“That’s enough! My client is not obliged to say any more.”
“This is a murder investigation and your client claims to have seen the victim on the day he was murdered!” Javier paused and turned to Nina Jay. “Why didn’t you tell us this earlier? You’re an intelligent woman and are well aware of the seriousness of withholding information. We could prosecute you for that alone.”
“Just a minute! Just a minute now! It was her private investigator who saw him, not my client. I believe she was very clear about that,” interjected the lawyer.
“Okay, okay,” smiled Nina Jay. “I’ll be nice and tell you. I received the photos last week. The guy who took them has been out of the country.”
Javier glanced at the envelope. It looked like the one he had seen being delivered to her.
Nina Jay threw her hands in the air and shrugged her shoulders. “It COULD have been his last day.”
The lawyer glared at her. “That’s enough, Nina!”
Javier raised his eyebrows.
“I don’t want to hear any more threats from you,” said the lawyer staring at Javier. “If you want to lodge a complaint that’s fine. Just send it to me.” He jumped up and exchanged glances with his client who also stood up. “We’re done here!” he said.
“The woman in the photograph might be his killer,” said Nina Jay over her shoulder to Javier as they left the room.
KALLE KARLSSON SAT AT HIS DESK with his mobile phone pressed to his ear. He looked dejected. Three weeks ago Mia had been for her yearly mammogram. After the results came through, the hospital had asked her to return for more tests.
“Are they sure?”
“Yes, the surgeon wants to operate immediately. The lump’s malignant, Kalle,” replied Mia, choking back the tears.
After a brief silence she continued. “There’s more…”
“What?”
“They have to remove the breast to prevent the cancer spreading.”
Mia began to sob. Kalle’s eyes glazed over.
“It’ll be fine sweetheart… It has to be. I’m coming home now.”
He grabbed his jacket and left the office without a word.
CHAPTER 35
Le Wang
SANNA JOHANSSON ENTERED the interview room and introduced herself to Åke Pettersson’s ex-wife. She took a seat opposite the witness and next to Cecile Thorén, who had arrived earlier.
Lee Wang was a petite, buxom woman in her early forties. She had a self-confident manner and was eyeing Thorén suspiciously.
Sanna tried to envision a scenario where a woman of her size would be capable of knocking out someone as powerfully built as Åke Pettersson. It was difficult to imagine.
“I assume that Detective Inspector Thorén has already informed you of the reason for this interview?”
Lee Wang looked at Sanna and nodded slowly.
We’re investigating your ex-husband, Åke Pettersson, for links to another case. Although it has nothing to do with the accusations he made against you, we would still like to hear your version of the story,” explained Sanna.
Lee Wang sighed and leaned back in the chair. She glared at Sanna.
Sanna moved the recording device closer to the witness, signalling that it was now her turn to speak.
“What do you want to know?” asked Lee Wang grudgingly.
“What induced you to physically attack your husband? Apparently, you knocked him unconscious…”
“Everything’s in the police report. I’m sure you’ve read it,” replied Lee Wang frostily.
“Yes, but I’d like to hear it from you, in your own words,” insisted Sanna, straining for a conciliatory tone.
Lee Wang stroked the bridge of her nose.
“It wasn’t abuse, it was a fight,” she replied with a sardonic smile.
“A fight?” repeated Sanna.
“Yes, it was a fight. I was defending myself. He attacked me first!”
Lee Wang was becoming irritated. She obviously has a short fuse, thought Sanna, nodding encouragingly in an attempt to diffuse the tension.
“There’s no way I was just going to sit there and let the son of a bitch treat me like that,” she seethed. “He thought he could get away with it, just like he did with his ex. I was an idiot to trust him. He told me that she badmouthed him to damage his reputation – what a load of nonsense. I started to have my doubts the first time he hit me, but then he apologized, saying he didn’t know what had come over him and I forgave him. Anybody can make a mistake once but when he hit me the second time that was it. I started hitting him back. He grabbed hold of my hair and threw me out of the kitchen into the living room and I scratched him on the leg so hard that he let go. Then I picked up a piece of wood from the floor and whacked him – we were renovating the terrace and there were a few pieces lying inside. I just kept hitting and hitting him with it until he gave up!” The colour rose in her face but her expressionless features revealed no emotion.
“Why didn’t you report it to the police?” asked Sanna.
“Are you kidding? You cops think all Asian women are whores. I didn’t want to be treated like shit. I manage just fine on my own. If he ever tries that again I’ll… ”
“You’ll what?” asked Thorén.
“Nothing. I’m not going to incriminate myself here!” replied Lee Wang with a devious grin.
Sanna couldn’t help regarding the woman with a mixture of surprise and admiration. Even she would have hesitated before taking on Åke Pettersson and his huge, powerful frame, but Lee Wang refused to be browbeaten.
Thorén wanted to respond but struggled to find the words.
“Do you hate him?” asked Sanna.
“Absolutely not! He’s not worth the energy. As far as I’m concerned he doesn’t even exist.”.
“Did you ever meet any of his friends?” asked Thorén.
Lee Wang leaned across the table and reached for a plastic cup, which she filled with water.
“I wouldn’t say friends exactly but he knows a lot of people in Umeå.”
“What about in Stockholm? Did you ever meet any of his mates here?” asked Sanna.
“No, I didn’t. This was always his time with the guys.”
“How many guys were there? Do you know any of their names?” asked Thorén.
“No,” she replied, dragging out the word. “But I did see a photo of them once.”
“Do you have any idea what they did in Stockholm?”
Lee Wang sighed impatiently.
“We’d really appreciate it if you could tell us anything, anything at all,” continued Thorén.
Lee Wang seemed determined not to cooperate and remained frustratingly silent.
A few minutes went by.
“Okay, we’ll wrap it up here. If we need you again we’ll get in touch.” said Sanna, leaning over to switch off the recording device.
Lee Wang met Sanna’s gaze.
“There were five of them. From what I understand they came from all over the country and liked to meet in Stockholm. There’s a bunch of photos in one of his desk drawers at home – at least there was when we lived together. He didn’t like me snooping around and kept everything locked up.” Lee Wang stood up to leave. “That’s all I know. Can I go now?”
Sanna nodded. After the usual formalities, the meeting was concluded and Thorén followed Lee Wang out.
CHAPTER 36
Probabilities
THERE WAS A FAINT SMILE on Samir Mohamed’s lips as he collected a pile of papers from the laser printer. This was his first real murder investigation. He had prepared a rather good preliminary technical report, which, as far as he was concerned, contained all the essential information about the twenty-five year old woman who had been found murdered in Huddinge. With the report in his hand he headed over to Sanna Johansson’s office, knocked gently on the door and entered the room.
“Here you are,” he said, placing the document on her desk and turning to leave.
“Just a
minute,” she said, flicking through the file. “Run through what you’ve found out.”
Mohamed felt his cheeks burn. He approached her desk.
“Well… The victim is a police cadet.”
“Really? From what district?”
“She just started at Västberga. I spoke to her boss and he couldn’t tell me much about her except that she was very dedicated. It seems that she was off duty when the murder occurred.”
Sanna placed the report onto the desk and stared at Mohamed expectantly.
“Actually, I’ve done a bit more snooping around,” he added. “Apparently, she had a technical background and was an accomplished hacker.”
Sanna frowned.
Samir Mohamed cocked his head and looked at her intently. “Yes, I think we’re on the same page here,” he continued. “The victim’s name is Annelie Braxton. Her profile fits the woman the bartender described. She’s one metre eighty centimetres tall and in good physical shape.”
Their eyes locked.
“You’re right. But we mustn’t jump to conclusions. Send a summons to Ruth Bengtsson and her boyfriend.”
“One more thing. We found a wig near the body and sent it to forensics for analysis. We’ll soon find out if it belonged to the victim.”
“Any witnesses?”
“One man who I’ve called in for questioning. I’m hoping you can conduct the interview – or at least participate. I’ve checked your schedule and you’ve got time on Tuesday,” continued Mohamed.
Sanna’s electronic schedule was accessible to the entire investigation team, including Blom.
She gave a thumbs up sign and made a note on her tablet computer.
SHE HAD BEEN SITTING DOWN for so long reading unsolved case reports that her body had seized up. Cecile Thorén got up from her ergonomic desk chair, stretched her arms above her head and felt her neck crack, then went to fetch herself some coffee.
“Stop! Put your hands up!”
She stopped abruptly. Javier was up to his usual tricks.
Although it was Friday night the investigation team was still hard at work.
“Do you want a coffee?” she asked, sniffing curiously at the food he was carrying.
Javier grinned and held up the pizza boxes. “Here, there’s enough for you too. I need food, not more caffeine!”
“Yum, it smells delicious!” enthused Thorén.
They continued into the kitchen, sat down at a table and opened the pizza boxes.
“There’s pizza for everyone!” declared Javier as Kalle and Sanna entered the kitchen.
“Thanks!” said Kalle. “But we’ve already ordered our own.”
“The usual I guess?” remarked Thorén, munching a large slice of pizza.
“Yup, nothing beats a Hawaiian,” said Kalle cheerfully.
Blom entered the kitchen, flustered and out of breath.
“We’ve got another one…!” he said, drying the sweat from his forehead with a white handkerchief as he flopped down onto an empty chair.
Sanna stared at her boss in astonishment, the coffee cup halfway to her mouth.
Blom returned her gaze.
It was an unusually warm September evening and the air in the room was stifling.
“What do you mean?” asked Sanna. “Where?”
“Tyresö! What the hell’s going on? How many more bodies are there?”
Everyone stopped eating and turned to look at Blom.
“We received an anonymous phone call,” he explained. “It sounded like an elderly woman. She was slurring her words a bit – drunk maybe. Anyway, she described an unpleasant smell in the building.”
“Have you contacted Forensics?” asked Javier.
“Yes, they’re probably at the crime scene by now.”
“Let’s go!” said Sanna.
“The corpse isn’t going anywhere. Finish your pizzas. Tell me when you’re on your way, I’ll join you.”
He left the room.
“We’ll go in fifteen minutes,” said Sanna, opening the newly delivered pizza box.
CHAPTER 37
The Tyresö Case
THE RESIDENTIAL AREA IN TYRESÖ consisted of rows of identical apartment buildings painted in various shades of orange. There was a large private car park in front and Sanna pulled into a spot reserved for visitors. She climbed out of the car, followed by Kalle, Javier, Thorén and Allan Jonsson.
“Didn’t Blom want to join us?” asked Thorén.
“Yes, he’s coming with Segelström,” replied Kalle.
They entered one of the buildings. Instead of taking the elevator, the group made their way up the stairs to a duplex apartment on the fifth floor.
A few curious neighbours had congregated outside the front door, which was being guarded by a police officer.
The detectives crowded into the hallway and continued through to a dimly lit bedroom, without acknowledging the pervasive smell that filled the apartment.
A few people stood beside the bed chatting quietly among themselves. The group included a plain clothed police officer and Roberta Suares, the pathologist, who was easy to identify because of her white overall and doctor’s bag lying at her feet. They had been the first to arrive at the scene and turned around at the sound of Sanna Johansson’s voice.
Sanna introduced herself and looked at the victim. “It’s not the same killer!” she said without hesitation.
Allan Jonsson peered down at the corpse. He looked at Sanna questioningly.
Sanna turned towards Roberta Suares. “How long has he been dead?”
“All I can say for now – and this is very preliminary – is that it could be as long as two weeks. You’ll get the report as soon as I complete the autopsy,” replied Suares.
The forensic technicians packed up their equipment and closed their bags.
“What do you think?” asked Blom as he strode into the room followed by Segelström.
“On the face of it, it doesn’t look like the same modus operandi, but let’s see where the investigation leads,” replied Sanna. She turned to the technicians. “Did you find anything interesting?”
“Hard to say. Let’s wait for the results of what we’ve collected here,” answered one of them. “Oh, by the way, transport is on its way to collect the body.”
The forensic technicians and the pathologist left the room together.
Blom studied the victim silently. The man was in his fifties. His hands and feet were bound and his mouth was gagged with heavy-duty silver tape. He wore a peaceful expression and there were no indications that a struggle had taken place.
He cleared his throat. “I know you didn’t want another murder on your books but…”
Sanna turned around and surveyed her team. “Allan, you and Segelström take care of this.”
Allan Jonsson looked somewhat nonplussed while Segelström nodded appreciatively.
“Find out everything you can about Josef Dahl Krom, including whether he’s related to Bosse Krom. Let’s see if this victim has links to the others,” instructed Sanna before turning to leave the crime scene with Kalle, Javier and Thorén in tow.
The rest of the team stayed behind to inspect the apartment. There was a comfortable living room with an open fireplace in the centre and a crowded bookcase. The well-planned kitchen and the décor in general gave a cozy, welcoming impression.
“No TV,” observed Blom.
“Looks like he’s the literary type,” stated Segelström, pointing to the bookcase. He walked over to the window. “And who needs TV when you have a view of the water like this.”
“Look, here’s a weapons cabinet!” exclaimed Allan Jonsson from another room.
Segelström opened a glass door and took out a book. “There are loads of books about weapons. He must be one of ours – our fourth body,” he concluded, winking.
Blom stared at him, spun around and left the crime scene.
HE WAS SLOUCHED OVER THE TABLE intently studying the Notes app on his iPhone. He had
written up a few points to remember during the witness questioning.
The sound of voices drew nearer.
He hurriedly stuffed the mobile into his jacket pocket and sat up straight.
The door opened.
Sanna Johansson and Samir Mohamed appeared. Sanna was carrying a café latte.
“Do you want some tea or coffee?”
“No thanks, I’m fine,” replied the man gesturing at a plastic cup filled with water on the table.
Monika Lind entered the room in a fluster.
The inspectors sat down opposite the witness and Sanna switched on the recording device.
“Interview with Johan Blixt of Isafjordsgatan 35, Kista at Stockholm Police Headquarters on September the eighteenth, led by Detective Inspector Sanna Johansson and assisted by criminal assistants Samir Mohamed and Monika Lind. The time is ten past nine.”
Sanna recited Johan Blixt’s social security number and civil status. She had already familiarized herself with details of the preliminary interview conducted by Samir Mohamed and Monika Lind three days earlier.
“How come it took you so long to contact us?” asked Sanna.
“It didn’t occur to me that I might have information until I saw the photos on TV3’s Crimewatch,” replied Johan Blixt, looking directly at Sanna. “Although, at that point I didn’t know whether what I had to say would be useful or not,”
Sanna nodded, “We’re interested in any information concerning this particular investigation.”
“I see. Well, I think I saw a black Land Rover…It was a black car anyway.”
Johan Blixt had begun to perspire and, although his gentle brown eyes and relaxed posture suggested otherwise, he appeared uneasy. Sanna was having trouble working him out.
“I meant to drive by quickly. You can never tell what kind of people you’re dealing with, you know.” He ran his hand over his hair and dried the sweat from his brow before continuing. “All of a sudden, a man got out of the car, opened the boot and took out a wheelbarrow, large rubbish bag and spade. There was something shifty about him and I thought it was odd they were working at that time of night.”
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