The article that had been left in her mailbox gave Lovisa Wahlberg no peace. She burst into tears several times during the day and evening. She’d called friends, talked and talked, but hadn’t dared to put into words what she really wanted to say.

She was scared.

She didn’t want to be alone.

And her boyfriend had other plans, so he wasn’t available to keep her company.

The only people she hadn’t called were her parents. They would have asked far too many questions, messed with her head even more.

‘Tell me you’re not having problems again!’

That was exactly what her mother would say.

Then she would sigh.

Sigh and groan and shake her head.

I’m such a disappointment.

Lovisa went and lay on the sofa, pretended to watch TV, but stayed there for only a few minutes. Resting, trying to switch off, just made her panic. Someone was after her, there was no doubt about it.

I ought to call the police.

She dismissed the idea immediately. They wouldn’t listen to her, not after what had happened, everything that had come out. The police knew she’d been lucky to get away with it. Things could – should – have ended very differently for Lovisa. The officer who’d interviewed her on her return to Sweden had made that very clear.

‘Don’t imagine we’re not aware that you should have gone down too,’ he’d said. ‘I hope you’re not under the illusion that we regard you as a victim in all this.’

Lovisa stared blankly at the newspaper article. No, she hadn’t been a victim. Not last time.

But maybe this time . . .

She shuddered and went into the hallway yet again. Just like before, she held her breath as she peered through the spy hole.

No one there.

Only shadows.

No one there.

Only shadows.

So why was she so convinced that someone was following every move she made?

Chapter 10

‘The art trail in Österlen in August,’ Diana Trolle said. ‘What do you think?’

‘I think it sounds just about as boring as counting grains of sand on the shore,’ Alex Recht replied.

‘Oh, Alex!’ Diana couldn’t help laughing.

‘Seriously – how long have we been together now? You know I’m nowhere near as interested in art and . . . culture as you.’

‘But you like Österlen.’

‘I like most places. You wander round the art trail and I’ll find something else to do in the meantime – I’ll go and lie on a nice beach and read my book.’