The Dinosaur Feather

argument to be able to examine her. How about Johan Fjeldberg? Professor Fjeldberg was a highly respected ornithologist at the Natural History Museum and she knew that he had worked with Dr Tybjerg before. When she met with Dr Tybjerg, she would make him promise that her viva would go ahead.
    There were fewer unfamiliar cars in front of Building 12 now. The door to Professor Helland’s office had been sealed. Professor Ewald and Professor Jørgensen had yet to return and the whole department felt strangely deserted. Anna shuddered and quickened her pace. She stopped just as she reached the door to her study. It was ajar and she could hear there was someone inside. A cough was followed by the sound of an office chair rolling across the floor. Anna’s heart started to pound. She was convinced she had locked the door when they left. She heard another small cough, then two footsteps, before the door was opened fully.
    ‘Shit, you scared me!’ Anna practically shouted. ‘How did you get back here so fast?’
    Johannes held his head in his hands.
    ‘Christ,’ he said, heaving a sigh of relief. ‘I didn’t even hear you. My interview didn’t take long, so I waited for you, but when you didn’t show, I left.’
    Anna gave him a quick hug and sat down in her chair. An echoing silence ensued, then she said, ‘What the hell’s going on? Was Helland murdered?’
    Johannes looked upset.
    ‘I don’t know what to think,’ he said, rubbing his eyes. ‘It’s unreal. Besides, I only got two hours’ sleep last night, which makes it difficult to think clearly. How about you?’
    ‘I don’t care,’ she said.
    Johannes was shocked.
    ‘I don’t believe you.’
    ‘But that’s how I feel,’ she mumbled. She turned halfway in her chair and gave Johannes a lost look. ‘I feel completely indifferent to his death.’ She turned her attention to her screenand started checking her e-mails. Johannes carried on looking at her as though he wanted to say something. An e-mail had arrived from Cecilie, attaching a new photo of Lily. Had Cecilie already picked her up from the nursery? The mail had been sent at 2 p.m., which could only mean Cecilie had collected Lily after lunch, even though Anna had asked her several times not to pick up Lily until after three so she wouldn’t miss out on the nap. Anna stared at the photo. Lily was wearing a new dress, and her hair looked somewhat different. Had Cecilie given her a haircut? Anna tried to work out if the photo was misleading her or whether Cecilie really had snipped off Lily’s baby curls. Johannes was still looking at her.
    ‘Why didn’t you get any sleep last night?’ she asked, without taking her eyes off the screen. Lily’s eyes shone as if she couldn’t be happier anywhere but where she was right now. In Granny’s bed with all the picture books Granny had borrowed for her from the library.
    Johannes was exhausted; he buried his face in his hands again. The movement made Anna turn around.
    ‘It’s a long story. I met someone at the Red Mask a few weeks ago,’ he said, ‘and we hit it off. No, not in that way or, at least, not as far as I was concerned. And now I’m dealing with a stalker. I haven’t experienced anything like this, ever. E-mails, phone calls in the middle of the night . . .’ He smiled, embarrassed. ‘Anna,’ he added, interrupting himself. He swallowed. ‘I feel really bad . . .’
    ‘But if you’re not in love, then that’s it. You’ll just have to be honest and—’
    ‘No,’ Johannes stopped her. ‘I feel really bad because I . . .’ he looked anguished. ‘I accidentally told the detective that . . . I don’t know why, but I accidentally told him—’
    At that moment Anna’s mobile rang. She rummaged through her bag, but by the time she found it, it had switched to answer. It was Tybjerg’s number, but he left no message. Anna briefly wondered whether he was calling because he had just heard the news. She tossed her mobile on the desk and turned her attention back to Johannes.
    ‘I’m sorry, what did you say?’
    Johannes looked remorseful.
    ‘I told the detective what you said last spring,’ he said, at last. Anna was puzzled.
    ‘What did I say last spring?’
    ‘That you wanted to play pranks on Helland. I told the police that you didn’t like Helland all that much,’ Johannes sighed.
    Anna stared at him.
    ‘But why?’ she said.
    Johannes shrugged.
    ‘Because I’m an idiot. I’m sorry. I know you’re not