“Never really?”

“No, there were never any complaints about him. He wasn’t a bad worker really?

“Where’s the staff coffee room?” Erlendur asked.

“I’ll show you.” The hotel manager mopped his brow, relieved that they would not close the hotel.

“Did he have guests?” Erlendur asked.

“What?” the manager said.

“Guests,” Erlendur repeated. “It looks like someone who knew him was here, don’t you think?”

The manager looked at the body and his eyes dwelled on the condom.

“I don’t know anything about his girlfriends,” he said. “Nothing at all.”

“You don’t know very much about this man,” Erlendur said.

“He’s a doorman here,” the manager said, and felt that Erlendur should accept that by way of explanation.

They left the room. The forensics team went in with their equipment and more officers followed them. It was difficult for them all to squeeze their way past the manager. Erlendur asked them to examine the corridor carefully and the dark alcove further down. Sigurdur Oli and Elinborg stood inside the little room observing the body.

“I wouldn’t like to be found like that,” Sigurdur Oli said.

“It’s no concern of his any more,” Elinborg said.

“No, probably not,” Sigurdur Oh said.

“Is there anything in it?” Elinborg asked as she took out a little bag of salted peanuts. She was always nibbling at things. Sigurdur Oli thought it was because of nerves.

“In it?” Sigurdur Oli said.

She nodded in the direction of the body. After staring at her for a moment, Sigurdur Oli realised what she meant. He hesitated, then knelt down by the body and stared at the condom.

“No,” he said. “It’s empty”

“So she killed him before his orgasm,” Elinborg said. “The doctor thought—”

“She?” Sigurdur Oli said.