Back in her office she closes the door and settles down with the Rylander file. The next step is crystal clear: question the four people Rylander presumably tried to blackmail. However, the first rule of interviewing is that you do your homework and have as much information as possible before confronting a suspect. There are still pieces of the puzzle missing. The autopsy hasn’t yet been carried out, and even if the cause of death seems obvious, unexpected details can sometimes emerge – details that may prove critical to the case. The same applies to the car and the forensic examination of Rylander’s home. Her instinct is to speak to the four friends as soon as possible about the email and their alibis for early Sunday morning, but her experience tells her to wait.

Her mobile rings before she has time to consider her next move. It’s her solicitor. As usual he doesn’t waste any time on small talk, which she particularly appreciates today.

‘I’ve just spoken to the chief prosecutor who’s dealing with the internal investigation. His name is Tord Santesson, and he’s personally taken over the case.’

‘Why?’

‘I didn’t get a clear answer. He claims that new information has come to light, and that you must be interviewed as soon as possible. It could just be a shot in the dark, of course. Santesson is a slippery bastard, if you’ll excuse the expression, and he’s perfectly capable of something like that. But it does seem as if he means what he says.’

‘So, what are the implications in practical terms?’

She hears him take a deep breath.

‘Well, if you don’t get yourself down here within a very short time, there is a strong possibility that Santesson will have you brought in for questioning. And if that happens, we won’t be able to keep it out of the press. A murder detective suspected of murder – that’s big news. And I’m pretty sure that Santesson wouldn’t mind that at all.’

He pauses for a moment, and Anna can hear her heart pounding.

‘I suggest that you drop everything and get on a plane to Stockholm – today if you can.’

*

She stays in her office for the rest of the day, sending her team brief instructions by email. Then she books the first flight to Bromma tomorrow morning.

She makes every effort to stay calm, tells herself that this is all down to a new prosecutor hungry for results. Internal Affairs haven’t really come up with anything new. She has the situation under control.

But what if you’re wrong? Håkan whispers. What if they know? What if you’re arrested, what if Agnes has to read all about it in the papers, what if—