The latter had undeniably been close at hand—even if in Gunilla’s case this might have directed suspicion towards someone working in healthcare, and thereby potentially herself. On the other hand, no one would have suspected Gunilla, who was highly regarded in all settings that she moved in. And if there had been any traces of Erik in the car or on other Hallin family possessions then it would have been Jan who was fingered. Including by Gunilla, it had to be assumed—even if she would have done it in a highly practised and barely perceptible manner. Superficially, she would have fought tooth and nail to clear her husband of such preposterous accusations, but under cover she would have worked for the opposite outcome. If it was too late and the family succumbed to scandal, Gunilla had no intention of being pulled down with it. His planned flight was something she had naturally supported on the sole basis that given the current situation it played into her hands.

In short, Gunilla was undoubtedly highly resourceful, and that was a personality trait that he recognised in her. However, what surprised him was her propensity to take risks. The entire procedure of abducting the boy had encompassed a major and imminent risk of discovery. Merely stealing pharmaceuticals from work involved serious risk, but Gunilla had probably made sure to direct suspicions elsewhere or had given patients common salt solutions or nothing at all while keeping their prescriptions.

She had caught Peter Norling in the car park outside his place of work and had been lucky enough not to be seen. Nor had anyone paid any attention to them as they had made their way out of town in her car—her and Jan’s car—and driven all the way down to Garde. She could have been seen. The car could have been seen wherever it was parked. Facts that had clearly done little to frighten her.

Jan had apparently been living with a psychopath for almost thirty years. How the hell had he missed that? But she had saved him from one sticky situation after another—he couldn’t deny her that.

77. Sandra

77

Sandra

WHEN SHE WOKE up again it was in a different kind of light and in a different room. It might be Erik’s room, but she didn’t have the strength to raise herself in the bed to confirm it. This was in part because she was strangely powerless, and partly because she was quailing at the prospect of discovering yet again that he was no longer there. Was it a genuine experience or something she had dreamt? Sandra didn’t dare speculate. She felt totally confused and completely detached from reality. She shut her eyes again.