Caia shakes her head. ‘One thing I’ve learned over the years is not to do business with friends. It never ends well.’ She steps back and raises one hand. ‘Give my best to Nedanås,’ she says with that wry smile. ‘I don’t think I’ll be back for quite a while.’

She stands in front of her big house with her arms defiantly folded as Anna and Jens drive away, a dwindling figure in the wing mirror until she disappears completely.

‘So, what do you think?’ Jens says.

‘They’re lying.’

He raises his eyebrows. ‘Who’s lying?’

‘All of them.’

Chapter 46

46

Autumn 2017

On Wednesday morning Anna presses the wrong button on her phone and switches off the alarm instead of setting it to snooze. She has to gobble down her breakfast standing by the sink, then drive as fast as she dares along the steep, winding road down the ridge. When she arrives at the station she is still firing on all cylinders, and it takes her a few minutes to notice that the atmosphere is somewhat subdued. She unlocks her office door and has only just sat down when Jens Friberg appears. He’s wearing his uniform, to her surprise.

‘Hi,’ she says, thinking he’s come to discuss the previous day’s interviews. Then she notices his stiff expression.

‘I think it’s best if I revert to my previous duties,’ he says tersely. Before she has time to reply, he’s left and closed the door. She doesn’t understand, and is about to go after him when her mobile rings. It’s her solicitor.

‘Have you seen the article?’

‘What article?’

‘In the Express. Third article down.’

He gives her a few seconds to find the right website.

CHIEF OF POLICE QUESTIONED ABOUT
EX-HUSBAND’S DEATH

The headline turns her stomach to an ice-cold hollow that grows bigger and bigger as she reads. She isn’t named, but as the paper refers to her as a newly appointed chief of police in Skåne with considerable experience of murder investigations, it really doesn’t matter.

‘That’s not all,’ her solicitor goes on. ‘I’ve just spoken to Santesson, and of course he insists that his department isn’t responsible for the leak. He went on at length about how regrettable it is that the case has come to light – all bullshit. As you can see, he has no intention of dropping the inquiry. Instead, he’s requested another forensic examination of the infusion pump, and this time he’s not satisfied with the local technicians. He’s sent the pump off to the lab in Linköping – top priority.’

He falls silent, waiting for her to say something.