‘An officer who wasn’t part of the team has been asking you for information, and you just passed it on? You didn’t report him? Are you out of your mind?’

‘I thought he wanted to come back. I thought he wanted to be . . . part of it all. He’s so bitter.’

‘Who?’ Berlin shouted. ‘Who the hell are we talking about?’

Ross got to his feet and moved closer.

‘Who worked for the security firm that provided Dan Johansson with protection? Who helped me to lease The Sanctuary?’

‘Oh my God,’ Berlin whispered.

She opened the door and ran to call Alex.

Chapter 16

When Alex arrived home he found Diana reading in the living room. She seemed to be absorbed in her book.

‘Everything okay?’ he said.

Diana put down the book.

‘Not really. It’s a bit depressing, sitting here reading in the armchair. It would be much better on a beach.’

‘I’m going to keep hearing that, aren’t I?’

‘Difficult not to keep repeating such a fantastic sentence,’ Diana said with a smile.

Alex sat down in one of the armchairs Diana had picked up at an auction. Most of the furniture was hers. He hadn’t brought much when he’d moved in; he’d passed on a few things to the children and got rid of the rest.

Diana pushed her hair back from her face.

Alex thought about Fredrika and what she’d told him about Spencer. Death had no compunction.

‘Has something happened?’ Diana asked him.

‘Yes and no.’

He didn’t want to tell her, not until he’d got used to the idea. What would the consequences be? Fredrika didn’t see the police as her natural environment, and she would be left alone with two children. Would she stay on as part of Alex’s team, or would she look for a new job, since her life was going to change beyond recognition?

If she goes, I’ll have some lonely years ahead of me until I retire.

His body tensed as soon as it heard any talk of retirement. He intended to dig his heels in, refuse to leave. There was a dire shortage of police officers; surely they couldn’t get rid of someone with his experience who wanted to stay on in the new organisation?

Diana shifted in her chair.

‘I went to the graveyard today. To visit Rebecka.’

Alex reached out and placed his hand on hers.

‘How was she?’

‘She was absolutely fine,’ Diana said, her eyes filling with tears. Her daughter Rebecka was the reason why she and Alex had met. She would always have a special place in his heart, even though he’d never met her.

‘I saw one of your former colleagues there,’ she went on.

‘Oh yes?’

He was surprised; Diana didn’t know many of Alex’s colleagues.

‘Peder.’

‘Peder Rydh? What was he doing there?’