Office decor

The soothing decorations that Eik puts up in the office at the beginning of the investigation represent his hidden set of skills and charms as a character. While Louise eventually falls for Eik, for much of the novel she is resistant to his outwardly gruff ways.

Sleeping children

Much like the symbol discussed above, the three traumatized children whom Eik is able to soothe to sleep represent his hidden set of skills. Much later in the novel, Eik will reveal to Louise that his former girlfriend once disappeared on a boat, indicating that he has tremendous sympathy for all parties involved in missing persons cases.

"Utica crib"

The "Utica crib" is a nickname for a coffin-like restraining device used in the early days of Eliselund, which represents the extent to which mentally handicapped people were treated just a few decades previously. The care for the...