Alex blinked, moved closer. Then he recoiled.

‘They found him on a private tennis court belonging to some guy who insisted the murder was nothing to do with him,’ Ross informed him.

The image Alex had just seen was burned on his retina.

The photograph on Ross’s phone showed a person who had been buried just below the surface of the tennis court, fingers and toes protruding. In the background was a lawn-mower spattered with rust-coloured stains.

Chapter 7

Why did the most important decisions always have to be taken when people were shocked and stressed? Fredrika had to decide what to do about what she thought she knew: that Spencer had written the letter Alex had found. That there was a faint chance Spencer could be the perpetrator they were looking for. It wasn’t a hard decision – she wasn’t going to say a word, not until she knew more, not until she had confirmation. The risk was too great, the consequences for Spencer would be too disastrous.

He was going to die soon anyway.

And the children would be home at the weekend.

The very thought of them made her feel weak. If Spencer was the killer, if she could entertain the idea even for a second, then shouldn’t she make sure that she and the children were safe?

But it’s not him. I know it’s not him.

In spite of the fact that he’s putting everything right.

A sharp rap on the door made her jump.

‘Come in!’

Alex appeared. ‘I thought you’d gone.’

‘Gone where?’

‘That’s what I was wondering – I went back to the Lions’ Den because I thought you were in there. With the letter.’

Suddenly he looked very tired.

‘Sit down,’ Fredrika said.

‘I’ve no idea what I’m talking about,’ he said, sinking down on one of the chairs on the other side of the desk and letting out a long sigh.

‘What did Ross want?’ Fredrika was keen to avoid the subject of the letter.

Alex produced a copy of a photo. At first Fredrika couldn’t make out what it was.

‘Do you see?’

‘No.’ But that was a lie; by now she had realised exactly what she was looking at.

‘Lovisa Wahlberg’s boyfriend,’ Alex clarified. ‘He escaped from prison owing drug bosses big money, and they murdered him.’

Fredrika pushed away the picture.

‘Jesus,’ she whispered.

‘There’s more. Ross told me they found the book by Morgan Sander in Lovisa’s apartment. According to her boyfriend, someone had left it on the parcel shelf of her bike.’

Fredrika felt a rush of adrenaline. Her first thought:

Revenge.

This was someone out for revenge, a killer who made sure his victims died in the same way as individuals they had let down in some way. Who left books and messages.

Two dead. Three if Noah was included.

How many more would there be?

‘What the hell is this?’ she said.