The Dinosaur Feather

also from Århus, took careful notes. Anna wore Helland’s necklace. The questions rained down over her and, at some point, Dr Tybjerg handed her a box of bones and asked her to account for the evolution of the bird hand compared to the evolution of other pentadactyle hands. Anna answered and looked Dr Tybjerg straight in the eye. Karen had left the hall to collect Lily. For God’s sake, it had to be over soon! Suddenly, the door opened and the World’s Most Irritating Detective entered. He looked fraught and tried not to draw attention to himself. He failed. When he missed a step and stumbled, everyone turned to glare at him. Christ, he was irritating. Anna flushed hot all over and smiled at him.
    Dr Tybjerg said, ‘Congratulations.’
    And, at last, Anna was a biologist.

THE AUTHOR WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING:
     
    Anders Lund, Jens T. Høeg, Åse Jespersen, Jørn Andreassen, Christian Baron, Peter Makovicky and Paul McNeice for reading the script and for their professional comments. Thank you also to Jørgen Lützen, Per Christiansen, Peter Holter, Henrik Glenner, Kristine Johanne Kurstein Sørensen and Margrethe Noýe-Sneding for inspiration. Special thanks to Detective Sergeant Uffe Jensen of the East Jylland Police’s Criminal Investigation Department for patiently explaining his profession and his work to me (I take full responsibility for any errors and artistic licence). Thank you to Janne Hejgaard, Paul Gazan, Trine Rosenkjær and Sophie Sanwald for being there for Lola while I wrote – I love you! Thank you to Trine Pallesen, Katrine Kjær, Mette Holbæk, Tina Felton, Eva Myers, Ditte Rode, Eva Kruse, Hanne Palmquist, Malou von Simson, Lisbeth Sandberg, Julie Michelsen, Lotte Garbers, Stine Hesager Lema and Christine Elverdal for your courage under fire. Thank you to my editor, Lene Wissing, for an exceptionally fine collaboration. Last, but not least, thank you to Ea-Viola Gazan. You are the love of my life and this book is for you.