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Wallander's mind went back to that snowy night when the short-sighted little major was sitting on his sofa. "I'm a religious man," he had said. "I don't believe in a particular God, but even so one can still have a faith."
"And then?"
"I still hadn't met Karlis then, but I think he went through a serious crisis. Maybe he thought of resigning from the police. As a matter of fact, I believe it was me who convinced him he should continue in his job."
"How did you meet?"
She looked at him in surprise. "Does that matter?"
"It might. I don't know. All I do know is I have to keep asking questions if I'm going to be able to help you."
"How do people meet?" she said with a sad smile. "Through friends. I'd heard about this young police officer who wasn't like the others. He didn't look much, but I fell in love with him the first time I saw him."
"So you got married? He kept on working?"
"He was a captain when we met, but he was promoted unusually quickly. Every time he took another step up the ladder, he would come home and say that another invisible little funeral wreath had been hung on his shoulder straps. He continued to try to find proof of a link between the leading politicians of our country, the police, and various gangs. He had made up his mind to pin down all the contacts, and he once talked about a secret government department here in Latvia whose only purpose was to coordinate contacts between the underworld and the politicians and police officers involved. About a year ago I heard him use the word 'conspiracy***for the first time. You mustn't forget that he had the feeling then that he was in step with the times: perestroika in Moscow had spread as far as Latvia, and we'd begun to meet more often and to discuss more openly what needed to be done in our country."
"Was his boss still Amtmanis?"
"Amtmanis had died. Murniers and Putnis had become his immediate superiors. He distrusted both of them, and had the definite feeling that one of them was involved in, and possibly even the leader of the conspiracy he was trying to penetrate. He said there was a 'condor' and a 'lapwing' in the police force, but he didn't know which was which."
"A condor and a lapwing?"
"The condor is a vulture, but the lapwing is an i
"But he didn't know which was which? I thought he had decided it was Colonel Murniers?"
"That was much later, about ten months ago. Karlis was on the trail of a huge drug-trafficking ring. He said it was a devilish plan that would be able to kill us twice."
"What did he mean by that?"
"I don't know." She stood up quickly, as if she were suddenly scared of going any further. "I can offer you a cup of tea," she said. "I'm afraid I don't have any coffee."
"I'd love a cup of tea," Wallander said.
She disappeared to the kitchen and Wallander tried to decide the most important questions to ask next. He was sure that she was being honest with him, but he still didn't know what she and Upitis thought he could do to help them. He doubted he'd be able to fulfil the expectations they had of him. I'm just a simple police officer from Ystad, he thought. What you people need is a man like Rydberg – but he's dead, like the major. He can't help you.
She came back with a teapot and cups on a tray. There must be somebody else in the flat, he thought – the water couldn't possibly have boiled as quickly as that. Wherever I go there's a hidden guard keeping watch on me, and I understand very little of what's really going on.
He could see she was tired.
"How long can we go on?" he asked.
"Not much longer. My house is bound to be under observation -1 can't stay away too long, but we can continue here tomorrow night."
"I'm invited to Colonel Putnis's then."
"I understand. What about the following night?"
He nodded, took a sip of tea (which was weak), and continued putting his questions. "You must have wondered what Karlis meant by the drug-smuggling ring killing twice," he said. "You must have discussed it with Upitis, surely?"
"Karlis once said that you can use anything at all for blackmail purposes," she answered. "When I asked what he meant by that, he said it was something one of the colonels had told him. Why I remember that particular detail, I have no idea. Maybe because Karlis was very quiet and withdrawn at the time.
"Blackmail?"
"That was the word he used." "Who was going to be blackmailed?" "Latvia."
"Did he really say that? A whole country could be subjected to blackmail?" "Yes. If I weren't certain, I wouldn't say it." "Which of the colonels had used the word 'blackmail'?" "I think it was Murniers, but I'm not sure." "What did Karlis think of Colonel Putnis?" "He said Putnis wasn't among the worst." "What did he mean by that?"
"He observed the law. He didn't take bribes from just anyone."
"But he did take bribes?" "They all do." "Not Karlis, though?" "Never. He was different."
Wallander could see she was starting to get restless. The rest of his questions would have to wait.
"Baiba," he said – and that was the first time he used her first name – "I want you to think over everything you've told me this evening. The day after tomorrow I might ask you the same questions again."
"Yes," she said. "All I do is think."
For a moment he thought she was going to cry, but she regained her self-control and got to her feet. She drew a curtain hanging on one wall back to reveal a door, which she opened. A young woman entered, smiled and began to clear away the tea things.
"This is Inese," Baiba Liepa told him. "You've been to visit her this evening. That's your explanation if you're asked. You met her in the nightclub at the Latvia Hotel, and she's become your lover. You don't know exactly where she lives, only that it's on the other side of the bridge. You don't know her second name as she's only your lover for the few days you're in Riga. You think she's a filing clerk."
Wallander listened open-mouthed. Baiba Liepa said something in Latvian, and Inese struck a pose for him.
"Remember her face," Baiba Liepa said. She'll be collecting you the day after tomorrow. Go to the nightclub after 8 p.m., and you'll find her there."
"What's your own alibi?"
"I went to an organ concert, then visited my brother." "Your brother?"
"He was the one driving the car."
"Why did you put a hood over my head when I went to meet Upitis?"
"His judgement is better than mine – we didn't then know if we could trust you."
"What do you really think I can do to help?"
"See you the day after tomorrow," she said evasively. "We have no time to lose."
The car was at the gate. She didn't say a word during the drive back to the city centre. Wallander suspected she was crying. When they dropped him not far from the hotel, she shook his hand. She muttered something in
Latvian, and Wallander scrambled out of the car, which disappeared in a flash. He was hungry, but even so he went straight up to his room. He poured himself a glass of whisky then lay down on the bed, under the cover. He could think only of Baiba Liepa.
It was after 2 a.m. before he undressed and got into bed. In his dreams, someone was lying at his side. It wasn't his "lover" Inese, but somebody else, someone the colonels directing his dreams never allowed him to see.
Sergeant Zids collected him the next morning at exactly 8 a.m. At 8.30 a.m. Colonel Murniers called in at his office.
"We think we've found Major Liepa's murderer," he said.
Wallander looked at him in astonishment.
"You mean the man Colonel Putnis has been interrogating these last couple of days?"
"No, not him. He's no doubt a slimy criminal who's also involved in some way or other – but we've got another man. Come and see!"