ELLEN

8.00 P.M.

Carola wanted to treat her to coffee as thanks for helping her to the hospital that day. Ellen didn’t have the stomach to decline and thought that perhaps she could squeeze a little information out of her, even though she actually ought to drive back to Örelo before her mother called Missing People.

They met on Norr Mälarstrand near the police headquarters, and walked along the water, which they were not alone in doing. The promenade was just about packed.

It was too warm and too late for coffee, so they each got an ice cream at the snack bar and sat down on a bench.

‘Do you usually work this late?’ asked Ellen, who felt uncomfortable with the whole arrangement.

‘No, but I had quite a bit to catch up on after the last two days.’

‘Shouldn’t you be at home resting?’

Carola ignored the question and leant back on the bench. ‘Listen, I just want to say thanks for your help recently. I hope we can forget it and move ahead as if nothing happened.’

‘Absolutely,’ said Ellen, who was more than happy to do that, but it wasn’t so easy to scale back the intimacy in the conversation. ‘Where did you grow up?’ she asked, hoping that was neutral enough.

‘Vällingby. I’ve lived in Stockholm my whole life and never left the western suburbs. You?’

‘Örelo, an estate in the vicinity of Stentuna.’

‘I see. Is that why you got so attached to the Liv Lind case?’

‘In part.’ Ellen licked at the sprinkles, struggling to finish the soft ice cream before it melted. ‘Have you always lived alone?’ She realised how bad she was at small talk but was really trying.

‘No. I’ve had some long-term and short-term relationships, but nothing that lasted. Unfortunately. I think it’s because of my job.’

Ellen nodded in recognition.

‘I truly want to thank you for taking care of me the other day. Sorry, but I just want to say that again. You didn’t have to do that, and I’m never going to forget it.’

It was a completely different Carola who was sitting beside her now compared with the tough policewoman she was used to talking to. ‘Ah. It’s nice to see that you’re feeling better and that you’re back at work, even if it would perhaps be better for you to stay home and rest. Or I don’t know, for me it’s better to work and avoid thinking about myself.’

Carola started biting into the cone. ‘Yes, I’m probably like that.’

‘What’s your feeling about Liv Lind? Do you think it’s Patrik?’ There had to be an end to this girl talk. They didn’t really know each other, and Ellen wasn’t interested in making a new friend.

‘I don’t know.’ She shook her head. ‘I’m trying not to speculate too much, and just stick to the facts we have.’

‘Why do the police persist in saying that? You must have some kind of imagination and let your thoughts wander. It’s completely inhuman to be so factual.’

‘Maybe, but we have to be. It might not be part of your job, but in mine it is. Who knows how dangerous it could be if we started making up stories.’

Ellen sighed and supposed she was right. ‘Do you really think some kids could be involved? I can’t imagine that they’re capable of killing a woman. Why would they?’

‘As I said, we proceed from the evidence we have.’

‘Which is?’

Carola glanced at her and smiled. ‘It’s not that easy to get me to talk. No, I won’t joke, these are serious matters. It would damage the investigation if I told you. Can I borrow your phone?’

Ellen took it out of her bag. ‘Why?’

‘Do you have a picture of Liv’s car from the crime scene?’

‘Yes?’

‘I thought so.’ She sneered. ‘Can I see?’

Ellen didn’t question it and gave the phone to Carola, who enlarged the image and showed Ellen.

‘What?’ But then she saw. ‘Has someone keyed it?’ She zoomed in a little more and saw the letters BfH.

‘Bitch from Hell?’

‘Yeah, presumably. We’ve found the same letters in other contexts connected to bullying and the like, and have managed to link it to a gang of teenagers and children.’

‘Bea Bosängen?’

Carola shrugged. ‘I can’t comment on that.’

Ellen heard the alarm bells ringing in her head. ‘What are children capable of, actually?’

‘More than what most of us can imagine. Who knows, it may be a game that has gotten out of control.’

Ellen thought a moment. ‘Have you gotten any more information from forensics?’

‘Yes. Just between us. We’ve found signs that she tried to flee. She took a powerful blow to her stomach and abdomen and apparently collapsed, or was pushed down to the ground. She had wounds on her cheek, probably from blows, and marks from a ring or the like. The perpetrator beat her with a blunt object. There were traces of blood on the ground that indicate that she tried to get away, but the perpetrator must have dragged her back to the car.’

The picture became so real that Ellen felt sickened. ‘Have you found the murder weapon?’

‘No, but it’s likely to be something the perpetrator found at the scene. None of it seems planned.’

‘Such as what then?’

‘Maybe a stone or something like that.’

‘But if it was the result of an argument, DNA from the perpetrator must have been found?’

‘Liv had a lot of DNA on her, but it’s been difficult to figure out whose it was — there was too much blood. Fingerprints and saliva can disappear in that quantity of blood.’

Ellen swallowed and tried to erase the images that were being projected in her mind. ‘My God.’

‘Yes.’

They both sat silently awhile and looked at all the people walking past them on the promenade.

Suddenly, Carola clutched her chest and leant over.

‘Are you okay?’

‘It hurts here, and it feels like my heart is racing.’ Her face was completely white.

‘Maybe you’re having another anxiety attack,’ said Ellen. ‘I get them too. Try to relax. It’s not dangerous.’

Carola moaned, and Ellen suffered with her. ‘Try to breathe calmly.’

Carola took a few deep breaths and stretched. ‘Ugh, it’s horrible.’

‘I know.’

They sat silently for a few minutes, and Carola tried to breathe regularly. Ellen held her hand on Carola’s back.

‘It feels a little better now. Talk to me.’

‘About what?’

‘Anything at all.’

‘How are things with Ove?’ That was the only thing she could think of.

‘I have such a hard time seeing how you collaborated. When he gave me this case, I have to say, I wasn’t that impressed with you. Was Ove really the best source you could find?’

‘I’m glad I’ve found you now. This collaboration feels much better.’ And she truly meant that.