Dark Secrets by Michael Hjorth Read Free Book Online

much of a one for marking his territory. There were better ways to get the best out of everyone.
    “No, they will be responsible for the investigation. You are being relieved of that duty.”
    “But, of course, we would prefer to work in association with you,” Torkel interrupted, looking seriously at Haraldsson. “You have unique insights into the case that could turn out to be critical for our continued success.”
    Vanja looked at Torkel with admiration. Personally she had already consigned Haraldsson to her HC file: a Hopeless Case who would be allowed to have his say then be sidelined as far away from the investigation as possible.
    “So I’ll be working with you?”
    “You will be working in association with us.”
    “What does that mean?”
    “We’ll see. To begin with you could tell us about everything that has happened so far, and we’ll take it from there.” Torkel placed a hand on Haraldsson’s shoulder and steered him gently toward the door.
    “See you later,” Torkel said over his shoulder to Hanser. Billy went over to the sofas to collect their bags; Vanja stayed where she was. She could have sworn the former leader of the investigation had taken those first steps with Torkel without limping.

    Lena Eriksson pushed another Läkerol pastille into her mouth as she sat in the little waiting room. She had stolen the box from work. Yesterday. They were on the shelf right next to the cash register. Eucalyptus. Not her favorite, but she had just taken the nearest one and slipped it into her pocket when they were shutting the shop.
    Yesterday.
    When she had been convinced her son was still alive. When she had unquestioningly believed the policeman she had spoken to, the one who told her all the indications were that Roger had gone off on his own free will. To Stockholm, perhaps. Or somewhere else. A little teenage adventure.
    Yesterday.
    Not just another day, but another world entirely. When hope was still alive.
    Today her son was gone forever.
    Murdered.
    Found in a pool.
    Without a heart.
    Lena had not left the apartment all day after she had been given the news. She was supposed to have met the police officer earlier on, but she had phoned and postponed it. Twice. She couldn’t get up. For a while she was afraid she would never find the strength to get to her feet again. So she sat there. In her armchair. In the living room where they hadspent less and less time together, she and her son. She tried to remember the last time they had sat there together.
    Watched a movie.
    Ate.
    Talked.
    Lived.
    She couldn’t remember. It must have been just after Roger started going to that awful school. After only a few weeks with those stuck-up kids, he had changed. For the last year they had been living more or less separate lives.
    The media kept on calling her, but she didn’t want to talk to anyone. Not yet. In the end she unplugged the landline and switched off her cell phone. Then they turned up on her doorstep, shouting through the mail slot, leaving messages on the mat in the hallway. But she never opened the door. She didn’t get up out of her armchair.
    She felt absolutely terrible. The coffee she had drunk when she arrived was moving up and down in her throat like an elevator. Had she eaten anything since yesterday? Probably not. But she had drunk plenty. Alcohol. She didn’t usually do that. Hadn’t done it for months. She was extremely moderate, which nobody who met her would believe. Her home-bleached hair with the dark roots. Her weight. The chipped nail polish at the ends of her stubby fingers, festooned with rings. The piercings. Her fondness for velour sweatpants and oversize T-shirts. Most people quickly formed an opinion of Lena when they met her. Most of their prejudices were confirmed, to be fair. Desperately short of money. Left school at fifteen. Got pregnant when she was seventeen.
    Single mother.
    Low-paying job.
    But alcohol or drug abuse? Never.
    Today, though, she had been drinking.