“Yes,” I said. “Perhaps now everything will be okay.”But I didn’t believe it either

Mike had known Wilson would be at the Icehotel: One of the Yanks I was drinking with is working with Bibby. He told me.

Could that Yank have told Mike something about Bibby’s dealings that would make him want to steal pages from his diary?

Unlikely. What could possibly interest Mike?

I leant back, weary from the day’s events. Who cared about Wilson’s diary anyway?

How important was it in the grand scheme of things? If Hallengren had nothing better to do than chase missing diary pages, he was welcome to it.

What intrigued me more was what Marcellus and Aaron were up to in Stockholm. Perhaps it involved the Bibby Foundation and would be to Harry’s benefit.

His research funding might come through after all. I pictured his happiness at discovering he could continue with his work.

Harry. I sat up slowly. He’d known from the Foundation’s newsletter that Wilson would be in Stockholm, if not the Icehotel.

Yes, Harry had known. Harry, whom I’d spied in the corridor the night Wilson had died, who’d denied being up, saying he’d slept through without waking.

Could he possibly have been on his way to the lockers, having crept into Wilson’s room and taken his key?

Desperate

If so, he must have known what was in that diary. Something to do with the Foundation? Marcellus had said that the decision to stop funding pure research wasn’t definite.

Perhaps Harry had wanted to remove all trace of that decision, carbons and all, hoping that Marcellus, who was better disposed towards academics, would continue that funding.

I sank back into the upholstery. If Harry was the thief, he must have been desperate to take such a chance.

What would Wilson have done if he’d woken to find Harry looming over him?

Yelled for Marcellus. The scenario didn’t bear thinking about. No, I couldn’t see Harry taking the risk, research funding or not.

Unless, of course, Harry had known that Wilson was already dead.

Leo Tullis was waiting for me as I entered the Icehotel. “You got a moment, Maggie?” He sounded anxious. “Of course. Shall we go into the lounge?”

“We need somewhere private. The manager lets me use his office.”

I followed him down the corridor, wondering what could have happened now.

“Have you been to see the Inspector?” I said, after we’d sat down.

“I went straight after breakfast.”

“And you told him about the brakes?”

“He already knew. Sven had reported it. But he had a few questions for me.”

Leo pushed his hands through his hair. “He asked if I knew who’d been near the machines.”

“What did you tell him?” I said slowly.

“That I’d been inside when the snowmobiles toppled and I didn’t go down to the path until I heard the noise and saw everyone running out of the chalet.”

He stared hard at the floor. “Then I remembered I’d seen Mike and Jonas standing near that ledge. I assumed they’d been there the whole time, so I gave the Inspector their names.”

He lifted his head. “Did I do the right thing?”

Directness

The directness of the question surprised me. “What was the Inspector’s reaction?”

“He seemed cool. I asked him what he thought was going on. He said he didn’t know and that it could have been a prank. Or an accident.”

“But you told him what Sven said about the brakes?”

“The way the Inspector talked, he sounded as much of an expert on snowmobile brakes as Sven. I don’t know who to believe now.”

“I’d believe Sven,” I was tempted to say. But I kept quiet.

Leo seemed a man at the end of his resources, grateful for a mandate to carry on with his job.

I wondered what Hallengren would do with this new knowledge about Mike and Jonas.

If he believed that it was an accident, I didn’t think he’d do anything.

Leo looked at me searchingly. “The Inspector said that the excursions could continue, which is why we went to the Sami village today.

“That’s something, I suppose. Perhaps now everything will be okay.” He said it as though he didn’t believe it.

“Yes,” I said, taking his hand. “Perhaps now everything will be okay.”

But I didn’t believe it either.

With the arrival of the reporters, the restaurant was crowded.

Jane was sitting with the Danes, who seemed to have taken her under their wing. The Ellises were wedged between Denny Hinckley and another reporter, who were talking across them.

I wondered how long it would be before Robyn lost it and smacked one of them. Marcellus and Aaron were missing.

Liz and Mike were so absorbed in one another that they hardly noticed my conversation with Harry. “So how was the trip to the Sami village?” I said. “My dear, it’s such a shame you didn’t come. It was a scream. We met the village head honcho. He was dressed the part – leather trousers and striped tunic, and a funny cap.

“Anyway, he described how the Sami live, tending the reindeer the way they have for generations. I must say they were splendid specimens.”

“The reindeer?”

Serious

He paused and peered at me over his soup spoon. “The Sami.”

“And where did this big chief live?”

“In a huge tent. You know the sort of thing, rugs and skins all over the place. In the centre, there was a log fire which was smoking so badly I thought we’d all suffocate.

“He had to open a flap in the top to let the smoke out. Then he became serious and started to tell us about his ancestors and how this way of living and these old traditions are so important.”

Harry’s eyes were gleaming. “And do you know what happened then?”

When Harry was in comic mode, he could hardly contain himself. “Tell me,” I said, laughing in anticipation.

“His mobile phone went off. I nearly burst myself trying not to laugh. Maggie, I do wish you’d been there.”

Suddenly, he sat up straight, staring over my shoulder. “My goodness. An Inspector calls.”

I turned round. Hallengren had entered with the hotel manager, who hovered nervously at his side.

More tomorrow.