STINA HAAG, A WOMAN IN HER FORTIES WHO CLAIMED she was friendly with the Alvik couple, was seated in an interview room at the police station on Kungsholmen. With her business-like expression and strict clothing style, she looked like the no-nonsense type. She sat upright on the chair and didn’t flinch when Sanna Johansson and Allan Jonsson entered the room.
They introduced themselves and Stina Haag shook hands with them cordially but without enthusiasm.
The detectives sat down on the other side of the table. After the customary formalities, Sanna described her role in the proceedings and explained why Stina Haag had been summoned for questioning. She was optimistic that her statement would provide a welcome breakthrough in the murder investigation.
Stina Haag remained impassive.
“How do you know the Alvik couple?”
“They’re not a couple any longer.”
“No, but do you know them both well?”
“Yes.”
“Can you tell me how you met them?” asked Sanna. If Stina Haag continued to be so unforthcoming this interview was going to be a long process.
Sanna studied her witness. She could easily imagine Stina Haag playing the role of a sadist in the orgies. She had an arrogant way of expressing herself and came across as a rather unsympathetic character. She was evidently a woman used to getting her own way.
“We know that orgies were held at Aron Alvik’s house, and that there were a number of people who met there regularly. Were you one of them?”
Sanna had decided that direct provocation might encourage the woman to be more cooperative.
Stina Haag raised her eyebrows. “And what’s that got to do with you!”
Allan Jonsson cleared his throat and straightened up in his chair.
Stina Haag gave him a threatening look.
Allan looked first at her then down at the table.
“As you well know, we’re investigating a murder and that means everything that went on in Aron Alvik’s cottage concerns us,” said Sanna. “So, it will make things a lot easier if you talk. Otherwise, this meeting is going to take a very long time.”
“Am I being accused of anything?”
“No, but you’re one of the few people in the neighbourhood with inside knowledge of what went on at the property, so I advise you to start talking.”
“I have nothing to say. Next time you want to talk to me I suggest you contact my lawyer first.” Stina Haag stood up and pushed her chair back under the table.
“As you wish. I had no idea things were that bad. We’ll contact your lawyer. What’s his or her name?”
Stina Haag stretched the muscles in her back and stared at Sanna. “What do you mean?”
“Well, if you’re too scared to say anything unless a lawyer is present you’re obviously going to arouse our suspicions.
Stina Haag looked away. After considering her options for a moment she pulled out the chair again and sat down.
“What do you want to know?”
SHE SMILED AND HELD THE PHONE AGAINST her shoulder while scribbling something into her notebook.
“Thanks! I owe you one. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to return the favour.”
She was reluctant to suggest money, even though it would be perfectly acceptable under the circumstances.
Silence.
She checked her notes. “One more question. Are you suggesting that the victim was homosexual?”
There was a click on the line as the person at the other end hung up.
Lorena Pascalini leaned back in the armchair and mulled over what she had just heard. It had cost her a lot of time and tested her patience but she had always known that sooner or later she would get her way. An unknown source had contacted her at home with information about the murder enquiry. The trouble was that the voice was disguised and she had no idea who she was talking to, not even if it was a man or a woman.
‘Sex orgies!’ She underlined the word. ‘Homosexual desire. Deadly homosexual orgies’ No, ‘Deadly sex orgies’ sounds better.
IT WAS JUST PAST TWELVE THIRTY in the early hours of Sunday morning and Sanna was having a drink at Södra Teatern. The music was thumping and everyone was in a party mood. Some of the guests were standing at the bar with drinks in their hands, taking in the scene. Others were dancing to music Sanna didn’t recognize. The bar was packed but nobody seemed to care. Sanna was dressed entirely in black with tight jeans, elegant silk camisole, leather jacket and a pair of high heel boots. Out of habit, good or bad, whenever someone caught her attention, Sanna’s instinctive reaction was to stare at them. True to form, when she realised that a young woman at the bar was checking her out, Sanna made eye contact and smiled.
A few minutes later the girl approached.
“Hi, nice party isn’t it?”
Sanna nodded with a smile.
“Oh, sorry, I forgot to introduce myself… I’m Andrea,” she said, stretching out her hand.
“Sanna.”
They shook hands.
Sanna had started to regularly attend events at Södra Teatern. She felt comfortable among the clientele, who were of all ages and sexual orientation. Sanna wasn’t used to meeting people at clubs but with Andrea she didn’t need to make much of an effort. The young woman chatted nineteen to the dozen. She had a Masters degree in Computer Science and was also interested in social issues. The main discussion that particular evening was human trafficking.
Sanna observed her for a while, Andrea was about thirty years old and under her boyish clothes appeared to have an attractive, feminine figure. She spoke quickly and emphatically and her child-like laugh was infectious.
Between drinks, dancing and general chitchat, the time passed quickly. Suddenly, the music stopped and the main overhead lights came on. It was time to leave.
They left the bar together.
“Thanks for a lovely evening. Maybe we’ll see each other again.”
Despite Andrea’s attempts to hide her disappointment she was momentarily speechless.
“I would really like to see you again,” she said eventually. “Can I have your phone number?”
“I’ll call you instead,” replied Sanna, smiling softly.
Andrea wrote her number down on a piece of paper and said goodbye.