She took another bite of her sandwich.

“Yes.”

“Why is that?”

“As I said, a lot is going on right now.”

Mia wrinkled her forehead, took a sip of coffee and took her cell phone from her pocket. She had received a text, and Henrik noticed that she smiled as she read it.

While she responded, he looked around the café. A woman in a dark blue sweater and skirt sat hunched over with her hands in front of her face. A man sat next to her with his arm around her shoulders and looked like he was trying to comfort her. An older man in a beige overcoat stood talking on the phone, his face stony.

“I think Gavril Bolanaki was taken out,” Henrik said quietly.

“Really?” Mia said, putting her phone back in her pocket.

“Yes. I think he was silenced. You know what people think of snitches.”

“They’re worthless.”

“Exactly. And it’s very possible that there’s a power shift going on in the narcotics world. Or more accurately, when Gavril disappeared, someone else took over.”

“The Old Man?”

Henrik nodded, drinking the last of his coffee.

“The case with Gavril is closed, in any case,” Mia said, picking up the sunflower seed from her plate and popping it into her mouth.

“Which is even more strange,” Henrik said, putting his cup back on the table.

“Why is that?”

“No reason. Forget it.”

“No, tell me. You think it’s all related?”

“Maybe.”

“Don’t beat around the bush, Henrik. We’re colleagues, for Christ’s sake.”

“I’m not. I think that Bolanaki was silenced by someone, and we still don’t know who. And I don’t like not knowing. I want answers, but we may never get them.”

“No, not now anyway, because it seems to be pretty hushed up.”

“Exactly. No one’s talking,” Henrik said, deep in thought.

Mia pushed her plate away from her and stood up, jacket in hand.

“It’s late,” she said. “Let’s be done for today, okay?”

“Sounds like a good plan,” Henrik said, yawning.

“Do I have anything in my teeth?” she asked, smiling widely.

“No.”

“Good. See you tomorrow then. And thanks for the sandwich, by the way.”

“You’re welcome,” Henrik said. “Don’t you want a ride home?”

“I’m not going home,” she said, waving over her shoulder before disappearing through the door.

* * *

What was she doing here, really? She shouldn’t have come. She should turn around, leave Robin Stenberg alone. Shouldn’t let the aggression and her nervous instincts take over.

The stairwell was mercifully dark as Jana Berzelius stood unmoving outside Robin Stenberg’s apartment.

She swallowed, closed her eyes for a moment and went back down the stairs.

The night air cooled her body as she stepped back onto the street. The snow crunched slightly under her feet. She stood still for a few seconds, looking around. She breathed deeply, feeling her body relax.