Lilja turned on to Blekingegatan and thought to herself that it, and the adjacent Hallandsgatan and Smålandsgatan, must have been planned with a view to creating a whole new suburb on the edge of Bjuv. Yet another grand political vision that had, apart from a few scattered houses, amounted to nothing more than a sea of vacant lots where the grass now had free rein to grow.

Yeah, right, we don’t have the space to accommodate more immigrants, she thought and put the Ducati’s kickstand down outside the Sweden Democrats’ office, which was located in one of the detached houses.

Sievert Landertz, the party’s chairperson in Bjuv, represented everything she hated about the Sweden Democrats. A polished surface concealing an odious inside. His neat tie, which gave him the air of a dependable banker. His perfectly trimmed stubble, not to mention his deceivingly friendly smile.

Landertz was one of the so-called reformers the national leader, Jimmie Åkesson, had roped in in his attempt to normalize and build public confidence in the party. He had also purged the most rabid racists and severed the party’s ties to Nazism, by pretending they had never existed.

The strategy had unquestionably been successful. Despite one scandal after another, the Sweden Democrats were on their way to becoming the country’s third-largest party.

The door opened before her fingertip had even left the doorbell. And by Landertz himself, no less.

‘Hello. Irene Lilja from the Helsingborg police.’ She held out her ID.

‘Yes?’ Landertz inspected the ID. ‘What is this regarding?’

‘As you may have heard on the news, we’re in the middle of a murder investigation.’

‘Yes, I heard about that Syrian boy. Just terrible.’ Landertz shook his head, and she had to suppress an urge to slap him and let him know she wasn’t fooled by his dissembling. ‘But I don’t see how I can be of help.’

‘I’m sure I can explain that to you. But I think it would be better if we discussed this inside.’

‘Could it possibly wait? I’m in a bit of a rush and I’m afraid I don’t have—’

‘Should I take that as you trying to obstruct a murder investigation?’

‘No, not at all. Not at all. I’m just—’ He broke off with a sigh. ‘Could we make it quick? As I said, I don’t have—’

‘How long it takes is up to you,’ said Lilja, who was already pushing her way in.

It looked exactly as she had expected. A number of offices and a kitchen to the right, the latter with a table on which a half-eaten kebab was sitting next to a Coke Zero.

‘Why don’t we go to the kitchen,’ Landertz called to her as he locked the front door.