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Karlsson Residence
Stockholm, Sweden

 

Mira Karlsson nearly jumped out of her skin at the doorbell. She had been staring at the phone and her husband’s empty chair all day, terrified to do or say anything, the pin on her shirt like an albatross around her neck.

She leaped to her feet then steadied herself, remembering she had to remain calm and not let anyone suspect what was truly ravaging her normally sedate household. She glanced down at the pin as she reached for the doorknob. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell them anything.”

She opened the door, her eyebrows rising at the sight of a delivery man. He handed her a small package. “Oh, I wasn’t expecting anything.”

The man smiled. “Surprises are always the best! Hope it’s something good!” He lowered his voice. “Whatever you do, don’t tell the police your husband is missing.”

Her mouth opened in shock then she stared down at the pin. “I won’t, I swear.” She looked at him, her eyes narrowing. “But you’ve already told me this.” She tapped the pin and the man appeared confused for a moment.

He frowned, handing her the handheld computer. “Sign here.” She did, her hands trembling as she tried to comprehend what was happening. She signed her name and he smiled, taking back the device. “Have a nice day.”

He returned to his truck and she stared after him for a moment before closing the door. She shuffled back to her post by the phone, staring at the small package in her hands.

Should I open it?

She shuddered. With the Saudis involved, it could be a bomb for all she knew. But then why warn her? Why let her know it was them? Surely if they wanted her to open a bomb, they would make it appear to be from someone else.

Her jaw dropped and she drew a quick breath.

It wasn’t them!

Someone else must have found out what was going on, and they came to warn her to keep quiet so they could work the case. Her shoulders slumped as her stomach flipped. She stared at the pin, realizing that whoever had her husband now knew someone else was involved.

What do I do?

What could she do? The only instruction she had been given was to not tell anyone what was going on. She assumed everyone else was given the same instruction, but obviously someone had disobeyed.

And whoever that was, might have just cost her husband his life.

She pulled the pin off her shirt and held it up to her face, her entire body shaking as she lost control. “Please, you’ve heard everything. I never told anyone. Please, I beg you, don’t hurt my husband. I’ll give you whatever you want. Everything we have. Just don’t hurt my husband!”

She stared at the pin, tears flowing down her cheeks, not sure what she was expecting to happen.

And when nothing did, she curled into a ball and wept, praying for the first time in years, to a god her husband didn’t even believe in.