THE DRIPPING LEAVES BETRAYED the quiet rain, a reminder that the beautiful weather of the past week hadn’t been typical in the least. Helsingborg was normally a windy, rainy city. On the other hand, few of the events of the past week could be considered normal, Fabian thought as he walked through Pålsjö forest with Astrid Tuvesson.
She had called him that morning to suggest they take a walk. So far they had spoken about everything but the real reason they were meeting. She’d asked if his family liked Helsingborg and how the children felt about starting at a new school. Fabian had answered all of her questions as honestly as he could, but he made sure not to reveal more than he had to.
The beech forest opened up as they approached Pålsjö Castle. They hadn’t spoken in several minutes and Fabian felt as if the silence were about to take on a life of its own. They walked around to the other side of the castle park, passed the labyrinth, and crossed the wet grass over to the long avenue where the trees formed a dark tunnel. Fabian remembered how he used to play tag here as a kid, and how he’d thought it was so unusual that the trees grew so precisely that they formed that tunnel — until one day he saw a gardener with a chainsaw.
“Fabian, I’m well aware of the fact that if it hadn’t been for your shortcuts, this case would be going nowhere. But the investigation is my responsibility and I can’t continue to defend what happened in Lellinge, otherwise I will be removed from the case, too, and the whole investigation will be moved to Malmö. We both know how things end down there.”
Fabian knew what she was insinuating: Malmö was famous for topping the “most unsolved cases” list year after year.
“I want to solve this case as much as you do, and as quickly as we can, but we can’t afford to play such a high-stakes game anymore.”
“I understand what you’re saying. You need a scapegoat.”
“It’s not very hard to find one in this particular case.” She allowed herself to smile for the first time during their walk. “And that’s without mentioning your alleged teenage crush.” Fabian was about to explain, but he stopped talking when she held up a hand to ward him off. “Which I don’t even want to address.”
They emerged from the tree tunnel and noticed that the rain had stopped, the sky already brighter. Tuvesson paused at the scenic outlook and gazed out across the lively, busy sound, where Kronborg Castle was already bathed in light.
“I suggest you return to your vacation and start again on August sixteenth, as we originally planned. If I were in your shoes, I would take care of my family and be glad for the chance to enjoy myself. This weather won’t last for more than a few weeks.”
Fabian nodded and Tuvesson turned to walk away.
“If I’m going to be on vacation, it might be more appropriate if you took care of this.” Fabian dropped the small brass key into her hand. “Apparently it’s to a safe in Glenn’s house.”
Tuvesson looked puzzled.
“All I know is that it’s supposed to be somewhere in the kitchen.”
She thanked him and left.
Fabian looked toward Denmark at the beautiful view, and reflected on what had been said. He’d been expecting Tuvesson to take him off the investigation — it was the only option she had, given what had happened — but deep down Fabian knew it would take a lot more than regular, by-the-book police work to solve this case.