Alex frowned, thought about Peder Rydh who was no longer answering his phone. Who was so unreliable that he’d been sacked from his previous post.

And yet he said:

‘Peder worked for the Community for a number of years; he might be able to help us.’

‘Good idea.’ Berlin sounded distracted.

‘We need to question the head of security too, of course. Find out exactly what kind of house it is and why they decided to rent it to Ross.’

‘I did a bit of digging, but I don’t really understand . . . The house doesn’t exist.’

‘Doesn’t exist?’ Alex repeated.

‘Not as far as I was able to ascertain.’

A house that didn’t exist. A dead man who was Dan Johansson.

‘I’ll call Peder. Then we need to have a chat with the Solomon Community.’

Chapter 8

Peder Rydh was in the car when his phone rang. He glanced at the display: Alex. Again. He rejected the call. It rang again immediately, but this time it wasn’t Alex.

‘Yes?’

‘Shalom,’ Ed said. ‘Have you got time to meet up?’

The words indicated that it was a question, but the tone of voice made it clear that it was an order.

We are going to meet up.

Now.

‘What’s happened?’

‘I’d prefer not to discuss the matter over the phone.’

Peder was heading north, and was just about to leave the motorway.

‘In that case it’ll have to wait. I’m busy at the moment.’

Ed wasn’t used to Peder being difficult.

‘Have you spoken to your former colleagues in the last hour or so?’

Peder stiffened. Alex had called far too many times; had he contacted Ed directly? Peder carried on trying to duck and dive.

‘No.’

‘Well, maybe you should.’

Peder felt a spurt of irritation.

‘Just tell me what’s going on, for fuck’s sake! I don’t have time to play games!’

‘You remember recommending your colleague as a tenant for The Sanctuary? The one who wanted to provide a refuge for his daughter?’

Peder was clutching the steering wheel so tightly that his fingers hurt.

‘Yes.’

This might be worse than he’d thought.

‘I made a mistake,’ Ed said. ‘And so did you. The man who was living in the house has been found dead. By me.’

Peder had no idea what to say. ‘I don’t understand. Who’s dead?’

‘I just told you – the man who was living in the house with his family.’

‘You killed him?’

Ed exploded.

‘Of course I didn’t fucking kill him! I went out to the house to show it to the daughter of a colleague who was interested in renting it as a writing retreat. And we found a dead body in the lake. Do you realise what kind of problems this creates for us?’

Shit.

Why was nothing ever straightforward?