Karin Alvtegen - Missing

A s the servants of Christ and as guardiansof Gods secrets, thus should we be seenand understood. Nothing more than fidelity canbe demanded of such a guardian. For me, it isas nothing if mankind or any of its courts ofjustice should decide to condemn me, nor doI sit in judgement over myself. Indeed, I knowmyself to be truly without guilt, but this aloneis not sufficient justification for what I do. TheLord will judge me.

No one must sit in judgement before the righttime, when the Lord comes. He shall force thatwhich has been hidden in darkness to emergeinto His light and He shall make known allcouncils of the heart.

Then God will praise each one as he or shedeserves.

Thank you Lord for my courage. You havelistened to me, heard my prayers and directedme on the right path.

Let me be Your instrument. Let me executethe sentences due to those who have sinned.Let my beloved meet with You and be withYou always.

Then will my hope return.

Then will I find peace.

T he green suit had a classy label and no one who looked her over could have guessed that it cost less than one hundred kronor at Oxfam. The waist button on the skirt had been replaced by a safety-pin, but no one would notice.

She called the waiter and asked for another glass of white wine.

One empty table away, tonights target was sitting on his own. She hadnt begun her act and wasnt yet able to judge how aware he was of her.

He was just getting on with his starter.

There was plenty of time.

She swallowed a mouthful of wine from her refilled glass. The wine was dry, cool to perfection and probably quite expensive. She had no idea of the price. It didnt matter.

She looked at her man surreptitiously and felt, rather than saw, that he was staring at her. Over the edge of the wine glass, she let her glance swivel in his direction and meet his, but then, marking mild disinterest, she allowed it to wander across the room.

The Grand Hotels French dining-room was really a magnificent place. She had been there three times before, but tonight had to be the last visit for a while. Pity, because they put out fresh fruit in the bedrooms. The towels were exceptionally thick and laid on in such quantity that it seemed risk-free to let a couple slip into your briefcase.

Still, it was unwise to challenge fate. It would be a disaster if the staff recognised her.

He was looking at her again, she could sense it. She quickly pulled out her diary from the briefcase, checking todays date. How irritating Impatiently, she tapped on the tabletop with her immaculate red nails. Two different meetings at the same time how could she have allowed herself to be double-booked? Worse, with two of her largest customers!

She observed him out of the corner of her eye. He was still watching.

A waiter walked past her table and she hailed him.

You wouldnt have a phone I could borrow, please?

Of course, madam.

She kept following the waiter with her eyes as he walked over to the bar counter, returning to her table with a cordless phone.

There you are, madam. Please dial nine to get a line.

Thank you.

She leafed through her diary to find the right number before dialling.

Hallo, this is Caroline Fors, my company is Swedish Laval Separator. Im so sorry but Ive managed to get myself snarled up tomorrow morning a double booking. I just wanted you to know that Ill be with you, but about two hours later than we agreed.

Twenty, twenty-five and thirty. Pip.

Good. Ill be there as soon as I can. Bye for now.

She sighed and wrote salamiwurst 14.00hours on the line just below basement flat and closed her diary.

By chance their eyes met just at the moment she took another drink from her wine glass. She felt sure of his complete attention by now.

He smiled at her.

Got a problem?

She too smiled but shrugged her shoulders, a little embarrassed.

Easily done, he said sympathetically, looking her over. He was edging close to her carefully positioned bait now.

Are you alone or are you waiting for someone?

His eyes were fixed on her.

No, I just liked the idea of a glass of wine or two before going back to my room. Its been a long day.

She picked up her diary and put it into her briefcase. This was it, nearly done. She would hook him soon. When she had replaced her briefcase on the floor, she saw him pushing away his emptied plate and raising his glass to her.

Would you mind if I joined you?

Already and she had barely begun her fishing trip. With a little smile, she got ready to beach her catch. She mustnt be too quick, though. Playing hard to get for a while always worked a treat. She hesitated for a couple of seconds before answering his question.

That would be nice, but Im really about to call it a day.

He rose, picked up his wine glass and sat down opposite her.

Im Jrgen Grundberg. Pleased to meet you.

He held out his hand to her, she shook it and introduced herself.

Caroline Fors.

Thats a lovely name for a lovely lady. Id drink to that.

On his left hand a thin wedding ring caught the light.

Cheers.

The waiter was bringing Mr Grundbergs main course, but stopped short when he realised that his guest had gone away. Jrgen Grundberg waved to him.

Here I am. The views better from over here, dont you agree?

Her smile was rather forced, but happily Mr Grundberg did not seem particularly sensitive to peoples feelings.

A white plate with a silver cover was put down on the table between them. He shook open the decoratively folded linen napkin and draped it over his lap. Then he rubbed his hands together. This guy clearly enjoyed his food.

Arent you going to eat anything?

She could feel her stomach rumbling with hunger.

No, I dont think so.

He lifted the silver lid and a gorgeous smell of garlic and rosemary wound its way into her nostrils. She could feel saliva filling her mouth.

Come on, of course you must have something to eat.

He wasnt looking at her now. Instead he was focusing his attention on the delicate operation of cutting pieces off the fillet of lamb.

You must eat to keep up your strength, he said, moving a laden forkful towards his mouth. Didnt you learn that at your mothers knee?

As likely as not, her mother had said so and much else besides. That alone was a good reason for declining. But by now she was really very hungry and the bowl of fruit in her room did not seem so tempting any more.

While he was chewing, he called the waiter who came immediately, but was kept standing by until Grundberg had finished his mouthful of food.

Another one of these for the lady. Charge it to room 407.

He smiled at her and waved his key-card in front of the waiter.

Room 407. The man went away.

I hope you dont mind?

Im perfectly able to pay for my own food, you know.

Of course you are. I just thought Id better pay to make up for being so pushy.

With pleasure, to be sure.

She drank some more wine. The guy was almost too good to be true. Ran on autopilot. There he sat, chomping away at his lamb fillets, totally absorbed by the food as far as she could see. In fact, for the moment he seemed to have forgotten that he had company at the table.

She observed him. About fifty years old, she guessed. His suit was expensive and since hed just ordered two meals, without a second thought, even though it was the Grands French dining-room, his bank balance must be more than favourable.

Good. He was perfect.

He looked as if he was used to eating well. His neck wouldnt stay contained inside his collar and had oozed outside it at a point just above the knot on his tie.