The Golden Calf by Helene Tursten Read Free Book Online Page A

sorts of ways!”
    Wow, what’s eating him? Irene glanced at Tommy, who had turned away and was glaring out the passenger side window. The tightness of his neck muscles told her he was furious. What’s going on with him? Maybe a belated midlife crisis? Irene didn’t know how she should handle the situation. They sat in silence for the rest of the way to the station.
    S UPERINTENDENT A NDERSSON WAS in his office, waiting for their return. Irene realized at once that something big had happened because Andersson had dug out his coffee maker and was brewing a huge pot. He rarely made his own these days, since there was the vending machine just down the hall.
    Irene did a double take when she saw that the normally colorless Kajsa Birgersdotter had dyed her hair a deep-reddish chestnut. The new color actually looked good on her. Kajsa’s dove blue T-shirt reflected her eye color in a flattering way. Has she gone and gotten herself color analyzed? Irene’s thoughts were interrupted when Andersson finally began to speak.
    “Stridner just gave me a call. The Ceder autopsy is done. He died from two bullets to the brain. The shots were fired at close range. It’s a small-caliber weapon—a shitty little ladies’ gun. But Stridner also discovered something else.…”
    Andersson paused dramatically, a conspiratorial smile spreading across his face. “Ceder had an operation—what are they called again? So he couldn’t have kids. He was castrated!”
    “Castrated?” exclaimed Birgitta.
    Andersson nodded, content with his declaration.
    “You mean he had a vasectomy?” Tommy said quietly.
    “Yeah, yeah, that’s what it’s called,” the superintendent said.
    “So he wasn’t castrated, just sterilized,” Tommy clarified. “The sperm ducts were severed so that semen wouldn’t exit the body, but everything else is intact and functional, sexually speaking.”
    “How do you know all this stuff?” Andersson said sourly. He hated to be caught up short in front of his subordinates.
    “I’ve actually had one,” Tommy said, unperturbed. “I thought three children were enough.”
    Kajsa Birgersdotter said something under her breath, as she got up quickly from her chair and left. Tommy appeared just as surprised as the others in the room. Irene watched his surprise fade and be replaced by the stiff, angry expression he’d had earlier in the car.
    “What the hell’s gotten into her?” Andersson asked. He was irritated that he no longer had control of the room. He tookoff his glasses and let them drop loudly on the table before he continued. “Let’s not worry about her for now. We have to discuss what’s next in this investigation. Perhaps we should find out who the real father of the baby might be?”
    “Could Ceder have had the operation after Ludwig was born?” asked Irene.
    “Stridner said that the procedure looked at least five years old,” Andersson replied with triumph in his voice.
    This was sensational news, although, as Irene thought about it further, the information would not make their investigation any easier—rather, this was an unexpected complication.
    “So who the hell is the father of the boy?” the superintendent asked again.
    All three detectives appeared to be deep in thought. Finally Irene said, “Well, we can always run a DNA analysis just to exclude Ceder. We have Ceder at the pathologist’s, and I’ll be able to get a sample from Ludwig.”
    “Sanna Kaegler will never agree to that!” Birgitta said with certainty.
    “Who says we need to ask Sanna for permission?” Irene said, and smiled.

Chapter 4
    I RENE HATED EARLY mornings. The earlier she had to wake up, the more she hated it. It was just “not her thing,” as the twins would say. In her next life, she’d be a nightclub star. Those working hours would fit her better.
    The early start was necessary today. She didn’t want to leave any chance that Sanna would get to the Askim house before she did. Sanna would probably hire a