‘No, no,’ Fredrika assured him. ‘We’ve just undergone a major restructuring, but I’m guessing that’s not what you’re referring to. Could you be a little more specific?’

‘Absolutely. You told me that the police in Sweden weren’t aware of what had happened to Beata in London.’

Fredrika shuffled uncomfortably.

‘I can’t honestly tell you what the procedure is when a Swedish citizen is murdered overseas, but if no report is filed in Sweden, then . . .’

‘That’s not what I meant,’ Mikael said. ‘It was more the fact that you had so many questions, when you could have got the answers from one of your colleagues.’

Fredrika was busy moving papers around her desk; she stopped in mid movement.

‘Sorry, I don’t understand.’

‘Malcolm Benke was in regular contact with a detective in Stockholm who gave him good advice on how to handle his daughter’s situation. A detective who was a friend of a friend, I think.’

When Fredrika didn’t speak, Mikael added: ‘At least that’s what Malcolm said.’

‘Do you remember the name of this detective? Did Malcolm mention a name?’

‘He did. It was Torbjörn Ross.’

*

Alex was nowhere to be found when Fredrika started looking for him. Ivan had seen him heading for the lifts a few minutes ago, so Fredrika tried his mobile.

‘Where are you?’

‘On my way out. There’s something I have to do.’

She thought she might actually explode. No more secrets, please. No more than those she was convinced he already had.

There’s another reason why you didn’t tell me about Noah Johansson’s missing brother until today. What was it?

‘Alex, tell me where you’re going.’

She heard the sound of an engine starting.

‘I’m meeting someone who’s too scared to talk to me on the phone.’

‘Who?’

The engine roared; Alex was on his way out of the underground car park.

‘Tina Antonsson,’ he said after a few seconds.

‘Now?’

‘Yes.’

Fredrika wanted to protest, point out that they had a thousand other things to do. They had to talk about Ross. That must take priority.

Because if Ross is the killer, then I can let go of my suspicions about Spencer.

She went into the Lions’ Den and closed the door behind her. It was colder than ever.

‘I know why Ross thought it was Bernhard Benke who’d murdered Malcolm,’ she said. ‘He knew Malcolm, knew exactly what was going on with Beata in London.’

‘Jesus! Where did you get this from?’

‘Mikael Lundell.’

Fredrika drew her jacket more tightly around her body, trying to get warm.

‘Alex, we need to push this upstairs.’

‘You mean we need to make a formal report on our suspicions about Ross?’

‘Yes.’