CHAPTER 6

As usual, no copyright infringements, all rights belong to authors and producers.

Henrik was admitted to the visiting room and Saga was already there, sat on a small table placed in front of the window.
He knew a hug was out of question, still he hoped for a contact.
Her skin was grey, no sun through the bars, no freedom, no good food, no Henrik cooking skills. Her hair were like straws, her eyes had no sparks.
Saga never used make up and still was handsome and beautiful for him.
He sat in silence for a while, too many questions running in his head, so he started with a neutral theme, a safe ground.
"I've gone to the support group. I started two weeks ago."
"Good."
"I have to tell Lilian, we talked, she wants me back."
"Will you?"
"I've nothing else to do now and I need to earn money."
She nodded. He'd insisted for the best layer in Malmo for the trial, offered to pay half of the fee using Alice's life insurance policy.
"You're good at police, Lilian knows."
"I wasn't able to help you."
Saga took a small piece of paper from her trousers pocket.
"A list of things and books I need."
Henrik scanned it briefly and nodded.
"Here is better than arrest. I can see you."
"I imagined. The inmates?"
"I don't interact with them."
"I'll return next week or you need these things sooner? I could hand the bag at the entrance."
"Next week."
He was her only door to the world outside and he was happy she wanted to see him again. He planned to visit every week, if he had the possibility.
Once Saga asked him if sex with her felt like cheating on Alice. It wasn't, he had always been faithful to Alice, until she vanished with the girls.
The same with Saga, he felt committed, although she was blunt in confirming their bond was beyond physical needs.
Henrik noticed her voice seemed forced, like she lost frequent use of it; he feared loneliness and anger were raging under Saga surface.
He knew the signs.
Silence.
Darting eyes.
Restlessness.
Rigid posture.
She was an open book, his book.
Seeing her again with no barriers after five months was painful for Henrik; having lost her job was destroying Saga, he could read her face.
Prison was rough for her, the minimal changes she achieved during the weeks they shared together were gone, she was back the Saga of the first day they met.
Except they were lovers, had been lovers.
Saga saw his concern, the wrinkles on his forehead made him appear older.
She wanted to see him smile, that little caring smile reserved for her only.
And she wanted him, she noticed the way he scanned the room and saw the bed.
"I signed you as a sex partner so we can have this room."
"Ok."
Sex partner was better than nothing, Henrik thought.
He wasn't prone to the idea to use the narrow bed, thinking somebody could see them from the camera survelliance, but it seemed the price to pay to touch Saga.
She was a little unsure, maybe Henrik had changed his mind or find another woman at the club.
She had too much free time to think about it, trying to figure out her reactions in sharing him.
Her logical brain had suggested physical gratification was merely mechanic and every man could provide it.
Her brain had been reduced to silence by the mere sight of Henrik. A raw basic emotion put aside her logic and the idea Henrik could have slept with another woman become a thorn in Saga heart.
She needed to know if he still desired her.
Courage never deserted her and she'd always been the leader in bed so she took a deep breath and asked.
"We have half an hour. Bed or talk?"
Henrik was fast in answering, his fears put aside: she needed him.
"Bed."
They disrobed quickly, too bright the room, too small the bed, too strong the urge they shared.
"It has been a long time, " He confessed, half smiling, "maybe I forgot how..."
He hadn't forgotten, nor how to do it neither how good it was with her.
Addicted to Saga, since their first time, drawn to her like she was to him, the longest relationship of her life.
He stored the act in his memory to review it later, at home in bed alone, when the desire would be difficult to cope without her real presence.

Linn used her credentials to see Saga in prison, so she could not refuse to meet her former boss. Saga kept her gaze on the wooden table they both were sat at.
"How are you?"
"Bad, I'm in prison."
"I know. Is there something you need?"
"Henrik thinks about everything."
"I'm glad. Can I help you anyhow?"
"No."
"Do they treat you well?"
"I stay away as much I can from inmate and guards."
"I see. You are police. Inmates often hate us. Be careful."
"I was police. I am innocent."
"Saga the evidence was against you, we all tried…"
Linn was lost for words and Saga did not helped her, her silence soon made Linn uncomfortable and she left.
Linn visit had awakened memories of Saga's former world, her former self and she retreated more in her loneliness.
Two days after she refused to see Henrik for the first time after a month.
Being denied a visit was painful for Henrik because he could only guess the true reason.
He left the bag of books, sudoku magazine, tampax, at the entrance and turned the car; later, his house seemed more solitary than ever.
Alice was gone and the girls' presence only a distant memory.
Having Saga around was the best way to cope with his loneliness, now Saga was simply another addiction to his list of missing people.
The support group triggered memories in his mind, flashbacks of Alice and the discussion they had before she went missing, when she asked him to spend more time at home for the girls and for her, telling that he was loosing contact with his family.
He had to do something, find a way to prove Saga was innocent so she could return to him: back at work he had more possibilities to help her.
The agent at the entrance desk informed Lilian that Henrik Sabroe asked to see her.
She gave admission and met Henrik halfway along the floor corridor. A brief hug, some small talk, two lonely souls sharing a common passion for justice.
They sat in Lilian's office.
"I'm glad you're here."
"I've started support group, since I was called to witness."
"That's really a good news."
"I have to do it. Not only for me."
"I know Henrik, I'm very sorry."
"Thanks Lilian, I have to decide about work, if your offer..."
"The offer is still valid. You know we need to be sure you're free, don't you?
"Yes, it's logical. I've been off since ..Alice was found."
Lilian nodded, remembering the dramatic night before Hans' burial.
"I've left open for you the option of family leave, we can schedule health tests and internal counselling. Are you ready?"
"Absolutely!"
"Welcome back, Henrik, welcome."
The tests confirmed no drug was found and the counsellor gave the green light.
Under a cloudy October sky Henrik Sabroe crossed again across the main entrance of his former office.
His old desk was waiting for him and he immersed without hesitation into the case Lilian assigned him.
Shorty before leaving in the afternoon he took off from his pocket a paper with some notes and read them carefully before making a call.
"John? It's Henrik. I've got something to ask you. It's important. I've made some theories about Marie Louise Noren and I'd like your help to verify them, see if we can set Saga free."