“Well...” he said, suddenly seeming to be lost in his thoughts. “Yes, the containers are an unfortunate chapter...that happened without my knowledge. It was Gavril’s idea...but that doesn’t matter now that he is dead.”

“Do you know how he died?” she said, not waiting for his answer. “It was Danilo who shot him, executed him in cold blood so he could take his place...”

“You don’t know anything about that.”

“Yes, I do,” she said, smiling weakly, then becoming serious again. “And Anders, does he also know who I am?”

Her father looked tired.

“Anders?” he said, looking up. “Yes, he knows...but he doesn’t know that you’ve begun to remember.”

“And Mother? Does she know, too?”

“Your mother doesn’t know anything.”

“She knows that the adoption is closed.”

“But not why. No one knows.”

“Danilo knows.”

“Danilo...” He said the name in a single long exhalation.

“He made his mistake by attacking you that night in Knäppingsborg. He should have stayed out of it.”

“He made a lot of mistakes, didn’t he?”

“By that you mean...?”

“Robin Stenberg, among others.”

“Yes,” her father said thoughtfully. “He was too eager, acted impulsively. That brings consequences.”

“You admit that?”

“I admit that Danilo was a risk, and businessmen like me have to minimize risks.”

“You had many reasons to do away with him, and you knew that I wanted to get revenge on him.”

“No,” he interrupted. “I assumed you wanted revenge. But it took a sketch to get you to act.”

Jana found it difficult to stand there and hear his words. “You made me kill him.”

“Well, good. Then you don’t need to worry any longer that he’s going to reveal your true identity...and we can both be at ease.”

“Danilo said he didn’t have my boxes. Where are they? And my journals? I want them back now!”

“How do you know I have them?”

“Where are they? Tell me where they are!”

Karl smiled again.

“You shouldn’t hold on to the past,” he said. “Everything changes.”

“Not people.”

“Maybe not people, but times change.”

Jana’s eyes narrowed, her fists clenched. “Tell me where my boxes are,” she said slowly.

“In a safe place.”

“Where?”

“Why would I tell you?”

“What are you going to do with them?”

“I may need them very soon.”

She took a step forward, both fists still clenched. “How did you know they existed? That I hid them?”

“You’ve been part of my household for over twenty years, Jana. You should know by now who I am, that I have eyes and ears everywhere.”

“Was it the property owner? Did he tell you?”

Her father shook his head.

“Much simpler than that, Jana. Axel Lundin frequented the building on Garvaregatan. He saw you.”

She felt her muscles tighten, her breath quicken.