The Blinded Man by Arne Dahl Read Free Book Online Page B

rank, are in a position of higher authority than those who will be assisting you, whether it’s the Stockholm police or the NCP. This case has top priority, as they say on TV. Since you’ve been hand-picked from districts all over the country, I don’t think you know each other, so let’s start by introducing ourselves. As you know, my name is—’
    The door was flung open, and the man they’d seen before entered again, out of breath and ill tempered.
    ‘There you are, Hultin. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.’
    ‘Is that so?’ said Hultin. ‘Well, here you have your A-Unit.’
    ‘Good, very good,’ Waldemar Mörner said impatiently. He took up the same position as before, standing at the head of the table and leaning one hand on the raised section of the overhead projector. ‘So, gentlemen. And madam. You are a hand-picked unit consisting of six individuals – five men and one woman – and I assume that Detective Superintendent Hultin has already informed you of your assignment. So now you’ve got to get busy. It’s of the utmost importance to the security of this nation that you stop this insane serial killer before Sweden loses all of its leading citizens. You, and you alone, can end this rampage through the country’s streets. Yes, that’s right. Yes, indeed. I can see that you are all young and ambitious, fully aware of what’s at stake, and raring to take on this task. So let the game begin. May the guardian angel of police officers offer you protection.’
    He left the room at the same whirlwind pace as he had arrived. Several jaws that had dropped open during his speech were now firmly back in place.
    Jan-Olov Hultin closed his eyes and reached over his glasses to rub the corners of his eyes. ‘All right, so now everybody knows what this is about,’ he said calmly. It took a second before smiles began to appear around the table. It would take much longer before they fully understood Hultin’s subtle sense of humour. ‘Let’s continue from where we left off. My name is Jan-Olov Hultin, and I’ve worked here for a number of years, often directly under the former, nationally known boss, whose name we no longer mention. They’re just about to appoint a successor, with the new title of National Criminal Director, a title that carries the status of director-general. Gone are the police titles of the past. So why don’t you introduce yourselves now? Moving clockwise.’
    This abrupt transition caused more confusion. Finally a balding, rather stout man in his early fifties spoke up. He was sitting on the far right in the small, bare conference room. He tapped his pen lightly as he spoke.
    ‘Yes, well, my name is Viggo Norlander, and I’m the only one here who has worked on this case from the very beginning. So I’ve been transferred directly from the Stockholm police criminal division around the corner. You might say that I’m the one who has travelled the shortest route to get here. I also see that I’m presumably the oldest one present, except for Mr Jan-Olov, of course.’
    Hultin nodded slightly, without changing expression. They clearly knew each other well.
    Next to Norlander sat the woman.
    ‘I’m Kerstin Holm. As you can no doubt already hear, I’ve been imported directly from the North Sea coast. I’ve worked in the Göteborg criminal division all my adult life, and even before that.’
    Then came the youngest and shortest member of the team, a dark-haired young man who couldn’t be much over thirty. He spoke with great clarity.
    ‘My name is Jorge Chavez, and until yesterday I was the only “black-head” cop in the entire Sundsvall police district. I’m leaving behind a real void, believe me. Apparently all the minorities have to be represented here. Including heroes, I see.’
    He cast a meaningful glance at Hjelm, who sat next to him. Hjelm blinked a few times before attempting to speak. Off in the background he saw the shadow of a smile cross Hultin’s