that have been very useful for our clothing manufacturers. He sources good quality and very cheap producers, which is valuable at this time, when capital is scarce everywhere. Starkadur, David’s partner, was also at our meeting.”
    “Did Anton stay in your office?”
    “I left the three of them there so they could exchange information, but they all came back downstairs shortly afterward. Anton ate with us. I don’t know when he went back upstairs—he asked me two or three times if he could use my office phone, and may have gone up more times than that. A new workday had started inthe part of the world where he’s got projects, I guess. The last time he went was probably a little while before we left the building.”
    “So you don’t know who would have been the last person with him in your office?”
    “No, damn it. I’ve gone over it again and again over the past twenty-four hours, but the picture doesn’t get any clearer.”
    “How come you didn’t notice Anton was still in the building when you left the embassy?”
    “One really shouldn’t speak ill of one’s wife, but—in confidence—my dear Hulda kind of made herself the center of attention when she joined us. She sometimes gets goddamned cranky with me for wanting to enjoy myself in good company. When it was time for the guests to leave, I had security call three taxis. I thought Anton went in the first cab, and I wasn’t aware of anything unusual when my wife and I left the embassy—we were the last ones to go. I have a feeling somebody said that Anton had left, but I can’t remember who. Four of the guests were with us when Hulda and I checked out of the Felleshus.”
    “Are you sure you don’t know who said that Anton had left? That could be really important.”
    Konrad shook his head. “I know it’s important, but I’m not sure that anybody did mention it. Maybe I just thought I’d seen him leave with David and Starkadur.”
    “And the security guards didn’t notice that one of the visitors was missing when you left?”
    “No, but there was a reason. Jón was making a ruckus—he’d lost his guest pass, and I had to vouch for him so he could get his passport back. Then he offended the cab driver, and the security guard had to handle things because Hulda and I had already gone in the second cab. The head of security told me all this yesterday.”
    “How did you know Anton?”
    “He’s been a political supporter of mine for thirty years, and he’s a good buddy. His roots were in my constituency, and he was a useful ward heeler back in the day. Then he started up this foreign business, after which he was just a contributor to party funds. I sometimes introduced him to potential customers. Our friendship helped his credibility.”
    “What was his business?”
    “He was very familiar with the Asian scene. Early on he started going there to check out various kinds of factories. He was particularly good at finding manufacturers who could deliver high-quality but cost-effective products. Lots of entrepreneurs have used his services as a go-between.”
    “Entrepreneurs?”
    “Yes—hardworking innovators with