“No, not very long,” said Ellen. “The ferry goes slow but it’s not very far.”
“So you can show me then?” said the lady, opening the door for Ellen.
Ellen thought that she could. It would not take long and she would get a ride back. She thought about the kitten. It would be sad if it was sold when the lady got there. And then in some way it was as if the lady thought that she had already said yes, so it was strange to say no, too.
Ellen got into the car.
“Don’t forget the seat belt,” said the lady.
“No,” said Ellen, reaching for the seat belt.
“Do you need help?” asked the lady.
“No, I know how,” she said.
The lady drove off before Ellen clicked the belt into the buckle. Mommy never did that.
Ellen looked at the lady while the car drove away from the school. She had fine long hair that the sun shone in. She was more like a big girl than a lady. Ladies didn’t usually have long hair, not fine like that. And then she didn’t have a ladies’ name. Her name was Ellen, just like her. That was strange and a little exciting. When she stopped the car and asked about the way to the ferry, she had asked Ellen what her name was. When Ellen said it, she looked at her with big eyes and said, “You don’t say, that’s my name, too.” “Is your name Ellen?” Ellen had asked. “Yes,” she said, and Ellen laughed and then the big Ellen in the car laughed, too.
“Are you hungry?” big Ellen asked.
“No,” said Ellen.
“Would you like some gum then?” said big Ellen.
She put her hand in her jacket pocket and took out a little plastic container that she handed over to Ellen. Ellen looked at the container and understood after a while that there must be gum in it. She opened it, but then she happened to think, “I only get to have candy on Saturdays.”
“But this is sugar-free. That doesn’t count as candy. It’s good for your teeth.”
Big Ellen took two pieces herself and put them in her mouth. She held out the container to Ellen again. Ellen put her index finger in and poked up two pieces of gum. It crackled a little when she started chewing. It tasted different, not bad, but a little more boring than regular gum.
Big Ellen smiled at Ellen. She had fine, white teeth. Maybe it was because she chewed that kind of gum.
“Yes, where should we go now?”
Ellen looked out over the road. It was strange, but she didn’t recognize it at all. She didn’t understand. They drove there every school day, the road straight from school, then to the right on the big road past ICA and then you got to the ferry. Ellen knew right and left. She didn’t even need to think the hand you shake with or the hand you hold your pencil with when you write. But now she didn’t know her way around at all. Had she forgotten the way over summer vacation? How could she have? She did not understand and did not know how she should answer the question.
She looked at big Ellen, at the lady. Ellen no longer thought that she looked as much like a big girl.
“Okay, my friend, where shall be go? Last chance now.”
Ellen lowered her eyes. She felt empty and hungry, even though she had just eaten. Her head was completely empty, too. She had no idea how she should respond. The sun was no longer shining in Big Ellen/the lady’s hair and her cheek was chapped. She was no longer as pretty. Ellen sobbed.
“What do you mean, last chance?” she peeped.
“No, excuse me, I didn’t mean it that way at all,” said the lady. “It was just a game I played when I was little. A computer game. There was a little troll that drove a train. He used to say that. Excuse me. I’m sure you’ll find the ferry. You’ll get as many chances as you want.”
Ellen snuffled and wiped away a tear. It felt a little better, but still not good. She wanted to go back to the school, but she did not dare say that. She had promised to show the way to the ferry.
“What do you think? Shall we turn here?”
Big Ellen had stopped the car at a road that went to the right. Ellen did not recognize it, but in any case it was to the right. She nodded twice without saying anything.
“Then that’s what we’ll do.”
Big Ellen turned onto the road.
“Have you ever played that game with the troll?” she asked.
“No,” Ellen answered quietly.
“Maybe it doesn’t exist anymore,” said big Ellen. “Too bad, it was fun.”
Ellen tried to imagine a troll driving a train. It sounded fun. Big Ellen turned the car onto another road. This time she did not ask Ellen whether she thought it was right or not, but Ellen did not know the way here, either, so she thought it didn’t matter.
“There’s a DS in the glove compartment,” said big Ellen.
Ellen did not answer. She did not know what a glove compartment was.
“If you open that compartment,” said big Ellen, pointing at a small handle right in front of Ellen.
When Ellen did not move, big Ellen opened the compartment herself. She took out a white Nintendo DS and handed it to Ellen.
“I thought maybe you would want to play.”
Ellen took it, but held it without opening it.
She thought that there was no point in starting to play during the short ride to the ferry. Besides, she was going to show the way. She did not understand how she could show how to get to the ferry if she was playing. Although it was obvious, she had already lost her way. She had no idea how they would find the ferry from where they were now.
“Do you think they’re selling the kitten now?” she asked.
“I hope not. No, they probably won’t. I think it will work out.”
She no longer sounded worried. It was almost as if she no longer cared about the cat. Ellen felt empty and hungry again. Everything was constantly changing. The lady wanted to go to the ferry, then she didn’t seem to care whether they made it there or not. It was the same with the kitten. She asked about the way, wanted Ellen to help her find it, but then she should chew sugar-free gum and play Nintendo. Everything felt wrong and strange and she realized that she was the one who had made a mistake. Every conceivable mistake. That was the sort of thing she had heard, like both Mommy and Daddy had said. Many times for sure. Don’t ride in a car with someone you don’t know. Don’t take candy from someone you don’t know. The lady had said that it wasn’t candy, but maybe she was being tricked.
Ellen fingered the DS game. Big Ellen smiled at her. They came out of the shadow, the sun hit her hair, and she almost looked like a big girl again. Ellen opened the game and started it. The empty feeling disappeared a little when she heard the familiar melody. The game was one of her favorites. Nintendogs. She chose Chihuahua and started to play. She knew that she would not be able to find the way to the ferry if she sat there and played, but thought that even so it was best that way. That it was the point. She sensed that the lady would be pleased if she played.
19.
They were en route with Bodilla across the sound and in the backseat were parts for an alarm for six thousand five hundred kronor. It was wireless and would be easy to install themselves. The locksmith had shown them the brochure with instructions and said that they could just call and ask if there was anything they didn’t understand.
Malin rolled down the side window and set her arm in the open window. She squinted toward the sun. She had gotten what she wanted and Henrik’s misgivings had been unfounded. Bodilla puffed out diesel steam and her yellow plates shone brightly in the sunlight. Malin felt relieved, actually really satisfied. Whoever was behind this would see that they could take up the fight. It was not that easy to chase them away from the island. And if this lunatic tried anything else they would have him or her downloaded on the alarm’s hard drive.
The alarm monitored that the outside door was closed and locked; four motion detectors let you know if someone was trying to get into the house any other way. Malin had sketched the floor plan and the locksmith determined that four should be enough. If more
were needed it was easy to add on. They had bought a video surveillance system with three cameras that were also controlled by motion detectors. When the cameras were activated they sent images to the alarm’s own hard drive and to one or more cell phones. You programmed the numbers yourself into the server, which should be concealed in a wardrobe or cabinet, preferably on the top floor. The locksmith had demonstrated it in the store. It was like science fiction, but just as easy as changing channels on the TV.
Malin placed her right hand on Henrik’s thigh and ran her fingers along the inner seam of his jeans. There was an odor of newsprint from the newspapers that Henrik bought while they were there. They were in a thick pile alongside the plastic bags with the parts for the alarm.
Henrik leaned over and bit her lightly on the neck while he quickly touched her breasts. A little flash of heat fired off from her abdomen down between her legs. For the first time since she came home from vacation she was really turned on.
First the alarm, she thought. Henrik stroked his index finger against her nipple. Malin’s cell phone rang. She reached for her bag in the backseat and Henrik sank slowly back in the seat with a vague sigh.
“Yes, Malin,” she answered.
It was from the school, Ellen’s classroom teacher Anita Frisk. Anita got caught up in a detailed account of what the children had done during the lunch break, which finally ended in a question.
“You didn’t happen to pick Ellen up early today?”
Malin had a hard time understanding exactly what she meant.
“No, we haven’t picked her up,” she said, making a face to herself. “Why do you ask?”
It was only when she looked up at Henrik and saw his worried facial expression that it occurred to her what the teacher’s veiled question actually meant. Could mean.
“What is it?” whispered Henrik.
“What do you mean? Isn’t Ellen there?” asked Malin.
“She didn’t come into class after lunch.”
Anita Frisk’s voice sounded wobbly, but it could be poor coverage.
“Didn’t come in? What do you mean, is she gone?”
Malin held Henrik’s gaze firmly. He sat rigidly in the seat beside her.
“Yes, that is, we went out and looked in the schoolyard, but she wasn’t there and nowhere in the school, either. So then we thought that—”
“But good Lord, what time is it now?”
Malin looked at the instrument panel. Twelve thirty.
“When did lunch break end?”
“Ten after twelve,” said Anita.
“Ten after twelve. That’s twenty minutes ago. Twenty minutes. Why haven’t you called?”
Her voice was shrill. She was almost crying.
“Why the hell haven’t you called?”
“We’ve been searching and talking with the children who were with her at lunch.…”
“But that doesn’t make any sense. My daughter is missing and you only call me after twenty minutes. Don’t you understand how serious this is?”
Malin had leaned forward in the seat so that the belt was taut. She stared out the windshield at the blue sky, but saw only one thing. The family portrait where Ellen’s eyes had been replaced by two gaping holes. She felt sick.
“What’s going on?” Henrik hissed beside her.
“Malin, I’m happy to talk about what we ought to have done and when,” said Anita. “But right now it’s probably better if we concentrate on finding Ellen.”
A devastating wave of nausea almost paralyzed Malin. She wanted to kick and scream, but could not move. Fucking idiot. Fucking Anita Frisk. Then it subsided.
“Have you called the police?” she asked.
“No, we called you first. We thought she might be with you.”
“I’ll call the police. You have to go over to the day care and make sure that Axel is there. We’ve received threats. I haven’t said anything about it, but we have been subjected to threats and this may—”
She was not able to say the last words.
“We’ve already been there,” said Anita Frisk. “We thought that Ellen might have gone there, but she didn’t.”
“I’ll call the police,” Malin repeated. “We’re on our way. We’re on the ferry now, in the wrong direction. We’re on our way. Call if there’s anything.”
Then she ended the call without saying good-bye.
“What is it?” said Henrik, looking worriedly at her.
“Ellen is gone. She didn’t come in after lunch break.”
Malin held up the cell phone and tried to enter 911.
“Has something happened? What do you mean, gone?”
“I don’t know. No, nothing has happened. Not that anyone knows anyway. She’s just gone. I’m calling the police now.”
Henrik sat mute while she tapped on the green phone.
“What did they say about Axel?”
“He’s there. They were in the day care searching for Ellen. We have to go there.”
She turned around and looked up toward the bridge of the ferry, which was elevated on a frame above the car deck.
“We have to get them to turn around.”
“We’re already there,” said Henrik.
The ferry rocked as they made contact with the pier. Malin dropped the phone, which slipped in under the pedals. She leaned over between her own legs, turned double to get at it, but the seat belt made it difficult.
“Damn it shit shit shit,” she screamed and sobbed.
Then she got loose—Henrik must have undone the seat belt for her—and she could pick up the phone. The call had been interrupted. She entered the number again and pressed SEND, put the cell phone to her ear.
The gate opened with a buzzing sound and the signal for their lane was green. Malin moved the cell phone to her left hand and tried to turn the key in the ignition. Nothing happened. The car just stood there.
“But what the hell,” she whined.
Henrik reached out a hand. He wanted to take over the call. Malin waved his hand away and fussed with the key until she saw that the gear selector was in drive. She must have moved it without thinking about it.
The cars behind them were honking and she wanted to rush out and scream at them that her daughter was missing, kick the cars and scream at them to go to hell with their fucking worries about not getting off the ferry fast enough.
Everything collapsed and the whole time four pairs of eyes were staring at her. Four pairs of eyes that were not eyes but holes in a photograph.
20.
It was silent in the car. Gustav was driving, Sara sat beside him, and Fredrik was in the backseat. He looked out through the side window at the sun-drenched landscape rolling past. The same trip he and Sara had made three days earlier, minus the last bit on Fårö. That time it had concerned something small that might have been almost nothing. Now it concerned something big that could prove to be the worst imaginable.
Had they taken the threats against the family too lightly? Fredrik would answer that they had done what they could with the information that Malin Andersson and Henrik Kjellander had provided. They had questioned Henrik’s half sisters on Fårö. They had checked out the tenants. And these were good answers, not bad excuses. Even so he could not help thinking that they should have done more.
“It’s been such a short time.” Sara broke the silence. “It can be just about anything, that she had a falling out with one of her classmates and ran away.”
Fredrik hummed in response. Gustav remained silent behind the wheel. Of course she might be right, but Fredrik was certain that they were all mentally preparing themselves that they were on their way to a catastrophe. He had not met Ellen, only seen a picture of her, and it had lacked eyes. Even so he could easily visualize her. She was playing in the sand at Norsta Auren. His imagination even added a look full of life and delight. He tried to hold onto those thoughts. They might as well remain there on the idyllic sandy beach, not rush off to something else, something terrible.
<
br /> He was feeling very ill at ease, and quite selfishly he hoped to be spared that. He hoped that he would not be the one who had to stand before a dead seven-year-old in a forest clearing somewhere, if it turned out badly after all. That he would not be the one who would have to sit with the devastated parents and with his awkward sympathy coax out information in a situation that was completely inhuman.
But he would not be spared, he knew that. It was his job. Taking care of it. Managing it. Coping.
He tried to concentrate on the view, more or less like a carsick person who fixes his gaze on the horizon.
He was not normally pursued by unpleasant thoughts like this. Not when he was on his way to a crime scene. He could usually concentrate on the task, keep his head cold and close out his emotions until later. But this time it was clearly different. Or was it simply that he had become a different person?
Gustav looked grimly resolute behind the wheel. Were his thoughts moving along the same lines as Fredrik’s?
Sara looked at her watch, took her cell phone out of her pocket, tapped on it a while, but then put it away again.
“Is Micke coming over the weekend?” Fredrik asked.
“Yes,” she said, turning away.
Fredrik sensed the trace of a contented smile. Sara was the secretive type where her personal life was concerned. There was a guy in Stockholm she had met last Christmas. That was basically all he knew.
“I was thinking about whether I should phone, but it’s probably a little too soon.”
“Wait on that,” said Fredrik. “He won’t be getting here until late, right?”
“No, the twelve-twenty boat,” she said.
“All right,” said Fredrik. “Then there’s no problem.”
But of course there was. If the worst had happened. If the girl was dead.
21.
“What car are you talking about? Do you mean someone saw Ellen drive off in a car?”
Malin was staring at Anita Frisk.
“No, a girl in the class said she saw a car stop in front of the school right before the bell rang.”
The Intruder Page 10