ELLEN

12.00 A.M.

Ellen pulled on her big knitted cardigan and tried to warm up.

The bundle of papers containing all the reports that had been made regarding the custody dispute over Lycke was even thicker than she remembered.

She really should have gone straight to bed, but had decided to go through the pile. Not because she knew what she was searching for, but because there was something that didn’t add up about the Höök family — and she was going to find out what it was.

She had to find out. I must focus, she told herself.

Sinking down on the couch, she set the documents out on the big, round table to get an overview. But first, she needed a glass of wine.

When she opened the wine fridge, she noted that it would soon need to be refilled. Luckily, there were still a few bottles of her favourite wine left.

There was a small popping sound as she uncorked the wine, and the aroma alone helped soothe her nerves. She took out a big glass and filled it to the brim. Taking a few sips, she looked at the pictures on the wall, letting her gaze wander between the images of Lycke and Elsa. She closed her eyes and recalled the image that Ove had sent her.

She slapped herself on the cheek.

‘Focus, Ellen, focus,’ she said out loud, and sat down on the couch.

She started by reading the court decision, where it was decided that the parents would have joint custody of Lycke. It was further established that Lycke would alternate living with each parent, with the handover taking place on Mondays.

She then closely read the summary, which contained information provided by individuals who had testified in the case, such as the parents and cited witnesses. Because of Lycke’s young age, no consultations with her had taken place.

Ellen took a sip of wine. And then another.

In the interview with Harald, he had maintained that Helena suffered from some type of post-partum depression and subsequently still had a hard time bonding with her daughter. Lycke’s mother denied this in her interviews. She admitted that she’d had problems immediately following the birth, but she had recovered after a few months — a statement which had also been confirmed by the hospital records.

Helena then countered this by attacking Harald for having betrayed and then left them; thereby, in her eyes, he had given up the right to see his daughter.

So it went on. Page after page.

Attorneys, parents, relatives — and a little girl, caught in the middle of all this.

Presumably, it had been like any other custody dispute. Accusations that came to the surface during the interviews, but which didn’t hold up in court.

Lycke’s mother, for instance, stated that, on several occasions, Harald had looked strangely at his daughter as she was bathing. Not in a way that a father normally looks at his daughter. Ellen looked up, not wanting to read any more, but then forced herself to continue.

Several examples were rattled off, and the negotiations changed direction as a result of these allegations. A pause had to be taken.

Ellen sighed loudly, feeling ill at ease. Jimmy doesn’t have to hear of this, she thought. It can’t come out.

Poor, poor little Lycke. Ellen tried to picture Harald. She had a hard time imagining him doing something so loathsome.

But what if it were true? Had Lycke been sexually abused by her father? Or was it the final desperate attempt by the mother to get sole custody?

She poured herself some more wine, then emptied the glass at a gulp and continued reading.

Physical and mental examinations had been made of Lycke. Nothing indicated that she had been sexually abused.

She was noted to be withdrawn, shy, introverted. But there was no diagnosis of a mental disorder.

The interviews intensified.

The parents continued to rain accusations down on each other.

Ellen poured more wine. Taking a big sip, she decided that, after this glass, it would have to be enough.

Many pages later, she read how the mother had taken back the accusations made against Harald. So she had falsely accused her ex-husband of the worst thing imaginable. How could she do that to Harald? Above all, how could she do that to her daughter?

It was strange, too, that Harald had agreed to only have Lycke every other weekend but then Helena had suddenly protested, saying: ‘Why should I have to take care of everything? I want to share custody completely. He’s not getting off that easy.’ End of quote.

Furthermore, Harald’s new wife demanded a paternity test be carried out. What made her question that Harald truly was Lycke’s father?

Ellen quickly skimmed further along to see what the result of the test had been. Harald Höök was confirmed as Lycke’s father. It was decided that they would have joint custody.

Jealousy, hate, and selfishness. That was what the entire document was about. Ellen pushed the bundle of papers angrily to the side and rested her head in her hands.

Could one of them have gone too far? She turned over a piece of paper and started jotting words down.

Paternity test

Post-partum depression

Bonding difficulties

False accusations

Envy

Greed

My God, she thought, getting up. She poured herself more wine and then sank back down among the couch cushions.

The issue now was about reading between the lines. She closed her eyes, but only saw Lycke before her.

Suddenly, it struck her. Now she remembered.

When she stood up, her head was spinning. She staggered over to the ‘Shelf of Death’ and climbed up one step to reach the shelf dedicated to murder sites. Why hadn’t she thought of it before?

She took down the book and went to sit by the bay window. She looked out over the bay, and at the rain, which had picked up and was now lashing against the window, before opening the binder to begin her search. She knew exactly what she was looking for. It was an article she had saved from the year she’d been living in New York, working at CNN. She remembered most of it, but needed the details — needed to have it confirmed.

The headline read: A mother’s touch.

That alone made her shudder.

It was a short article from The Times. Someone had found a dead child in the woods. Three years old. Also a little girl. Buried under leaves and branches deep in the woods. Wrapped in warm blankets and pieces of fabric. It was immediately obvious that it was someone close to her who had done it. The signs were clear.

Love and guilt.

The mother had immediately confessed.

Love and guilt. Contradictory and obvious in equal measure.

If Ellen remembered correctly, it was typically a female phenomenon. That was what had made her remember it — because it was so unusual.

It must also be a woman in this case, too. Why hadn’t anyone else seen that? Or perhaps she was simply drunk. And tired.

She would have to continue with this tomorrow. She needed to look over the case soberly.

The security intercom buzzed.

Ellen looked at the clock. Just past one. Who was visiting this late? Must be Philip, she thought, going over to the elevator and pressing on the intercom button.

‘Hello?’ she said.

She could hear someone panting heavily.

‘Hello? Who is it?’ she tried again, feeling the hair on her arms prickling. It sounded like the person was moaning.

She turned on the screen to the security camera in the entry. She hesitated a moment before looking, afraid of what she would see.

Looking at the screen, Ellen recoiled.

Even though his face was hidden under the hood, she could see that it was the same guy who had stolen her bag the day before.

‘I can see you — what do you want?!’ she screamed.

She ran over to the couch and searched among the cushions for her phone. ‘Where the hell is it?’ she gasped, finally finding it on the floor. She ran over to the elevator.

When she checked the screen again, he was gone.

She ran over to the window and looked down toward the street, but saw no one.

Then she entered the number for the police into her phone, but before pressing on the green call button, she stopped herself. He can’t get in, she thought. And what can the police do, really?

Nothing.

And Jimmy wouldn’t let her work on the case anymore. She wouldn’t find Lycke’s murderer. Everyone would find out what she had done to her sister.

Ellen deleted the number from the screen and locked the phone.