“Yes, that’s right.” The doctor turned off the flashlight and stuck it back in her pocket. “Heloise, you’ve suffered some injuries to your neck, so you’ll be sore for the next few days. You’ve had a CT scan, and luckily there’s no bleeding in your brain or damage to the soft tissues in your neck. But it’s likely that you’ve suffered a concussion. Do you feel nauseous? Any headache?”

She thought for a moment. “Yes.”

“Do you still feel dizzy or foggy?”

Heloise shook her head. “Not anymore. I’m just tired.”

“Do you remember what happened?”

Heloise thought for a moment, trying to remember. All her thoughts were like strange echoes inside her skull. What had happened? Where had that man come from? It had all happened so fast.

“There was a man. I was on my way into my apartment, and he … He grabbed me here.” She held a hand up in front of her throat and was startled when she felt the bandage around her neck. “He was pressing down on me, and it hurt, and I … I don’t know how I got away. I can’t remember anything else.”

She glanced around at the three of them in turn.

“There’s no guarantee that you will remember more,” the doctor said. “You passed out and were unconscious for many hours. But you’re going to recover. You just need to take it easy for a little while.”

“When can I go home?”

“Let’s see how you’re doing tomorrow. I’d like you to spend the night. I’ll be back later this evening to see how you’re doing. All right?”

Heloise nodded.

The door had scarcely closed behind the doctor when there was a soft knock from the outside.

Heloise looked up.

Sergeant Erik Schäfer stuck his head discreetly into the room. He smiled when he saw her.

“Ah, it’s good to see you up.”

“Well, I’m not exactly up yet,” Heloise said. She felt uncomfortable lying half-naked in a bed surrounded by other people.

“You know what I mean—awake!” he said. “Are you okay?”

She shrugged.

Schäfer glanced at Gerda and Martin. “Would it be all right if I speak to Heloise alone?”

“I’ll be right outside,” Gerda said, and squeezed Heloise’s hand before she left. Martin gave Heloise a concerned smile and a nod before he followed Gerda out.

Schäfer pulled a chair over to the bed and sat down beside Heloise.

“So, how are you really doing?”

“I feel like shit.”

“Well, you still look very beautiful.”

Heloise attempted a little laugh, but it hurt her throat. “The guy who attacked me … You got him?”

Schäfer nodded.

“Who is he?”

“His name is Stefan Nielsen. He’s really bad news. His rap sheet is longer than my … well, it’s long! Aggravated assault, threatening to kill people, unlawful restraint …”

“Unlawful restraint?”