‘WELL, WOULD YOU look at this.’ Molander spread his arms wide. ‘If it isn’t the prodigal son, finally gracing us with his presence.’
Fabian nodded on his way into the conference room. ‘That’s right, in all my glory,’ he said, never letting the smile he’d practised in the lift mirror on the way up waver, and adding a wink as the cherry on top.
‘You actually look a bit worse for wear, despite probably having had more hours of beauty sleep than the rest of us put together,’ Molander went on. ‘Rough night?’
Fabian turned to Molander, who was smiling at him with that tauntingly sarcastic expression he so often wore. Before, he’d interpreted it as an innocuous and at heart affable kind of charm. A way to lighten the mood when it risked becoming too heavy. His eyes looked the same, but when Fabian met his gaze now, he sensed a darkness behind it that wanted nothing more than to twist the knife a few extra times just for the sake of it.
‘Indeed, as you should know better than anyone,’ he said, and he saw Molander’s smile slip briefly before he fumblingly slapped it back on, his upper lip trembling slightly.
‘What do you mean? I’m not sure I follow?’
‘No?’ Fabian continued to stare Molander in the eyes and waited until the silence in the room was palpable. ‘From what I’m told, you’re the one who helped Sonja transport that piece of art back to our house after threatening to destroy it unless she retrieved it,’ he said finally. ‘But given her experiences with that particular piece, it shouldn’t come as a shock to you, or anyone else in this room for that matter, that seeing it again had a number of emotional repercussions that kept us awake for most of the night. So no, I wouldn’t say I’ve slept much.’
‘I’m sorry. I should have known.’ Molander nodded. ‘I can only blame my own sleep-deprived state.’
Fabian didn’t respond. He was going to play along in Molander’s charade, but only as far as he had to, and he was going to make sure Molander knew that, or he would eat him alive the first chance he got.
‘All right, maybe we should get cracking while it’s still light out,’ Tuvesson said. ‘As you know, we’re already running behind schedule and I have to be going soon.’ She turned to Fabian. ‘So you’re going to have to hold off on telling us what happened out on Öresund last night. From what I know, it’s still unclear whether Milwokh drowned or managed to swim to shore.’
‘That’s correct,’ Fabian said, nodding. ‘I would almost say most things point to—’
‘I promise I’ll let you know when I’m finished,’ Tuvesson cut in. ‘Hopefully, if he’s alive, he’ll want to lie low after the events of last night. But that doesn’t mean we have time to be lazy or sleep in. We’re behind on practically all of our cases, so let’s think of this as our chance to catch up.’ She turned around and gestured towards the whiteboard walls with both hands. ‘Interviews that should have been conducted a long time ago can’t wait any longer. Crime scenes need to be processed and forensic evidence collected.’
Tuvesson was right, of course. They had a mountain of work to get through before the trail went cold. But none of that was even remotely important compared to finding Molander’s evidence hoard. Without it, nothing else they did would amount to anything.
‘Irene,’ Tuvesson continued. ‘I want you to talk to Milwokh’s adoptive parents.’
Lilja nodded.
‘I know you were there just a few months ago. But that time it was about their daughter, and there’s an outside chance he’ll contact them now that he can’t go home. And Klippan. I’m sending you out to talk to the boat rental people.’
‘Sure. No problem.’
‘Can I ask a question?’ Fabian said.
‘If you make it quick. Like I said, we’re behind.’
‘How’s the forensic side of things coming along?’
‘Right.’ Tuvesson turned to Molander.
‘I’d have to say swimmingly.’ Molander smiled. ‘With the exception of the most recent murder, we can tie Milwokh to more or less everything. And I’m not worried about finding something to tie him to the bathtub murder, too.’
‘More or less everything?’ Fabian said. ‘Maybe it’s time to be a bit more specific.’
‘Look, everything’s under control. There’s no need to fret.’
‘Who said anything about fretting? I just think it’s high time for a proper run-through of what you have and what’s still missing. That way, we know what to prioritize. So I suggest we continue this meeting down in your lab, assuming that’s where you keep the evidence.’
‘Great, let’s go.’ Tuvesson checked her watch. ‘I’m heading that way anyhow.’
‘Hold on a minute.’ Molander held up his hands. ‘I apologize if I wasn’t clear. As it stands, we have forensic evidence tying him to every crime scene except the flat in Planteringen. That is, in other words, what I should be focusing on. Rather than giving all of you a lecture down in the lab. That’s going to have to wait.’
‘Okay, how does everyone else feel?’ Tuvesson said. ‘Do it later?’
‘Fine by me.’ Klippan shrugged.
‘Me too,’ Lilja agreed. ‘But I would like to know when you’re going to get around to his flat. That feels like it should be a priority.’
‘And the rubber dinghy, too,’ Klippan chimed in.
‘As soon as I can. I mean, listen to yourselves,’ Molander replied. ‘There’s a lot to do. So why don’t we wrap this up now so we can get to work instead?’
‘All right. It’s a deal,’ Fabian said, without taking his eyes off Molander.
‘Good. I think we can trust that Ingvar knows what’s in his freezer,’ Tuvesson said. She started to gather up her documents as Molander and the others got up to leave. ‘Oh, and Fabian. I want you to go talk to Hanna Brahe.’
‘Who’s she?’ he said, his thoughts racing back to Molander’s home and the basement with the built-in freezer.
‘Mattias Larsson’s girlfriend. She was the one who found him in the bath and called us. She wasn’t in a state to be interviewed last night. But she’s been in touch to say that she’s ready now.’
How could he not have thought of that before? That must be where Molander kept the forensic evidence. That was what he’d seen when he was there.
‘Okay.’ He got up and followed the others towards the door. ‘Send me her contact details and I’ll get in touch with her today.’ He had to get over to Molander’s house as soon as possible. Molander could track him with his GPS chip as much as he pleased. It made no difference.
‘No, not today. Now, please.’
Fabian nodded and left the room. That he’d agreed to meet Stubbs was unfortunate. But it was going to have to wait. Right now, everything else had to wait.