Munch closed the door after Mia, and sat down behind his desk. She slumped on the small sofa. Munch looked back at her while he wondered what to say. Mia was staring at him with a somewhat vague expression he could not interpret, as if she was not all there.
‘So, what’s up?’ she said at length.
‘Well, that was what I was going to ask you.’
‘What?’ Mia woke up a little at that.
Munch weighed up his words. It had been on his mind for days now. First down at Justisen, then at yesterday’s briefing, and now during the morning meeting. Mikkelson had suspended her. Asked her to see a therapist in order to be declared fit for duty. To see if she was ready for this. Munch had disagreed strongly – it was typical Mikkelson – but in the last few days Munch had started to think that Mikkelson might have been right after all. Perhaps she really was not ready. It was only six months since he had found her alone on that island off the coast of Trøndelag.
And though she had never said anything to him, he had worked it out. She hadn’t been there on holiday. She had gone there to escape. To kill herself. He had persuaded her to come back to Oslo with him. And now he had done it again. Brought her back to work. Perhaps he had made the wrong decision. Maybe she needed time off. She might not be ready for this.
‘How are you doing, Mia? Are you well? Is everything OK?’
Mia Krüger awoke from her hibernation and fixed her eyes on him. An irritated, alert gaze this time: the Mia he knew so well.
‘Tell me you’re kidding?’
She knew where he was going with this, and she definitely didn’t appreciate it.
‘I didn’t mean it like that,’ Munch said, holding up his hands. ‘I just want you to be well, that’s all. You’re my responsibility, aren’t you?’
He tried a disarming smile, but she did not fall for it. She continued to study him with suspicious eyes.
‘Has Mikkelson been after you?’
‘What? No, no.’
‘Have I done something wrong? Embarrassed the department again? Do we look bad in the papers, because we haven’t solved this yet? I mean, how long is it since we found her? Six days? Christ, we’ve made huge progress, we have lots of leads …’
She leaned forward on the sofa, frustrated.
‘No, no. Mikkelson hasn’t said anything. No one is unhappy.’
‘I should bloody well think they’re not,’ Mia fumed. ‘Bloody Mikkelson.’
‘This has nothing to do with Mikkelson.’
‘So what’s the problem?’ Mia said, throwing up her hands.
‘I’m the problem,’ Munch ventured cautiously.
‘What do you mean?’
‘I’m worried about you.’ He tried another smile.
‘Worried? Jesus, Munch? Worried about what?’
‘Not about the quality of your work, obviously. Christ, Mia, we can’t manage without you. I’m just thinking about … Well, what about your health?’
‘My health?’ Mia said, calming a little at this. ‘I’m fine – don’t I look it?’
Munch did not speak his mind. Because she looked like crap.
‘Of course. Honestly, can’t a friend be allowed a little …?’
‘Meddling?’ Mia smiled mischievously, returning to her old self now.
‘Ha-ha,’ Munch said. ‘Concern. “Concern” was the word I was looking for.’
Mia smiled faintly and found a lozenge in her jacket pocket. Placed it on her tongue and looked at him with slightly friendlier eyes.
‘For God’s sake, Munch, you’re not my mum.’
Though she seemed pleased that he had asked all the same. That he cared.
‘I’ve been a bit tired recently, I don’t mind admitting that.’ She sighed. ‘Haven’t slept all that well. Got some stuff in my head to deal with, but nothing I can’t handle, OK? I’ve been through worse.’
‘So you don’t need a day or two off?’
‘You’re giving me time off?’ Mia chuckled. ‘Get a grip, Holger, or I might start to think that you’re going soft. Perhaps you’re right. Maybe you are getting on a bit? Taking me off halfway through the case?’
Mia clearly found this genuinely funny. She chuckled to herself, shaking her head. Munch wasn’t convinced.
‘So everything is all right?’
‘Of course everything is all right, Holger. Jesus, do you have these conversations with all your staff, or is it just me?’ She winked and got up. ‘Thank you for your interest, but I’m fine.’
‘Good.’ Munch nodded. ‘Where do you intend to start?’
‘I’ll let you know what I find at the Natural History Museum,’ Mia said.
‘Fine,’ Munch smiled. There was a knock on the door and Ludvig Grønlie popped his head round.
‘I found something,’ the older investigator said. ‘Am I disturbing you?’
He looked at Munch, then at Mia, then back at Munch again.
‘Oh no, come in. What have you got?’
Ludvig Grønlie smiled and placed a piece of paper on the desk in front of Munch.
‘Another missing-persons case,’ Grønlie said.
‘I see?’
‘From Hurumlandet Nurseries.’ Munch studied the piece of paper and furrowed his brow.
‘What is it?’ Mia said.
‘Nine years ago,’ Grønlie said. ‘A boy was reported missing.’
‘From the Nurseries?’
‘Yes. Mats Henriksen. Went for a walk in the woods, never came back.’
‘Please can I see?’ Mia asked, taking the paper from Holger.
‘And he was never found?’ Munch asked gravely, looking up at Grønlie.
‘No. According to the file, the police searched for him, but not for very long.’
‘Why not?’ Mia was curious now.
‘The boy was believed to be suicidal,’ Grønlie went on. ‘The case was shelved.’
‘But no body?’ Munch said.
‘Nope. He was never found,’ Ludvig said. ‘Do you think there might be a connection?’
‘Definitely worth checking out. Good job, Ludvig. Run his name through the system and see what it turns up.’
‘OK,’ Grønlie nodded, and left the office.
‘This is really interesting,’ Mia said, without taking her eyes off the paper in front of her.
‘What are you thinking?’
‘I don’t know yet.’
‘You know I’m only—’ Munch began, but he was interrupted by the look Mia gave him.
‘What? Wanting to look after me?’ she said sarcastically.
‘Yes.’
Mia got up from the sofa and headed for the door. ‘I can take care of myself, Holger.’
‘I know that. I was only trying to …’
He could not think how to finish his sentence, so he just stayed behind the desk with an attempt at a smile on his lips as she gave him back the piece of paper and left the office.