EPILOGUEGRETE DID NOT WANT to be the one to break the news. But if she didn’t, and her father found out about it from the news or some other person came to him before her, the fallout would be worse.
She opened the door to his huge private office without knocking—her father was deaf, but a light would alert him to the intrusion. She was the only person allowed to enter like this.
He was working by the desk as usual. Paper and files and open books lay spread out all over the surface—at 77 years of age he was still strong and forceful, but he preferred to use analog technology to do his business. The single red globe on the edge of the desk went dead again as she closed the door behind her.
Irritation on his face at being disturbed. Then a softening as he saw who it was. His eldest.
“Dad
