Buried Angels by Camilla Läckberg Read Free Book Online Page B

quietly in the boat.
    She went over to stand beside Patrik, leaning her head on his shoulder. He put his arm around her and kissed her cheek.
    ‘By the way,’ he said suddenly. ‘When we get there, remind me to ask you some questions about Valö and the summer camp.’
    ‘What do you want to know?’ asked Erica with interest.
    ‘I’ll tell you later, when we have a bit of peace and quiet,’ he said, giving her another kiss.
    She knew he was doing this to tease her. She was itching to know more, but she controlled herself. Silently she raised her hand to shade her eyes as she gazed at Valö. As they slowly chugged past, she caught a glimpse of the big white house. Would they ever find out what happened out there so many years ago? She hated books and movies that failed to answer all the questions in the end, and she could hardly bear to read about unsolved murders in the newspapers. When she’d started digging into the Valö case, she’d found out nothing new, despite searching long and hard for an explanation. The truth was as hidden as the house, which was now out of sight behind the trees.
     
    Martin paused for a moment with his hand in the air before pressing the doorbell. He soon heard someone approaching inside, and he had to fight back an impulse to turn around and leave. The door opened, and Annika stared at him in surprise.
    ‘Martin? What are you doing here? Has something happened?’
    He forced a smile. But Annika was the wrong person to try to fool, and that was essentially why he’d come to her house. Ever since he’d started at the station, she’d been like a substitute mother to him, and right now she was the one he wanted to talk to.
    ‘Well, you see, I …’ That was all he could manage.
    ‘Come in,’ said Annika. ‘We’ll go in the kitchen and have a cup of coffee. Then you can tell me what’s on your mind.’
    Martin stepped inside, took off his shoes, and followed her.
    ‘Sit down,’ she said, and with a practised hand she began putting scoops of coffee grounds in the filter. ‘Where are Pia and Tuva?’
    ‘They’re at home. I said I was going for a walk, so I have to get back soon. We’re thinking of heading out to the beach.’
    ‘Ah. Sounds nice. Leia loves to swim too. We were out at the bathing beach earlier today, and we could hardly get her out of the water when it was time to come home. She loves the water, that girl. Lennart just went off with her so I could catch up on some cleaning.’
    Annika’s face lit up when she talked about her daughter. It was almost a year now since she and her husband Lennart, after many years of sorrow and grief, had been able to bring home their adopted daughter from China. These days everything in their lives revolved around Leia.
    Martin couldn’t imagine a better mother than Annika. She had such an air of warmth and concern, and she always made him feel secure. Right now he would have liked nothing more than to lean against her shoulder and let loose the tears that were threatening, but he restrained himself. If he started crying, he might never stop.
    ‘I think I’ll get out a few buns.’ She took a bag from the freezer and put two buns in the microwave. ‘I baked yesterday, and was planning to take some over to the station.’
    ‘I hope you realize that it’s not part of your job description to keep us supplied with treats,’ said Martin.
    ‘I don’t think Mellberg would agree with you about that. If I were to study my employment contract more carefully, I’m sure the small print would read: Supply the Tanum police station with homemade baked goods.’
    ‘My God, without you and the bakery, Bertil wouldn’t last a day.’
    ‘I know. Especially since Rita put him on a diet. According to Paula, they’re eating nothing but wholewheat bread and vegetables at Bertil and Rita’s flat lately.’
    ‘I’d like to see that.’ Martin burst out laughing. It was nice to laugh, and some of the tension he was feeling started to