All available units, Karl thinks bleakly and checks his holster and the Glock he signed out. Actually, ‘signed out’ might be overstating it. More accurately, everyone had snatched up guns and ammunition from the gun locker like it was a post-Christmas sale, before racing down to their cars. Byle had shouted to the on-duty officer to ‘make sure you bloody well call Vrede in right bloody now!’ before the station door slammed shut. Once they were on their way, he had explained to Karl that Olaf Vrede is a retired canine officer who lives outside Skreby. No longer active, but hopefully home – and he still has his dog.

Eight men, six guns and a dog. Stuck in traffic on a snowed in road.

We’re never going to make it, Karl Björken thinks to himself.

Just when he opens his mouth to point out that the road has straightened out again, he realises Thorstein Byle apparently agrees that it’s finally time for lights and sirens.

A moment later, he puts his foot down and turns into the oncoming lane.

Chapter 83

83

‘I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to go back in there.’

William Tryste nods toward the splintered opening with an apologetic smile. Karen turns over in the snow, tries to stand up but slips and ends up on her bum with both hands flat on the ground behind her. Anything, just not back in there, something inside her screams while she stares at Tryste’s hand. In the dark, she can’t quite make out what he’s holding, just that it’s some kind of rifle.

He gestures impatiently with the barrel.

‘Get up,’ he says.

‘No!’ she yells at him. ‘I’m not going back in there. You’re going to have to shoot me out here.’

‘Sorry, can’t do that, someone might hear. And think of all the blood . . . I’m sure you can see why I can’t risk leaving any traces out here in the open.’

‘No one’s going to look for me here. I know what you’re planning.’

‘Oh, you puzzled that out, did you? Now, up we go.’

‘They’re not going to look for me here,’ she repeats frantically. ‘Helena must have brought my car over to Heimö by now.’

Tryste’s seems to stiffen at that and he glances down at his watch while keeping the rifle trained on her. He’s worried about something, she realises. It doesn’t take her many seconds to figure out what.

‘She hasn’t called?’ she says slowly. ‘You’re still waiting for the signal.’

‘Shut up and get on your feet,’ Tryste barks at her.

Karen refuses to move. Deliberately provoking him. He’s going to have to shoot me out here, she thinks to herself. I’m not going back in there.