With a push of her thumb, she starts the next video.

And as Leo speeds up again, they listen to the sound of Billy’s voice.

‘Interview with Lena Johanson, 29 April, 8.05 p.m.’

A few scraping sounds before he continues.

‘Hi, Luna. Would you prefer if I called you that?’

No answer, but something like a faint humming can be heard in the background. Yes, Karen thinks, like someone humming a song.

‘You have a lovely voice,’ Billy says coldly. ‘Is that a hymn?’

The humming grows louder.

‘You believe in God, don’t you? You’re sitting there, praying to good old God, even though you claim to be a Buddhist. Too late shall the sinner awaken . . .’

Still no answer.

‘I suppose the question is whether he believes in you. He certainly doesn’t believe in me. Did you know that?’

Karen suppresses the impulse to pause the video to ask Leo what it is Luna’s singing. Something about the monotonous melody sounds familiar. There are no other sounds now, just the humming of that familiar tune. Then, Billy adds the words. His voice is shrill and affected when he sings, ‘God, grant me thy mercy now. Forgive me my sins and give me peace.’

He breaks off abruptly. Then Luna’s humming stops, too, and the video ends.

Karen lets the phone sink into her lap.

‘Oh my God,’ Leo says. ‘What the hell is he doing? What does he want?’

She shakes her head slowly.

‘No idea. No fucking clue.’

True, it’s beyond clear that Billy’s not in his right mind, but at the same time, he doesn’t seem to be after anything in particular. Not money, or at least there’s nothing to suggest that’s what’s driving him. Maybe just a case of twisted idol worship gone wrong? Hadn’t Kore said something about Billy adulating Luna long before he had a chance to meet her? The once sparklingly glamorous, and famously talented singer, the former international star, the gay icon who was embraced by an ever-growing audience.

Until she suddenly stepped off the stage and was reincarnated as a white-clad goddess. Luna, now a symbol of clean living, charity, and causes ranging from orphanages in India and Africa and rainforests in Brazil to endangered orcas and LGBTQI+ issues . . .

And Billy Formby, Karen thinks. Maybe just a rootless young man suffering from acute psychosis. Or something else entirely. So far, neither the pictures nor the videos offer any kind of explanation.

Five videos in total. Three more to go.

Chapter 49

49

Both Jounas Smeed and Karl Björken are already there when Karen steps out of the lift on the fifth floor of the Dunker Police Station.

Leo dropped her off before speeding off towards Thingwalla. After some hesitation, Karen had agreed to forward two of the pictures in Billy’s phone to Leo’s so he can show them to Eirik and Kore.