One Step Behind by Henning Mankell Read Free Book Online Page A

about 20 minutes."
    Wallander went back to the phone book. In Simrishamn he found only one entry for the name "Boge", an accountant. Wallander dialled the number and waited impatiently. He was just about to hang up when someone answered.
    "Klas Boge."
    The voice that answered sounded young. Wallander assumed it was Martin Boge's brother. He told him who he was.
    "Are your parents home?"
    "No, I'm alone. They're at a golf dinner."
    Wallander wasn't sure he should continue. But the boy seemed reasonably mature.
    "Has your brother Martin ever written a letter to you? Anything you might have saved?"
    "Not this summer."
    "Earlier, perhaps?"
    The boy thought for a moment. "I have a letter he wrote to me from the United States last year."
    "Was it handwritten?"
    "Yes."
    Wallander calculated how long it would take him to drive to Simrishamn. Perhaps he should wait until the next morning.
    "Why do you want one of his letters?"
    "I just need a sample of his handwriting."
    "Well, I could fax it over to you if you're in a hurry."
    The boy was a fast thinker. Wallander gave him the number of one of the faxes at the police station.
    "I'd like you to mention this matter to your parents," he said.
    "I'm planning to be asleep when they get back."
    "Could you tell them about it tomorrow?"
    "Martin's letter was addressed to me."
    "It would be best if you mentioned it anyway," Wallander said patiently.
    "Martin and the others will be back soon," the boy said. "I don't know why that Hillström lady is so worried. She calls us every day."
    "But your parents aren't worried?"
    "I think they're relieved that Martin's gone. At least Dad is."
    Somewhat surprised, Wallander waited to see if the boy would go on, but he didn't.
    "Thanks for your help," he said finally.
    "It's like a game," the boy said.
    "A game?"
    "They pretend they're in a different time. They like to dress up, like children do, even though they're grown up."
    "I'm not sure that I follow," Wallander said.
    "They're playing roles, like you would in the theatre. But it's for real. They might have gone to Europe to find something that doesn't really exist."
    "So that was what they normally did? Play? But I'm not sure I would call a Midsummer's Eve celebration a game. It's just the same eating and dancing as at any other party."
    "And drinking," the boy said. "But if you put on costumes, that makes it something else, doesn't it?"
    "Is that what they did?"
    "Yes, but I don't know more. It was secret. Martin never said much about it."
    Wallander didn't completely follow what the boy was saying. He looked down at his watch. Lillemor Norman would be expecting him shortly.
    "Thanks for your help," he said, bringing the conversation to an end. "And don't forget to tell your parents that I called and what I asked for."
    "Maybe," the boy replied.
    Three different reactions, Wallander thought. Eva Hillström is afraid. Lillemor Norman is suspicious. Martin Boge's parents are relieved he's gone, and his brother in turn seems to prefer it when their parents are gone. He picked up his coat and left. On the way out, he reserved a new time at the laundry for Friday.
    Although it wasn't far to Käringgatan, he took the car. The new exercise regimen would have to wait. He turned onto Käringgatan from Bellevuevägen, and stopped outside a white two-storey house. The front door opened as he was opening the gate, and he recognised Lillemor Norman. In contrast to Eva Hillström, she looked robust. He thought about the photographs in Martinsson's file and realised that Lena Norman and her mother looked alike.
    The woman was holding a white envelope.
    "I'm sorry to bother you," Wallander said.
    "My husband will have a few words with Lena when she comes back. It's completely irresponsible of them to go away like this without a word."
    "They're adults and can do as they please," Wallander said. "But of course it's both irritating and worrying."
    He took the letter and promised to return it. Then he drove to the