We don't even have a concrete theory to work with. We have so little to go on, in fact, that we're practically reduced to speculation. For instance, Annie might have come across some kind of sensitive information, perhaps quite by accident, and was murdered to ensure her silence. The information would have to have been extremely compromising, since it led to her death. She was naked but untouched, which might mean that the murderer wanted to steer us towards a sexual theory, possibly to divert attention from the real motive. That's why," he concluded, "we're interested in Annie's past."
He stopped and scratched the back of his hand, where he had a red, scaly patch as big as a 20-krone coin.
"You're one of the people who knew her best. And I'm sure you've had a thousand thoughts about this. I have to ask you again whether there was anything in Annie's past – experiences, acquaintances, opinions, impressions, anything at all – that surprised you. Don't limit yourself to a specific line of thought, just think about whether anything troubled you. Look for the smallest detail, even if it seems silly. A reaction you hadn't expected. Comments, hints, facts that have stayed with you. Annie had undergone a change in behaviour. I had the impression that it might have been due to something more than just puberty. Can you confirm that?"
"Ada says—"
"But what do you say?" Sejer held his gaze. "She rejected Halvor, quit the handball team, and then withdrew into herself. Did something happen at that time, something out of the ordinary?"
"Have you talked to Jensvoll?"
"Yes, we have."
"Well, I heard some rumours, but maybe they're not true. Rumours spread fast around here," he said, a little embarrassed, his cheeks slightly flushed.
"What are you getting at?"
"Just something that Annie mentioned. That he was once in prison. A long time ago. I don't know why."
"Did Annie know?"
"So he was in prison?"
"That's correct, he was. But I didn't think anyone knew about it. We're checking everyone around Annie, to see whether they had an alibi. We've talked to more than 300 people, but unfortunately, no one is yet a suspect in the case."
"There's a man who lives up on Kolleveien," Holland said, "who's not all there. I've heard that he's tried things with girls around here."
"We've talked to him too," Sejer said patiently. "He was the one who found Annie."
"Yes, that's what I thought."
"He has an alibi."
"If it's reliable."
Sejer thought about Ragnhild and didn't tell Holland that his alibi was a six-year-old child.
"Why do you think she stopped baby-sitting?"
"I think she just grew out of it."
"But I understand that she really loved taking care of children. That's why I think it's a little strange."
"For years she did nothing else. First she'd do her homework and then she'd go outside to see if anyone on the block needed a ride in a pushchair. And if there was a fight going on, she'd calm everybody down. The poor child who threw the first stone would have to confess. Then he would be forgiven, and everything was fine again. She was good at mediating. She had authority, and everybody did what she said. Even the boys."
"A diplomatic personality, in other words?"
"Exactly. She liked to work things out. She couldn't stand unresolved conflicts. If there was something going on with Sølvi, for example, Annie would always find a solution for us. She was a kind of middleman. But in a way ..." he said, "she seemed to lose interest in that too. She didn't get involved in things the way she used to."
"When was this?"
"Sometime last autumn."
"What happened last autumn?"
"I've already told you. She didn't want to be part of the team any more, didn't want to be with other people the way she used to do."
"But why!"
"I don't know," he said in despair. "I'm telling you that I don't understand it."
"Try to look beyond yourself and your immediate family. Beyond Halvor and the team and the problems with Axel Bjørk. Did anything else happen in the village at that time? Anything that might not have been directly related to you?"
Holland threw out his hands. "Well, yes. Although it doesn't have anything to do with this. One of the children she baby-sat for died in a tragic accident. That didn't help matters. Annie didn't want to take part in anything after that. The only thing she thought about was putting on her trainers and running away from home and the street."