Holger Munch sat up in bed. He had a pounding headache, and his mouth felt parched. Dazed, he looked around. The room was clinical. Institutional. The nursing home. He was still at Høvikveien Nursing Home.
What the hell?
He quickly got up but had to sit down again. He felt that the room was spinning. The window. It was dark outside. Evening. He had slept the whole day. In a bed at Høvikveien Nursing Home, fully dressed. He rummaged around in his pockets but couldn’t find his cell phone anywhere. What on earth was going on? Where was Karen? Wasn’t she supposed to wake him? He attempted to stand up once more, and this time he managed it. He stumbled to the door and tried opening it, but it wouldn’t budge. It was locked from the outside. He fumbled for the lock on the inside, but there was nothing there. Someone had locked him in. This was insane. Holger Munch could feel his panic rising when he realized what had happened.
Shit.
He banged his fists against the door, screaming frantically.
“Hello?”
His banging became more desperate while he tried to clear his head.
“Is anyone there?”
He rummaged through his pockets again. Searched his duffel coat and his trousers. Staggered back to the bed and started pulling off the bedlinen. There was no sign of his phone anywhere.
The door behind him opened, and a caregiver he’d never met before popped her head in.
She looked at him, startled. “Who are you? What are you doing here?”
“Munch, Oslo Police, Violent Crimes Section,” Munch said as he forced his way past her. “Have you seen Karen?”
“Karen?” the terrified woman said. “Her shift has finished. Why?”
“I need to borrow your phone,” Munch said as he stumbled toward reception.
“No, wait, you can’t just—”
“Munch, police, my mother is a resident here,” he mumbled, and picked up the handset.
He held it in his hand, still feeling groggy. Damn modern technology, he didn’t know any telephone numbers by heart these days. He called information and asked to be put through to police headquarters in Grønland. Finally his call was answered, and he asked to be put through to the special unit. Ludvig picked up the phone.
“Grønlie speaking.”
“It’s Munch.”
“Holger, where on earth have you been?”
“I haven’t got time to explain, Ludvig. Is Mia there?”
“No, she’s gone.”
“What do you mean, gone? Where is she?”
“She’s not here,” Ludvig said.
“But what the hell?” Munch said. “Is Gabriel there?”
“Munch—” Ludvig began.
“Put me through to Gabriel. He must be able to trace her cell phone. Get me Gabriel.”
“Munch!” Ludvig said again.
“For Christ’s sake, Ludvig, just put me through to Gabriel!”
“Your granddaughter has gone missing,” Ludvig said on the other end.
Munch fell completely silent.
“Marion is gone,” Ludvig repeated. “Someone took her from the apartment. But it’s going to be all right, Munch. We have Stoltz. She turned herself in. Did you hear me? We have Malin Stoltz. Anette and Curry are interviewing her as we speak. Everything will be all right.”
Munch slowly woke up. Like a bear from hibernation. “It’s not her,” he growled.
“What do you mean?”
The whole world was spinning for Munch now. “Send a car.”
“But, Munch . . . ?”
“Send me a bloody car!” he screamed through the phone.
“But I don’t know where you are!” Ludvig screamed back at him.
“Sorry,” Munch said, realizing he was shaking all over. “Høvikveien Nursing Home. Send a car, Ludvig. I’m not fit to drive. Send a car.”
He put down the handset and staggered out into the evening twilight.