Page 41 of Hidden in Memories
“We’d like to hear more about your involvement in the company behind the Storlien project. When we spoke before, it sounded as if you were a pretty reluctant investor, and we’re not exactly talking about small sums of money. Why did you really agree to be a partner?”
“As I said, it wasn’t easy to say no to Charlotte.”
“I find it difficult to believe that an experienced businessman like you would invest millions just because you can’t say no to a woman,” Hanna says. Her tone is challenging, and there is a flash of irritation in Henry’s eyes—but it disappears instantly.
“Sometimes we do things for ... old times’ sake.”
“Oh, please—I don’t believe that. Did she have some kind of hold over you?”
Daniel studies Henry’s reaction. Hanna doesn’t pull her punches; she has a particular ability to find the weak point in the person she is questioning. She knows when to play nice, and when it’s worth taking a tougher approach.
However, this question is borderline. Even if Charlotte did have something over her business partner, or was exercising some kind of blackmail, there is no reason for him to admit it now. Not when Charlotte is dead.
Henry looks somewhat taken aback. “Now you’re just guessing,” he says eventually.
“Look at it this way,” Hanna explains. “If you cooperate with the police, we can eliminate you from our inquiry. If we understand why you were on board, why you invested so much money, and that there was no element of blackmail involved, then we can dismiss the theory that you had a motive for getting rid of your partner.”
“You don’t pussyfoot around, do you?” Henry gives Hanna a look that is hard to interpret, and takes another sip of his espresso. His voice hardens as he continues. “If any of my employees spoke to me like that in the office, they would be out on their ear—just so you know.”
“But we’re not in your office.”
Hanna refuses to give way, which makes Daniel a little tense. She knows from past experience that her persistence can have consequences. It has often been very useful in her work as a police officer, but sometimes it has led to catastrophic results.
Once, she almost died.
It doesn’t seem to matter. Hanna is like a terrier that sinks its teeth in and refuses to let go. Maybe there is something about her personality that appeals to Henry, because his expression softens, almost as if he recognizes himself in her.
Or as if he is charmed by her.
Daniel suddenly sees his colleague from Henry’s perspective. Her expressive brown eyes capture the attention. That curious gaze, which can switch between empathy and intellectual analysis in a second, is hard to resist. She has the ability to captivate those around her, and her laugh is infectious when she allows it to come out.
At the beginning of their working relationship, she rarely laughed, but over the past year, she has settled into the job. When she secured a permanent post and a place to live, it was as if her sense of security came back.
Henry puts down his cup, and the sound makes Daniel realize how long he has been lost in thought. However, Henry is fully focused on Hanna. Daniel might as well be on another planet.
“Speaking purely hypothetically,” Henry says, stroking his chin, “if we accept that Charlotte was in fact blackmailing me in order to make me go along with the project, what would the basis for that blackmail be? Do you have a theory?”
Hanna meets his gaze with a smile. In another context Daniel would have called it inviting. He doesn’t like it, but Hanna can use whatever tactics she wants. It’s none of his business as long as she gets the information that will help them move forward.
“I can think of plenty of possibilities,” she replies.
“Name one.”
“Tax evasion?”
Henry laughs. “No chance—I pay far too many conscientious accountants and lawyers to go down for tax-related offenses.”
“How about intimate relationships? For money, maybe?”
“At my age? Don’t insult me. Do I look as if I need to pay for company?”
He sounds more amused than annoyed—in fact he almost seems to be enjoying the cut and thrust. Daniel gets the feeling that something is playing out right in front of him, something he doesn’t really understand, as if he is watching a color movie being shown in black and white.
The action is clear, but the nuances are lost.
It’s frustrating; why can’t Henry Sylvester just get to the point? If he has important information to contribute, he needs to talk.
“What about mutual favors?” Hanna continues. “Did Charlotte have something you wanted, and vice versa?”
