‘Better than being blind.’

‘I’m sorry, who’s blind?’

‘Irene…’ Tuvesson tried to intervene, but she couldn’t get a word in.

‘No, I want to know what he means. Because if it turns out we have a closet racist on the team, I want him as far away from this investigation as possible.’

‘You’re certainly not shy about throwing the word racist around. If it’s not the perpetrator, it’s me,’ Klippan said, pointing to himself. ‘But since you’re asking, I’m neither racist nor xenophobic. I’m just not as hysterically politically correct as you, which means I can see things for what they are. Which may not be such a terrible thing, considering the work we do.’

‘Like what? What is it you see so much more clearly than I do?’

‘Facts. Facts that even though they hurt are still bloody facts. Like how, these days, it takes refugees an eternity to break into the job market. That foreign-born individuals are over-represented when it comes to both assault and lethal violence, not to mention rape and robbery. That most of the organized crime networks in this country are based primarily on ethnicity. I could go on, but if I know you, you’ve already stopped listening.’

‘Oh no, I’m all ears, I’m just still waiting for a connection to Moonif Ganem and his family.’

‘To see it, all you have to do is a quick search of the criminal records and decide not to close your eyes.’ Klippan turned to his laptop. ‘Take the son, Bassel Ganem, for example. He’s been reported for assault on three separate occasions and most recently sexual assault as well. Or his older brother Nizar, who has been convicted of both a mugging and criminal possession of a gun. Granted, their father, Aimar, has never been reported or charged with anything, but on two occasions the neighbours have called the police, citing loud fighting and screaming. That’s the boy’s family. What Samira’s family looks like, I have no idea. And no, none of it is proof that we’re dealing with honour-related violence. I just don’t think we can disregard it before we’ve even looked into it.’

‘Of course we’ll look into it.’ Tuvesson wrote down honour-related next to xenophobia. ‘Klippan, can you handle that?’

‘Absolutely,’ Klippan said, avoiding Lilja’s eyes.

‘Listen.’ Tuvesson put down the marker and turned to them. ‘Given what’s happened, it’s no wonder our reactions are slightly different. But in order to work together, we have to be civil and think of our different perspectives as an asset.’

‘Absolutely. I’m sorry,’ Lilja said and turned to Klippan, who nodded.

‘And now for something completely different,’ Tuvesson continued. ‘How’s our stabbing victim doing?’

‘Ralf Hjos. Well, from what I’m told, he’s doing okay given the circumstances. No vital organs were damaged. Apparently, the wound was not too deep.’