Suddenly, he was upon her. She ducked, held out her elbow and aimed at the bridge of his nose, aimed again, striking straight into his stomach, and he was forced to double over.

She laid her palm on the back of his head and pressed his face against her raised knee with violent force, then shoved him away.

Danilo cupped his hands around his nose. When he saw all the blood, he laughed loudly.

She turned, looking in the water for Isra, but she no longer saw her.

“Time to get serious,” he said, taking three steps forward and pulling the knife from the pier.

“I thought we agreed no weapons,” Jana said.

“The rules of the game just changed,” he said.

“I didn’t think you liked knives.”

“There’s a lot of shit you can do with a knife. That’s what I like,” he said, advancing.

Chapter Thirty-Five

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

PER ÅSTRÖM WATCHED Henrik and Mia run through the hallway and disappear into the elevator. Gunnar and Anneli had gone into their respective offices.

Per turned around, looking at Ola, who was gathering the papers that were lying on the table, and thought what a strange turn the investigation had taken. If Anders Wester was one of the people leading this narcotics mess, it would be a scandal of extreme proportions. He could see the newspaper headlines now, hear the special report announcements on TV... It was a bit unbelievable.

He caught himself missing Jana. He wanted to discuss the investigation with her—he’d been right, their respective investigations had indeed merged—but where was she?

Ola tapped the papers against the table three times and Per noticed they were alone in the conference room. He glanced furtively out into the hallway, which was deserted, then looked at Ola again. They didn’t really know each other. They’d really just seen each other now and then, in situations like this, when their paths crossed for work.

“So...” he began, adjusting his dark blue jacket. “I’m a little worried about Jana Berzelius...” He opened his mouth to continue, but hesitated again.

Ola looked up from his papers with a confused expression.

“Oh?” he said, and waited.

“I’m just wondering, do you know how to trace a cell phone?” Per asked.

* * *

Henrik Levin held his jacket closed with his hands so it wouldn’t flap as he and Mia dashed to the helicopter.

He helped Mia get on board first and saw the focused look on her face as she sat down and fastened the seat belt. The pilot and another man were sitting in the helicopter cockpit. The pilot pushed a lever and turned a key on the instrument panel.

Just as Henrik stepped into the helicopter, his cell phone rang again.

“Gunnar?” he said loudly.

“No, this is Labor & Delivery.”

Henrik froze.

Labor & Delivery?

No, not now.