Meltwater (Fire and Ice)

Freeflow.’
    Magnus leaned forward. ‘Did she say what it was?’
    ‘I can’t remember. I think I asked her whether it had anything to do with the Icelandic banks. We published Ódinsbanki’s loan book last year. She said it didn’t.
Then we changed the subject.’
    ‘Weren’t you curious?’
    Erika smiled. ‘You would be amazed how many people tell me they have a secret they want Freeflow to publish. It’s usually a waste of time. I had only just met Ásta. I think if
she told me that now, I would take her more seriously.’
    ‘And she hasn’t given Freeflow anything?’
    ‘No. Or at least not that I know of. We get stuff submitted all the time. To be honest, I haven’t paid much attention to the new stuff over the last few days. I’ll
check.’
    ‘Please do,’ said Magnus. ‘One other question I’ve been meaning to ask. Has Freeflow ever published or considered publishing anything to do with the Skull and Bones
society?’
    Erika’s eyes widened ‘At Yale?’
    Magnus nodded.
    ‘No,’ said Erika. ‘You think it might be responsible for all this?’
    Magnus could almost see Erika latching on to Árni’s conspiracy theory. ‘No. Not unless you were about to publish something explosive. It’s just you mentioned
fraternities in US universities.’
    Erika shook her head. ‘Nothing on the Skull and Bones, more’s the pity.’
    ‘One last thing. We got an artist to do an impression of the guy who attacked you on Wednesday.’ He took it out of his jacket pocket. ‘What do you think?’
    Erika. ‘It’s a good likeness. Very good. You know . . .’
    ‘What?’
    ‘He reminds me of someone.’
    ‘Who?’
    Erika stared at the picture and shook her head. ‘No. No, I can’t think. I’m imagining it.’
    ‘Are you sure? If you do get some inspiration, let me know.’
    ‘I will. But, as I say, I’m pretty sure I’m imagining it. Have you found him yet?’
    ‘Not yet,’ Magnus replied.
    ‘Well, I wish you would hurry up,’ said Erika. ‘Before anyone else gets killed.’
    Franz confirmed Erika’s story about who was in the house at what times the previous evening.
    ‘You went out with Ásta yesterday morning, didn’t you?’ Magnus said.
    ‘Yeah. We went to the little store around the corner. What’s it called, Krambud?’
    ‘Krambúd,’ Magnus said, giving it the correct Icelandic pronunciation.
    ‘Yeah, Krambúd. Bought groceries for the house; there was too much for her to carry by herself.’
    ‘How did she seem?’
    ‘Thoughtful. Wrapped up in herself, you know?’ Franz said. ‘I mean, I wasn’t really surprised. There’s a lot of tension in the house and Nico did die four days
ago.’
    ‘What did she talk about?’
    ‘I tried to make conversation. We spoke about the editing I was doing. The volcano. She had seen more of the news on that than I had.’
    ‘Did you see anything strange? Anyone strange?’
    Franz shook his head.
    ‘And you’ve no idea why she was preoccupied?’
    Franz hesitated. Magnus waited.
    ‘Might have something to do with Zivah,’ Franz said. ‘They came down the stairs together just before we went shopping. I think Zivah had been crying.’
    Zivah was crying still. In fact she was almost hysterical.
    ‘Ásta was such a good woman,’ Zivah sobbed. ‘I can’t believe they killed her. They’ll kill all of us. I know they will.’
    ‘We’ll find them,’ Magnus said. ‘Just stay indoors here and you’ll be safe.’
    ‘Have you any idea who is doing this?’ Zivah asked.
    ‘We have a few ideas,’ Magnus said. ‘Do you?’
    ‘I think it’s the Israelis. Mossad. Ásta said I was wrong, but I’m pretty sure I’m right. I’ve got to get out of here.’
    ‘Ásta said you were wrong?’
    ‘Yes,’ Zivah said. ‘I told her how scared I was of them and she told me not to be. She said she knew it wasn’t the Israelis.’
    ‘She knew ?’ Magnus repeated.
    ‘Yes,’ said Zivah. ‘She sounded positive. Like it wasn’t just speculation.’
    ‘Did she give you any idea who she thought was responsible?’
    Zivah shook her head. Magnus questioned her for a few more minutes and then checked with Árni. Dúddi and Dieter had had nothing much more to add.
    It was clear to Magnus that Ásta knew something, something that had suggested to her who was trying to stop Freeflow.
    But what?
    Magnus and Árni left the house and checked with Gudmundur in the police car outside.
    ‘Your friend is here,’ the constable said, nodding