htbadnewswhichhadupsethismother.HarrietexchangedafewwordswithJeffandthensenthimaway.Shesatdownagainandseemedtohavemadeadecision.
“Nomorelies.Iaeptthatit’sallover.InsomesenseI’vebeenwaitingforthisdaysince1966.ForyearsIwasterrifiedthatsomeonemighteuptomeandsaymyname.Butyouknowwhat?AllofasuddenIdon’tcareanymore.Mycrimefallsoutsidethestatuteoflimitations.AndIdon’tgiveashitwhatpeoplethinkaboutme.”
“Crime?”saidMikael.
Shegavehimanurgentlook,buthestilldidn’tunderstandwhatshewastalkingabout.
“Iwassixteen.Iwasscared.Iwasashamed.Iwasdesperate.Iwasallalone.TheonlyoneswhoknewthetruthwereAnitaandMartin.IhadtoldAnitaaboutthesexualassaults,butIdidn’thavethecouragetotellherthatmyfatherwasalsoaninsanekillerofwomen.Anitahadneverknownaboutthat.ButIdidtellheraboutthecrimethatImittedmyself.Itwassohorriblethatwhenitcamedowntoit,Ididn’tdaretellHenrik.IprayedtoGodtofiveme.AndIhidinsideaconventforseveralyears.”
“Harriet,yourfatherwasarapistandamurderer.Itwasn’tyourfault.”
“Iknowthat.Myfathermolestedmeforayear.Idideverythingtoavoid…buthewasmyfatherandIcouldn’trefusetohaveanythingtodowithhimwithoutgivinghimsomeexplanation.SoIliedandplayedaroleandtriedtopretendthateverythingwasOK.AndImadesurethatsomeoneelsewasalwaysaroundwhenIsawhim.Mymotherknewwhathewasdoing,ofcourse,butshedidn’tcare.”
“Isabellaknew?”
Harriet’svoicetookonanewharshness.
“Ofcoursesheknew.NothingeverhappenedinourfamilywithoutIsabellaknowing.Butsheignoredeverythingthatwasunpleasantorshowedherinabadlight.Myfathercouldhaverapedmeinthemiddleofthelivingroomrightbeforehereyesandshewouldn’thavenoticed.Shewasincapableofacknowledgingthatanythingwaswronginherlifeormine.”
“I’vemether.She’snotmyfavouriteinthefamily.”
“She’sbeenlikethatherwholelife.I’veoftenwonderedaboutmyparents’relationship.IrealisedthattheyrarelyormaybeneverhadsexwitheachotherafterIwasborn.Myfatherhadwomen,butforsomestrangereasonhewasafraidofIsabella.Hestayedawayfromher,buthecouldn’tgetadivorce.”