I continued up the path. Jane was mistaken. Ice statues couldn’t change

Jane swallowed rapidly. “It’s as if the Icehotel is watching you. When I can see it, I can’t bring myself to talk about it.” “As though it’s listening.” I glanced around. “This forest is the only place where you can’t see it.” “There’s one other. You know that road leading to the church? It bends into a small clearing enclosed by trees.

“The church is in that clearing. You can’t see the Icehotel from there.”

The muscles of her face tightened. “You can see it from the top of the tower, though.”

“Wow, you’ve been up?” I said, making a show of being impressed. “I’ve still to go.”

“If you do, then don’t take the road. There’s a path inside the forest. You can just see it from the road if you peer through the trees. It’s easier walking and won’t take nearly as long.”

“So when did you climb the tower?”

“After the tour of the church.” Her expression brightened. “The church is lovely. I felt a great sense of peace. Apart from the tours, no one seems to go there. The pews are all dusty. Strange that the candles were lit, though.”

“And the view from the top?” “Magnificent.” The light faded from her eyes. “But you can see the ice buildings in the distance. Including the Icehotel. And the chapel.”

Strange

“Have you been inside the chapel?” I said slowly, my mind immediately back at the image of the snowcovered corpse.

“I wanted to, but something prevented me.” Her voice sounded strange. “I couldn’t get through the door. I pulled at the handles, but it was as if something was pulling from the other side.

“I pushed hard and it pushed back. I let go, and the door swung back and forth. When I pulled again, the same thing happened.”

“Someone must have been inside, larking around,” I said nervously.

“There was no one inside, Maggie.”

I wondered how she could know that. But I said nothing. The most likely explanation was Mike, or Jonas, having a laugh.

She gripped my sleeve, her eyes wide. “Don’t go in there. The place is evil.”

“Nonsense,” I said, with a bravado I didn’t feel. “It’s a consecrated chapel. There’s no evil there.”

“And what about those statues?” she said, in measured tones.

“The circus statues?”

“Have you noticed they’re different every time you look?”

“That’s impossible.”

“Look closely, Maggie.”

“Okay, I will, but I doubt I can remember what they were like before.” I suddenly found myself shivering. “Let’s go back, Jane. I’m getting cold.”

We walked in silence through the forest and on to the ice. Aaron Vandenberg had gone, but Denny Hinckley was loitering at the river’s edge, kicking the snow.

He waved as we passed, but made no attempt to detain us.

Jane stopped at the roadside. “I’m taking the bus into Kiruna. Jim and Robyn are meeting me for shopping and then lunch.”

Her face brightened. “Would you like to join us?” “Thanks, but I won’t.” I looked past her. “Good timing. Here’s your bus.”

Her gaze drifted to the path that led to the Excelsior. “Remember, Maggie. Look at the statues.”

I watched the bus until it disappeared behind a bank of snow, then turned and walked slowly up to the hotel.

Staring

I examined the statues. The clown was still crying, his bowler pushed back off his face, his arms lowered, the sticks touching the skin of the drum.

The ballerina stood en pointe, one arm above her head, the other lowered. The juggler was staring balefully at the clown.

Was this how I’d seen them that first day? I could no longer remember.

I continued up the path. Jane was mistaken. Ice statues couldn’t change. Not unless the staff slipped out in the morning, partially melted the ice and rearranged the figures for the amusement of the guests.

I stopped at the front door. My stomach cramped with fear. The lion was one figure I did remember. But he was no longer crouched beneath his master’s whip, ready to leap. He was standing proud, on all fours, his head turned in my direction.

“Miss Stewart.” The manager was hurrying towards me. “Inspector Hallengren wishes to speak to you.”

I was in the foyer, pulling off my boots, watching the lion through the window. “Inspector Hallengren? But he’s already interviewed me. What’s this about?” “The Inspector didn’t tell me.”

“Is he here?” I said quietly, hoping this didn’t mean a trip into Kiruna.

“He’s in my office. I’ll take you now.”

I glanced at my snowsuit.

“I’ll return that, Miss Stewart.”

I struggled quickly out of the suit. The manager sped along the corridor to his office. I padded after him in my stockinged feet.

The door was ajar. The manager knocked hesitantly before pushing it open.

Hallengren was at the window. He turned as I entered. I wondered how long he’d been there. Had he watched me scrutinising the statues?

I heard the door being closed behind me.

“I believe you wish to speak to me, Inspector.” He motioned through the window. “I have always loved the view from this office.”

“I can understand why.” I went to stand beside him. “You see all the way to the forest.”

Interest

He looked at me with interest. “Have you been out to the forest, Miss Stewart?”

“There’s something about snow-covered trees I simply can’t resist.”

He smiled easily. “Then you should try crosscountry skiing. There are tracks through the forest, and they are well signposted.”

I thought of the loudly dressed man I’d seen the previous day. “I’m sure it’s harder than it looks.”

“That is true of most sports. But skiing crosscountry does not take long to master.”

I looked into his eyes. “I still think I’d need a master to show me.”

After a silence, he said: “Miss Stewart, I asked to see you because I have some further questions concerning Wilson Bibby.”

“But I’ve told you everything I know.”

He nodded towards the desk. “Please sit down.” If Hallengren wanted to question me further, I intended to be comfortable. I ignored the straightbacked chairs and sat in one of the maroon-coloured armchairs.

He hesitated for a second, then sat on the sofa.

More tomorrow.

Icehotel, available on Amazon Kindle, is Hania Allen’s debut novel. Her second book, The Polish Detective (Constable, £8.99), is the first in her new series featuring DS Dania Gorska and is set in Dundee.