‘Go on then!’ he’d shouted. ‘Do it! Otherwise we’re all going to die!’

There had been no opportunity to consider the best course of action, no opportunity for reflection. He’d lurched at Malin and she’d used the knife, felt it slice into his throat – so easily, meeting almost no resistance – and watched him collapse. When he sank to the floor she felt a huge sense of relief, which sickened her. Dan was dead. And Malin was relieved. Because she and the children had survived, because they were no longer under threat from him. The feeling disappeared almost immediately, because Dan’s death didn’t actually make the situation better. On the contrary – things were worse. Now she was the only adult in the house, and their debt to the man who was holding them had not been paid.

She flushed the toilet, washed her hands and returned to the bedroom.

Only then did it occur to her that the man hadn’t brought any food. She ran through what was in the fridge: very little. In a few days it would be empty.

What happens then?

Surely he wasn’t intending to let them starve to death?

Malin got back into bed and drew her knees up to her chin.

He can’t let us starve.

He can’t let us starve.

Chapter 3

Morning briefing was held in the Lions’ Den. For once it was pleasantly warm; the air conditioning had been repaired and order had been restored.

Or not.

Only those colleagues who were aware of the investigation into Torbjörn Ross had been invited. Alex signalled to Fredrika to close the blinds at the windows facing the corridor. He didn’t want anyone passing by to glance in and think that he or she ought to be there.

He was chairing the meeting even though Berlin was present. She wanted to keep abreast of developments; there was a fighting spirit in her that Alex hadn’t seen before. Berlin was on the attack, and it suited her.

‘Where exactly is Ross right now?’ Alex’s question was directed at the head of surveillance.

The team had had eyes on Ross since he returned home at midnight.

‘In the toilets on the third floor.’

The odd giggle could be heard around the room.

‘Wonderful,’ Alex said dryly. ‘Absolutely wonderful.’

‘Wonderful or not, that’s where he is.’

‘How long has he been in there?’ Ivan asked.

The head of surveillance picked up his mobile and read the latest entry into the log.

‘He went in six minutes ago and he’s just come out.’