Frozen Assets

‘They probably won’t announce it until after the weekend, but just wait and see. Everyone knows something big’s about to happen after the currency’s been on the slide for months. It’s only a few of us know what’s really happening.’

‘And this affects ESC?’

‘Of course it does!’ Jón Oddur yelped. ‘It affects every business in the country! But ESC is due to be financed for the big phase of the Hvalvík Lagoon project by the bank, and some of us know that the bank doesn’t have anything left to lend.’

Gunna drew a deep breath. ‘Well, young man. I hope you’re wrong.’

‘So do I. But this isn’t just happening in Iceland. This is all over the world. I tell you, Iceland is looking at unemployment and inflation, big time,’ he added gloomily.

‘In that case, I’m sure that the police force will be able to fill a few vacancies,’ Gunna said tartly, shocked at Jón Oddur’s prediction and forcing herself to keep her mind on the job. ‘Now, the awards night.’

Jón Oddur deflated and slumped in the chair. ‘OK. There were half a dozen of us from here went to the ceremony. We booked rooms at the hotel and there was a party afterwards in Sigurjóna’s suite.’

‘Who attended?’

‘Er, me, Sigurjóna. Ósk was there but she left early. Sigurjóna’s sister was there as well and a few other guests,’ he gabbled as Bára scribbled down names in her folder.

‘And the one you haven’t mentioned?’ Gunna said gently.

Jón Oddur was suddenly on the defensive. ‘Who’s that?’

‘This guy.’

Gunna placed the printout of the pages from Hot Chat on the table. Jón Oddur looked up and then down again in surprise at seeing the photo of himself.

‘Oh, him. Yeah, he was there as well. Sigurjóna invited him. This is. . where did you get it from?’

‘You didn’t mention him. Why?’ Gunna demanded, ignoring Jón Oddur’s question.

‘I don’t know. Just forgot. We don’t normally have anything to do with him anyway.’

‘Tell me about this man. Do you know where he lives?’ Gunna probed.

‘No. We don’t know anything about him, really. I know he’s one of the InterAlu people but he reports direct to the boss.’

‘Hverfisgata? Above Sindra Foto?’

‘Oh. That place. Look, I pay the guy every month and he keeps the flat free for whoever we need to put in there. I suppose Sigurjóna must have told him to stay there,’ he said quickly.

‘I don’t believe you. I think you knew very well that he was staying there. What happened at this ceremony? Where did he go afterwards?’

‘Why? What’s he wanted for?’

‘Can’t discuss it. All I can say is that it’s a major investigation.’

‘I’m not sure where he went. Erna was all over him and I think they disappeared about the same time. They were both there at the awards but I don’t remember seeing either of them at the party in the suite upstairs.’

‘What time did the party begin?’

Jón Oddur hung his head and twisted his fingers in circles. ‘I don’t know. I was quite wrecked, just like everyone else there. Two, maybe. Something like that. Look, haven’t I told you enough yet?’

‘Not until you’ve told us everything,’ Gunna said sharply.

Jón Oddur rested the back of his head in his hands as he looked up at the ceiling. ‘All right. The awards were OK, just what everyone expected. Sigurjóna got her award, made a speech, blah, blah, got her glass thing and that was that. More awards, lots of speeches. So, by midnight everyone’s pretty fucked up. Sigurjóna dropped her glass award and she was furious, accused me and then Ósk of breaking it. Anyway, it calmed down and there was some crappy seventies band on that only the old people wanted to dance to. Then we all went up to the suite and we had a little party there, about ten people, something like that. It’s a bit hazy,’ he admitted with a nervous smile.

‘All people from Spearpoint?’

‘Yeah. No, well, mostly I think. There were some women there I didn’t recognize. Foreign. And there were quite a few people who came and went.’

‘Then what?’

‘Hell, I don’t know. I woke up in my room at about six in the morning next to Sigurjóna. I still had my tux on. She’d lost her dress somewhere, though. I don’t remember anything between the party and waking up. That’s it. Then you banging on the door’s the next thing I knew.’

Gunna tapped the picture on the table in front of her. ‘When was the last time you saw him?’

Jón Oddur’s brow furrowed as he fought to remember. ‘It’s all really hazy, y’know. I reckon at the end of the dance in the ballroom. The last I saw of him was at the table, I suppose. I don’t think he drinks. But Erna can really put it away and she’d draped herself all over the poor guy.’

‘Are you saying that they might have left together?’

‘Could have. Don’t know.’

‘All right, Jón Oddur. That’ll do. Now, where’s Sigurjóna today?’

Jón Oddur shrugged. ‘She’s not here today, which is fine with all of us. We get a lot more work done when she’s out of the office.’ ‘So she’s where?’ ‘No idea. At home, maybe? Ósk always knows where she is.’

‘Where’s Sigurjóna?’ Gunna growled.