ELLEN

5.50 P.M.

Didrik drove, submerged in his own thoughts, and seeming seriously affected by what had happened. He probably couldn’t bear to ask her how she was feeling again. Either because he knew that she wouldn’t answer, or because he was afraid that she’d start screaming.

She pulled down the sun visor and looked at herself in the mirror. Her nose was completely red and swollen, and the nosebleed wouldn’t let up. She tucked the linen napkin under her nose again.

‘Are you sure we shouldn’t get that checked out?’

She didn’t reply. It was just a nosebleed, nothing serious. She had no desire to sit in the emergency room to get that confirmed.

When they parked outside the police station in Nyköping, she told him to stay in the car. ‘It’ll be quick, I’m just going to file a report.’

‘I’m coming,’ he said, and was already getting out of the car. ‘I intend to file a report, too.’

With a sigh, Ellen opened the car door, holding the napkin under her nose. The blood had dripped onto her white tank top, and she felt a little dizzy, but that wasn’t something she intended to tell Didrik. Her private parts were tender too, and that was definitely not something he was going to find out about.

The gang had run off from the beach after Ellen got punched in the face, but Didrik and Ellen had stayed on the ground for some time before they dared get up. Then, they took Ellen’s car — she didn’t want anyone at the farm to see that she’d been at the gravel pit, and she felt much too shaky to drive herself. Considering the alcohol, though, neither of them had been in a condition to drive.

Ellen actually didn’t want to file a police report. Sure, she wanted to get those little bastards arrested, but that would also mean that she’d aggravate them even more. And she was so horribly ashamed. The whole thing was so degrading. And it didn’t look good, either, that Didrik had had a pistol. And they’d smoked, and …

‘Fuck, do you think I have to report a rape, too?’

Didrik stopped. ‘How can you say that? What else should we have done, do you think?’

‘We?’ She snorted. ‘You know what? Not a word to anyone about what happened. Do you hear me?’

‘But …’

‘Not a word. Right, we’re doing this my way.’

They went up to the woman at reception, who looked up from her computer screen when they knocked on the glass window. She was in uniform and had a friendly smile as she opened the window. ‘How can I help you?’

Ellen asked to speak with Börje Swahn. ‘It concerns the murder of Liv Lind,’ she said, ignoring Didrik’s perplexed look.

‘Can I please see your IDs, thank you.’

They showed their driver’s licences, and as soon as Didrik opened his mouth, she glared at him. ‘My way!’

The receptionist closed the window and made a few calls before she opened it again. ‘Are you okay?’ She pointed at her nose.

‘It’s no big deal, just a little nosebleed, I get them sometimes. I should get it cauterised.’ Sometimes her head was mercifully inventive.

The woman seemed happy with that and told them that Börje was on his way in and would be there within ten minutes. They were encouraged to take a seat on the bench and wait.

Ellen stood there a few moments and waited until Didrik had sat down before she knocked on the window again.

The receptionist opened and chirped, ‘Was there something else?’

‘Sorry, but since I’m here anyway, do you know anything about the disappearance of Elsa von Platen?’ After everything that had happened at the lake earlier, Ellen felt that she needed facts, black on white.

‘I recognise that name. But it was a long time ago, right?’

‘Yes, twenty-seven years.’

‘So it was, yes. She was found, wasn’t she?’

‘Yes, it was a drowning accident. I think there must be a lot of information about the disappearance itself. A preliminary investigation or the like. At first, they thought it was a kidnapping, before they realised that it was an accident.’

‘Yes, but it will have been archived anyway. When was it, did you say?’

‘Nineteen eighty-seven.’

‘I see, then we won’t have that here, unfortunately.’

‘Do you know who worked on the disappearance — anyone that I can talk to?’

She shook her head. ‘But I can look into it if you want.’

‘Thanks, that would be very kind.’ The blood was dripping onto the reception counter. ‘Sorry.’ Ellen quickly wiped it off with the napkin. ‘I read a few articles from that time, and it was often Kjell Thulin who made statements in connection with the disappearance.’

‘Yes, that may be. He retired a long time ago. I can see if it’s possible to reach him. Write down your phone number here, and I’ll check it all out.’

Ellen did as she was asked. ‘Thanks a lot.’

‘What was that about?’ said Didrik as she sat down beside him on the bench. She wished that there were more seats so they didn’t have to sit so close to each other.

‘Nothing.’

Didrik sighed. ‘What does it matter who you submit the report to?’

‘Everything fits together, just as I said. Bea, the one who attacked us, is the daughter of Patrik, who was together with Liv Lind.’

‘What? Do you know who those kids are?’

‘I need real tissues. This won’t stop bleeding.’

‘Lean your head back, and I’ll go get some.’

‘Don’t come back,’ she whispered when he had left. Her whole body was still quivering with fury and humiliation. And fear. She didn’t want to acknowledge the last of those, but it was oppressive. The whole scenario played out in her head over and over again, and it wasn’t possible to turn it off.

‘Don’t touch me.’ Ellen slapped away his hand when he tried to help her with the tissue.

‘Oh, I’m just trying to help.’

‘Don’t touch me.’ She stared at him.

After a while the lady in reception opened the glass window, and Ellen went up. ‘Börje isn’t going to stop by, but you can file a report now, and he’ll contact the two of you later. Or would you like to speak to another police officer?’

‘No, that’s fine, thanks. We can come back,’ said Ellen.

‘Okay, are you sure?’

‘No, we’ll be happy to talk to—’ Didrik began.

But Ellen interrupted him. ‘Yes, we’re sure.’

‘Listen, by the way I looked into that case, and you were right. Kjell Thulin led the preliminary investigation. Call him.’ She held out a slip of paper, and Ellen folded it up and closed her hand around it.