‘They died a year and a year and a half ago respectively down in Cádiz in southern Spain, where they’d lived since ’92,’ Fabian replied, trying to process how Molander could sit here and make jokes and pretend everything was normal.

‘So where did she get the money?’ Molander asked.

‘What money?’

‘A bit rusty after your sabbatical?’

‘Fabian, the North Harbour isn’t exactly the cheapest address in town,’ Klippan explained. ‘So given her relative youth, you have to wonder whether she might have inherited a fortune or something.’

‘Not that I know. Her parents’ house was mortgaged to the hilt. But I can tell you her salary went up considerably in the past two years.’

‘Where did you say she worked?’ Tuvesson asked.

‘At Mavia Technologies in Landskrona. They’re in the car industry. That’s all I know.’

‘Sounds like she had a meteoric rise.’

‘But the company seems to be struggling. Their last three annual statements have shown a loss, and they’ve let almost half their staff go.’

‘Maybe she stepped on someone’s toes?’ Lilja said.

Tuvesson nodded and made a note about colleagues under possible suspects.

‘I don’t know about the rest of you,’ Klippan said. ‘But I would like to know how she died.’

‘This is what we know at the moment,’ Tuvesson said. ‘One of her neighbours, who happens to be a good friend of mine, was taking the bin out and noticed Wessman’s door slightly ajar. At first, she didn’t react, just walked past it to the rubbish chute. But on her way back, she saw a hand on the threshold, which prompted her to open the door fully and discover Wessman dead in her hallway.’

‘And the cause of death, what do we know about it?’

‘So far, nothing.’

‘But as soon as we’re done here, I’m calling Flätan,’ Fabian put in. ‘Even if he’s not done, he should have something preliminary.’

‘I’m going to have to ask you to hold off on that until tomorrow,’ Tuvesson said.

‘How come?’

Tuvesson sighed and exchanged a look with Klippan and Molander. ‘It’s his birthday, and no one takes their birthday more seriously than Flätan.’

‘What about his colleague then? Arne Gruvesson or whatever his name is. Can’t he step in?’

‘You know how Flätan feels about Gruvesson. He would never consent to handing such an intricate case over to him.’

‘By the way, did you hear what he said the last time Gruvesson came up in conversation?’ Molander said. ‘The only way that man should be allowed into the morgue is as a corpse!’

Klippan and Molander guffawed.

‘I agree with Fabian,’ Lilja said. ‘We’re in the middle of three investigations. Of course we should be able to call him. It’s not even a milestone birthday.’

‘Since when is fifty-eight not a milestone?’ Molander quipped.

‘Were there visible injuries?’ Klippan asked.