Page 96 of Tell Me What You Want, Or Leave Me

“He’s the man who was living with Hannah and Flyn when—”

“Oh, I do know him! Yes, a few months ago, I was walking Susto when I saw a man whose car wasn’t working,” I explained. “I took a look at it, and the trouble turned out to be a fuse. I changed it for him. Eric showed up, and it got really tense. When the guy left, Eric told me it was Leonard Guztle, Hannah’s boyfriend, who didn’t want anything to do with Flyn after she died. Same guy, right?”

Björn nods.

“Well, now that you know what Eric thinks of that imbecile, what would you say if I told you I spied Laila with him in Eric’s car just one week after Hannah’s death?”

I’m stunned.

“So, I saw an antique Mercedes of Eric’s parked in my building’s garage. Imagine my surprise when I find those two fucking like rabbits in the backseat. Hannah had just died and—”

“Mother of God, if Eric ever finds out...”

“Exactly. If Eric ever finds out! But he didn’t. I made sure he didn’t have to swallow that bitter pill. And I told that idiot girl to get away from Eric, or I’d tell him the truth.”

“Thanks, Björn,” I say. I’m grateful he’s told me this. “But why were they in your parking garage?”

“After Hannah died, Leonard rented an apartment in my building. For me the real problem is that that brainless twit told her aunt and uncle her dress got torn because I’d made a pass at her.”

“What?”

“Yes, my friend, you heard right. But Simona is very clever. She asked me about it, and I set her straight.”

I blink. I can’t believe this. What a little bitch, that Laila!

“Lucky for me and not so much for Laila, there are security cameras in my building, and I was able to show Simona and Norbert the tapes. They confirmed she was with Leonard, and he ripped her dress. After that, Laila went off to London to live with her mother.”

I’m speechless.

I look over at Laila. She looks back, and I imagine she knows what Björn is telling me. I foresee trouble with that one.

“Therefore, my very dear Jude, the greater the distance between that woman and us, the better. She’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

Laila’s staring at us.

She’s not dancing anymore. She talks to the poodle, and the two seem to come to an understanding. Suddenly, I have a terrible notion.

“You said you have security cameras at your place?”

“Yes.”

My face must have given me away. He knows what I’m thinking.

“Don’t worry; when you and Eric visit, I turn them off,” he says.

“Promise?”

He nods.

“Of course. Don’t ever doubt my friendship. I value you both too much.”

Marta comes over and leans on Björn.

“So, this is where this delicious piece of candy has been hanging out, mmm!”

Björn puts his hands around her waist. “Hello, beautiful. You’re having quite a good time tonight. Where’s Arthur?”

“Working,” she says.

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