She came to because someone was kicking her in the ribs, not violently but hard enough to wake her. Thomas was standing next to her, wearing nothing except a pair of underpants. She took in the scene in one second flat. He was drunk and he was holding a wad of notes in his hand, approximately twenty-nine thousand kronor.
Instinctively she put her hand to her neck, but where the money should have been was only her skin. In fact, she was naked. He was grinning menacingly at her, waving the purse in his other hand.
‘You’d be looking for this, right?’
Her mouth felt like a sandpit. It was years since she’d drunk hard liquor. She couldn’t actually remember drinking a lot, but the bottle on the table was empty.
‘You cunt! Sending me off to the post office to get you more dosh! And snivelling because you can’t manage, dear oh dear!’
She tried to think. Meanwhile she was too slow reaching out for her bra. A flick with his foot and it flew across the room. She covered herself with the flap of the sleeping-bag.
‘Please listen, Thomas …’
He twisted his face into a grimace and spoke in a piping voice.
‘Please, Thomas.’
His eyes had narrowed into slits.
‘What got into you, fucking around with me like that? I was running a bloody big risk, the police could’ve got me for aiding-and-abetting or some shit. Meanwhile you’ve a sodding fortune up your jumper!’
He was scrunching the notes in his hand.
‘I’ve been saving that for years.’
‘Oh yeah. And?’
She was almost whispering now.
‘For a house.’
At first he just stared at her, then leaned back, laughing. The movement almost unbalanced him and he had to reach out for the ladder. This sudden weakness angered him even more.
Before he had time to speak, she folded back the sleeping bag flap. Then she spoke as sweetly as she knew how.
‘Thomas. Let’s not fight. I was going to show you the money anyway.’
He was still holding onto the ladder. She felt nauseous.
‘Thomas, I came here because I’ve been missing you.’
His eyes were glued to her breasts. She felt his gaze touching her like hands and she had to steel herself not to shudder. He dropped her purse on the floor. She tried to keep smiling. Next he scattered her hopes for the future with one careless movement, the notes floating slowly towards the filthy floor.
The next second he had come down on her. She prayed that he would be quick.