“I’ll decide what’s relevant. I think this ishighlyrelevant. Answer the question, Mr Rider.”
“Ben, say nothing. We’re not answering any more questions. Arrest Mr Rider if you have any evidence. If not, we’re leaving.”
“Detective Inspector Ulf ending the interview at three ten p.m. Thank you, Mr, Rider, that will be all. Please don’t leave Aeroe.”
Ben rode with LaCour back to Ingrid’s. He just sat, staring out at the passing, frozen landscape. He felt as if he’d been in an accident and someone should be rushing up to check his vital signs. No one was though. As soon as he got into the house, he went to his room and took a shower. He felt filthy.
Did he live off older men’s money?
Was he paid for sex?
He could actually see this succession of older men—Christian Beck, Nikolas Mikkelsen, Aleksey Mikkelsen, Aleksey Primakov—he punched the shower wall and bloodied his knuckles—then panicked. What if the police saw this now? He tried to calm down. He came out and stared at himself in the mirror. He’d never hated his own reflection before. He did now.
§ § §
When Kate and Squeezy returned from the port, they stood and stared at Ben until Ingrid bustled them away for coffee, whispering, “Let him be. He had a hard time with the police.”
Ben had shaved his hair off down to a buzz over his hard, tanned skull, and he hadn’t done it very well. He’d scraped his scalp, hacked it, and it was bleeding. Gone was the designer stubble. He was lean and starved and bitter looking. No more relaxed and much-loved pretty boy.
This was war and Ben Rider was ready for battle.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Nikolas had another bad day. He wished he’d never complained about purposelessness to Ben. He was chained. That was it. He had nothing to do but think about the pain in his shoulders and wrists, his splitting headache from the concussion, the cold—and attempt to plan an escape. That last didn’t take him long because unless he could make some headway with Anna, this wasn’t going to happen. He was so cold and so bored when she finally made another appearance he almost meant what he greeted her with.Almost.“Anna, you came back. Thank you, thank God.”
“I’m not going to justleaveyou. Don’t be silly. Even though that’s exactly what you deserve.”
“Yes, I know, I’m really sorry. But it’s hard to be here—to have you see me like this.”
Anna set down a thermos and some wrapped sandwiches on the table. She’d clearly not thought through how he was going to use the thermos or how she was going to feed him the sandwiches safely. She hesitated, looking at him, and he continued his campaign. “Anna, can you stay for a while? Just sit and talk to me. Please.”
“If you’re rude again, I’ll just go.”
“I’m so sorry, Anna. I don’t want to be rude to you. I don’t want that at all. That’s what we were arguing about, you know—when you saw us. I told Ben I thought you were beautiful. I was so jealous of him, Anna.”
She put a hand up and tucked her hair nervously behind her ear. “That’s just silly. I must look awful. It’s very cold out.”
“It’s very cold in here, Anna, and I’m naked. Perhaps you could bring me some clothes next time you come. You could choose them for me. Something nice? I know you’d choose really well.”
“I don’t know…” She looked around as if admiring the décor then tentatively pushed the plate of sandwiches over to him. She frowned when he didn’t try to eat them.
“I can’t eat when you’re here, Anna. It would embarrass me for you to see me like that. I like you too much.”
“Oh, well…” She got up and walked around him to the back, looking at her handiwork. “I would’ve chained you in the front, but I didn’t think. This is how the police always handcuff people, isn’t it? If I’d planned it, I could’ve…I was so tired, dragging you, and then the boat, and it was so cold.”
“You did really well, Anna. Honestly. You did a really good job and kept Ben safe. Why don’t you unchain me, Anna, and we can keep Ben safe together?”
She drifted off toward the shelves then back to the table, twisting her fingers together, playing with her hair. Nikolas watched her like a hawk watching prey.
“I think they’ll find you soon.”
“Well, that’s good, Anna, no? You didn’t plan this, and you’ve looked after me really well. You’ve kept me safe, too. You’venothingto be afraid of when they find me. Why don’t you just tell them where I am? We can wait here together for them, then. We could enjoy your sandwiches and drink some coffee together. I’ll tell you some stories about Ben. Would you like to hear some stories about Ben, Anna? While we wait? Just tell—”
“Shut up!You’re lying, trying to trick me. I don’t know what to do.” She began to pace, still wringing her hands, walking to and fro then around Nikolas, then from one wall to another as if she were just as trapped as he. “Youmademe do this.” She came closer, almost shaking her fist. He stopped watching her and bowed his head, meekly kneeling.
“Anna, listen—”
“Stop staying Anna like that!Stop it! It’s allyourfault. If you hadn’t hurt him, I could’ve—But Ihadto get you away. I didn’t know what to do with you! What am I going to do with you? Youmademe do this!” Suddenly, she was by the shelving unit. She picked up a hockey stick and came back, swinging it wildly. Nikolas was too cold and too stiff to move quickly enough to avoid it. It hit him full in the face and broke his nose. It flung him back, and the chains yanked his shoulders, almost dislocating them. He cried out, the blood pouring back into his throat, making him choke and spit. She came in again, hitting him hard on the side of his head. He felt himself greying out but fought it and got to his knees and then his feet.
