Read Online The Drowned Boy by Karin Fossum - Free Book Online

reluctant and without force.
    “Are you going to ask us in?” Sejer suggested calmly. Carmen reversed into the hall.
    “Yes, of course. Come on in. Dad will be here soon,” she added, as if she wanted to say that her time was limited and they were not particularly welcome. It was rather inconvenient in fact, and she really wanted them to leave. They could feel her reluctance, and she kept her distance.
    “He’s going to help us with the funeral,” she explained. “We don’t have much money. We’ve got practically nothing,” she sighed, and shrugged with her palms up. “Dad’s trying to find someone to cover for us at Zita Quick. We can’t exactly work now, either of us, can we? After what’s happened. Follow me; let’s go into the kitchen. Let’s get this over and done with. It’s starting to bother me.”
    She walked in front of them through the house. She sat down at the kitchen table and pointed to the empty chairs beside Nicolai with a resigned expression. Then she put her hand to her eyes to wipe away a tear, as they had started to fall again.
    “Where is he now?” she asked. “Have they finished the autopsy? Is he lying in a drawer in the morgue?”
    Sejer nodded. “Yes, yes, he is. And it will no doubt take some time before everything is sorted.”
    “But we want to have the funeral as soon as possible,” Nicolai said, clearly anxious. “How long do you think we’ll have to wait?”
    “That depends on the autopsy,” Skarre explained. “And on if they find anything. We promise to keep you informed.”
    “But can we start planning?” Carmen asked. “There’s so much that has to be decided. Music and flowers and all sorts of things. He’s going to be buried at Møller Church. Can we choose a plot? There are some lovely birch trees on the slope up there. And we’ve got a plot there from before. Or will we be allocated something randomly?”
    “I guess that you will be allocated a plot,” Skarre said. “But it will be beautiful, I’m sure of that. Tommy will be given the best place.”
    “My sister Louisa is buried under the birch trees,” Carmen told them. “It would be nice if they could be near each other; they’re related, after all. Aunty Louisa,” she said with a smile. “I’m definitely going to ask the priest if we can have our wish. I mean, they have to listen to us, don’t they?”
    “Do that,” Sejer said. “I’m glad to hear that you’re getting help with the funeral, because they are expensive. You’ll get some financial help, but I’m not sure how much, as it’s based on need. But every little bit helps. You must take good care of each other through all this,” he said in a kind voice. “Otherwise it will be an incredibly lonely time, believe me.”
    “What do you know about grief?” Nicolai said angrily.
    “Everything,” was Sejer’s curt reply. “Both personal and professional, and what’s more, it is part of my job to look after people. No two people grieve alike; you must remember that. Now, there’s something else I’d like to ask,” he said, changing the subject. “If you don’t find it too painful to answer. Did Tommy have a favorite between the two of you? I mean, was he closer to one of you?”
    “Tommy was a daddy’s boy,” Nicolai said firmly. “And I was proud of that.”
    “Yes, it’s always like that, isn’t it?” Carmen said. “Daddy’s so great. Because he’s not there most of the time. So there’s even more excitement when he does finally come home again in the evening. And he’s still got the energy to play, whereas I’ve been holding down the fort all day. And you know what, in the end you run out of ideas. Tommy was also very stubborn. It wasn’t always easy to keep him happy. But then I’m a daddy’s girl,” she said, “so I guess I’ll just have to accept the fact that Nicolai was more fun.”
    “Can I ask one more thing?” Sejer pushed. “Would we be welcome at Tommy’s funeral?”
    “Yes, of