“Otherwise we can try to find a new apartment. Or maybe a town house? We’ve never tried that.”

She pulled her hand away, looking at him without bothering to voice an answer. She knew the look on her face was enough.

“Okay,” he said, “I get it. You’re happy here.”

“So stop nagging.”

She sipped her tea, noting that there were approximately ninety seconds left of the song Adam was playing. One guitar solo and then the refrain three times.

“What do you think about the meeting with the National Crime Squad tomorrow?” he asked.

“I’m not thinking anything in particular. They can come to whatever conclusion they want. We did a very good job.”

“But I don’t understand why Anders Wester would come here anyway. I have nothing to say to him.”

“What? That really sexy guy is coming?”

She couldn’t help teasing him. There was something in his unnecessary worry, his jealousy, that she got a kick out of. But she regretted it immediately.

He glared at her.

“I’m only kidding,” she said.

“Do you really think so?”

“That he’s handsome? Yes, at one time I did.”

She tried to look nonchalant, amused.

“But not anymore?” he asked.

“Oh, stop it,” she said.

“Just so I know.”

“Stop! Drink your tea.”

“Are you sure?”

“Stop nagging!”

She heard the guitar solo. Then Adam’s voice singing the refrain.

Gunnar got up and poured the contents of his teacup into the sink.

“What are you doing?” Anneli asked.

“I don’t like green tea,” he said, heading for the bathroom.

She sighed, at Gunnar and at the music she could barely stand. But she didn’t want to end the evening with yet another argument. Not now, when they had just decided to try living together again.

She was already tired.

So tired.

* * *

“Hello? Are you okay?”

Robin Stenberg knelt down beside the woman who was lying on the ground in the fetal position. The chain from his ripped jeans clattered as it touched the hard concrete. He saw she was bleeding heavily from the back of her head and was just about to poke her when she opened her eyes.

“I saw everything,” he said. “I saw him. He went that way.”

He pointed toward the river, his hand trembling.

The woman tried to shake her head.

“Ffff...ffeh...ehlll,” she tried to say, her voice thick.

“No,” he said. “You didn’t fall. You were attacked. We have to call the police.”

He got up and dug around in his cargo pockets, looking for his cell phone.

“Nuuuh...” she said.

“Shit, you’re bleeding really bad,” he said. “You need an ambulance or something.”

He paced back and forth, unable to stand still.

“Shit, shit, shit,” he repeated.

The woman moved a little, coughing.

“Don’t...call,” she whispered.

He found his phone and typed in the passcode to unlock it.

The woman coughed again.