Buried Angels by Camilla Läckberg Read Free Book Online

tried to fasten the loop again, and finally managed it.
    ‘Does it really matter whether we lock up the house?’ she said without turning around. ‘Locked doors didn’t seem to stop whoever it was trying to burn the place down last night.’
    ‘What else can we do?’ said Tobias. ‘And you could at least look at me when we’re talking. This is important. Somebody tried to burn the bloody house down, and we have no idea who it was or why. Doesn’t that scare you?’
    Slowly Ebba turned to face him.
    ‘What should I be scared about? The worst has already happened. Locked or unlocked doors, it doesn’t matter to me.’
    ‘We can’t go on like this.’
    ‘Why not? I did what you wanted. I’ve moved back here, agreed to your grand plans to renovate this dilapidated old mansion and then live happily ever after in our island paradise while the guests come and go. I’ve agreed to everything. What more do you want?’ She could hear how cold and unrelenting she sounded.
    ‘Nothing, Ebba. There’s nothing I want.’ Tobias’s voice was every bit as cold as hers. He turned on his heel and left the room.

FJÄLLBACKA 1915
     
    Finally she was free. She’d found a situation as a maid on a farm in Hamburgsund, and now she’d be able to get away from her foster mother and those odious children of hers. Not to mention her foster father. His nightly visits had become more frequent the older she got and the more her body developed. After she had her first monthly period, she’d lived in constant terror that a baby would start to grow inside of her. A child was the last thing she wanted. She had no intention of being one of those frightened girls, their faces swollen from crying, who came and knocked on her mother’s door, holding a screaming bundle in their arms. Even as a young girl she had despised them, their weakness and their air of resignation.
    Dagmar packed up her few possessions. She had nothing left from the home of her real parents, and here she’d acquired nothing of any value to take with her. But she was not about to leave empty-handed. She slipped into her foster parents’ bedroom. In a box under the bed, way back against the wall, was the jewellery that her foster mother had inherited. Dagmar lay down on the floor and pulled out the box. Her foster mother was in Fjällbacka, and the children were playing in the yard, so no one was around to disturb her.
    She opened the lid and smiled with satisfaction. There were enough valuables here to give her some semblance of security for a while, and she was glad that it would pain the witch to lose these inherited jewels.
    ‘What are you doing?’ demanded her foster father from the doorway, making her flinch.
    Dagmar had thought he was out in the barn. Her heart pounded wildly for a moment, but then she felt a great calm come over her. Nothing was going to ruin her plans.
    ‘What does it look like I’m doing?’ she said, taking all of the jewellery out of the box and stuffing the pieces in her skirt pocket.
    ‘Are you out of your mind, girl? Are you stealing the jewellery?’ He came a step closer, but she held up her hand.
    ‘That’s right. And I’d advise you not to try and stop me. Because if you do, I’ll go straight to the county sheriff and tell him what you’ve been doing to me.’
    ‘You wouldn’t dare!’ He clenched his fists, but then the frown on his face relaxed. ‘Besides, who would ever believe the Angelmaker’s daughter?’
    ‘I can be very convincing. And rumours will start to spread faster than you can imagine.’
    His face clouded over again, and he seemed to hesitate, but she decided to help him out.
    ‘I have a suggestion. When my dear foster mother discovers that her jewellery is missing, you’ll do everything you can to calm her down and convince her to forget all about it. If you promise to do that, then I’ll give you a little extra reward before I leave here.’
    Dagmar went over to her foster father. Slowly she raised