Sanderson turned away, stung by the idea that he’d let a fellow officer down. He said nothing for a moment, then, “This is ridiculous. Tell me you’ve never misplaced your mobile.”

“Arne … I’m sorry. There’s probably nothing to this, but I can’t take the chance. This inquiry has become very high profile.”

Sanderson’s urge was to battle, but he knew it would only work against him. He asked quietly, “Who will take over?”

“Anna Forsten from National.”

“A rising star, that one. Ambitious, telegenic. Not suffering from dementia.”

“Please … let’s not make this more difficult than it is. SÄPO has gotten involved. The terrorism angle is getting a lot of play.”

“It’s not terrorism,” Sanderson said quietly. “At least not in the way SÄPO thinks about it.”

“Which brings me to my next point—you’ve got a meeting after lunch with all of them. I want you to get them up to speed on everything we have so far.”

Sanderson sank back into his chair. Sjoberg did the same.

“Please understand my position, Arne. I know this can’t be easy for you.”

Sanderson stared blankly at a display of knotted ropes under glass hanging on the far wall. “And after I brief them? Then what?”

“You’ll be on medical leave until I have an evaluation from the department physician clearing you for full duty.”

Sanderson forced a quiet calm. “All right. I will go see the doctor, do whatever testing is necessary to clear up this nonsense. But I want to stay involved in this inquiry.”

“I don’t see how—”

“Put me on desk duty, whatever you want to call it.” Sanderson looked across the divide and swallowed his pride. “Paul, please—don’t pull me off this one.”

“I’m sorry, Arne, my hands are tied. The sooner you clear this up, the sooner you’ll be reinstated.” Sjoberg looked at him sympathetically.

It was all Sanderson could do to not leap for the man’s throat. With an exaggerated vitality, he rose and strode to the door.

He was reaching for the handle when Sjoberg said, “Arne—”

Sanderson paused.

“Expand on what you said.”

“About what?”

“About SÄPO being convinced this is terrorism. You think otherwise. Why?”

His answer was some time in coming. “By definition terrorism is violence in the pursuit of political aims. Intimidation of the masses. If you look at these shootings no one has been terrorized. This is something else, more like a gang war in our front yard. Everyone involved seems to be a foreign national, but I don’t see anything directed at Sweden.”

Sjoberg nodded. “Yes, I see your point.”