Page 76 of Sixty Meters Under

“I’m afraid you won’t be able to remember all the details right now, and I have no reason to lie,” she reassured him with another smile.

“If you say so, I believe you. And which hospital am I in?”

The nurse burst out laughing. “I see your memory is in even worse condition than I anticipated.”

Björn looked at her puzzled. Valeria shook her head and added, “We’re not in the hospital. We’re in an underground shelter. We have been for a few weeks.”

?

Lennart opened the door and found Leticia on the other side. She wore a tight black dress which outlined her curves. Her long wavy dark hair fell around her shoulders and her face was adorned with a smile. “Hi, Lenny. Long time no see.”

Lennart raised his eyebrows and took a deep breath, thinking how best to reply. “Leticia… Hi. Yeah… I… I have been busy lately.”

“Can I come in?”

Lennart hesitated. “Sure.” He wasn’t particularly happy to let her in his workspace, but stepped to the side anyway.

“I knocked on the door of your room, but you didn’t answer, so I tried here.”

“I spend most of my days in this room lately.”

“What are you busy with?” She looked around and her eyes set on the wall of screens.

“I’m helping with the case.”

“Oh, right. The case.”

Lennart slumped back in his chair, and Leticia placed her hands on his shoulders. “You seem tense. It would be good for you to relax a little.”

Lennart took a sharp breath. “I can’t, at least not until we find the person responsible for the murder.”

“Leave it to others. Don’t burden yourself with it. That’s unnecessary.”

Lennart sighed and glanced towards the screens. His eyes landed on the monitor that showed Ryosuke’s cell. Leticia pressed his shoulders, he gasped, and she massaged his back. As she moved her hands along his firm muscles, she leaned closer and whispered in his ear. “Let me help you relieve the tension.”

Lennart’s jaw tightened. He knew exactly what she was suggesting. He wanted to decline her offer, but also not to hurt her feelings. He was trying to find the right words but his irritation grew to such an extent he couldn’t take it any longer.

“I think it would be best for you to leave.”

“What? Why?”

Lennart sensed her disappointment, but his eyes narrowed and he shook his head. “I can’t focus like this. I need to work.”

“But we haven’t seen each other for a few days. I’m not asking much.”

Lennart knew if he didn’t tell her now, he wouldn’t have a better opportunity. “I don’t know what kind of idea you had about us, but I’m not your boyfriend or anything.” It sounded harsher than intended, and he regretted saying it, but he knew she deserved to know the truth.

“What? I… I thought we… That we were together.”

Lennart turned on his chair to face her. “It’s true that we never talked about this. But–”

“But weslepttogether!” Leticia cut him off. “I believed you wanted me as much as I wanted you!”

“Sleeping together doesn’t automatically mean we’re in a relationship.”

Leticia shook her head in disbelief, her eyes becoming watery. “Y-you… You used me!”

“I didn’t mean to–”