“But it’s also put me in a very difficult situation. You see, Anneli has analyzed the skin cells she found under Axel Lundin’s nails and got a match. She did a quick search in our records and found that they belong to one of us. Someone who works in our building, close to the case, and who has access to the holding cells.”

Anders looked at him.

“That doesn’t sound so strange to me,” he said.

“You don’t think so?”

“No.”

Gunnar smiled.

“What were you doing,” he began, leaning forward, “yesterday when Axel Lundin decided to kill himself?”

“Why are you asking that? Are you suggesting that I murdered him?”

“I’m not suggesting anything. It’s just a simple question.”

“Axel Lundin committed suicide. Why would I want to murder him?”

“That’s what I’m wondering. Go on, tell me.”

“You’re on thin ice, Gunnar,” Anders said.

“I’m just trying to figure out why you visited Axel in jail.”

“Did you want anything else?”

“Yes. During the investigation, we’ve come across two names: Danilo Peña and The Old Man. What do you know about this Old Man, really?”

“Just as little as everyone else.”

“Funny,” Gunnar said, “because you’ve gotten rid of most of the other drug dealers, but not The Old Man.”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“You’re supposed to be so knowledgeable about this area. Carin Radler is always saying what an expert you are. How is it that you don’t know anything about The Old Man?”

Gunnar cleared his throat.

“And furthermore, it’s a little strange that Danilo Peña went up in smoke at the same moment we got ahold of his name. That can’t just be a coincidence.”

“I thought you were working on the hypothesis that Peña and The Old Man were the same person.”

“Not anymore.”

Gunnar leaned forward again and studied Anders’s facial expression. But he still looked unaffected.

“I would be cautious if I were you,” Anders said.

“Why is that?”

“It’s very possible that I will be the next National Police Commissioner, Gunnar.”

Gunnar leaned back again, taking a deep breath.

“There are different ways to get power. One is to work really hard for a long time and ambitiously work your way up the hierarchy. Another is to pay others to get the position you desire. That’s called bribery.”

“Are you claiming that I’m corrupt?”

“Are you?”

Anders laughed scornfully. Then he truly began to laugh, a loud, hollow laugh.

“You’re a sorry bastard, Gunnar,” he said.

“But honorable. I’ve already contacted Internal Affairs, and I’m sorry to say it, but I think your dream of becoming the National Police Commissioner was just shattered.”

Anders drew his hand over his balding head and stood up, his hand reaching toward the pocket of his pants.