She falls silent, realises she hasn’t stammered once. She takes another deep breath, slows down a little just to be on the safe side.

‘With regard to the online search on my former colleague’s computer, I have no explanation whatsoever. Nor do I need one. It’s up to you to prove that I was the one who carried out that search. Can you do that? Is there anything at all in your big fat file to link me to that computer?’

She reaches out and taps the file with her index finger, just as Santesson did. The bulldog turns his body, moving away from his boss and the table just a fraction, as if he wants to distance himself from what is going on. Santesson is still staring at Anna, no longer attempting to hide the anger in his eyes. She holds his gaze for a few seconds before leaning back on her chair. Theoretically, Santesson could arrest her without any evidence and lock her up for forty-eight hours just to be difficult, so it’s best if this pissing contest doesn’t go on for too long. She decides to give him an acceptable way out rather than continuing to humiliate him.

‘The fact is . . .’ She spreads her hands wide and inhales. ‘The fact is, I have no idea how Håkan acquired that final dose. Maybe one of the staff took pity on him, or maybe the pump malfunctioned. Or maybe a higher power intervened. Whatever happened, I’m grateful.’ She lowers her head, allows the grief to show through. It’s easier than expected. ‘Håkan was incredibly strong-willed,’ she says quietly. ‘He fought hard, lived longer than most others with such advanced cancer, but in the end even he couldn’t take any more.’

Santesson is still staring at her, while the bulldog and her solicitor are motionless. Once again, the atmosphere in the room makes the air feel thick. She keeps looking at Santesson, and somewhere deep in his eyes she thinks she sees a glimmer of genuine sympathy. Beneath that tough exterior he is also a person with feelings, with a family, with empathy.

‘Håkan was the father of my child,’ she adds quietly. ‘We might have been divorced, but he was the love of my life and my best friend. Not a day goes by when I don’t think about him. Talk to him. Miss him.’

She swallows, composes herself. ‘I wanted him to die. Longed for it to happen.’ She draws a jagged breath. ‘But I did not kill him.’

Chapter 41

41

Autumn 2017

They are asked to wait in reception while Santesson consults with his colleagues. As soon as they are out of sight and earshot, Anna’s solicitor lets out a huge sigh.

‘That was either the smartest or the dumbest thing you could have done.’

She shakes her head. ‘I went too far. But when he brought Agnes into it—’