The House That Jack Built by Jakob Melander Read Free Book Online Page A

mutual, unspoken agreement, everyone assumed the same positions as they did the previous day.
    â€œWell,” Lars said. “Let’s hear it. Frank, Toke? How did it go with the cab drivers?”
    Frank furrowed his blond brows, shook his head.
    â€œSomeone must have seen something? Toke?”
    â€œUnfortunately not,” Toke said.
    A subdued atmosphere spread through the office. Lisa cleared her throat.
    â€œWe were at the Italian restaurant and spoke with the waiter who served the girls. They were in high spirits and got quite drunk that night. The staff at Penthouse were stocking the bar. They didn’t notice anything either.”
    Lisa smiled. She was holding something back. “But then one of the girls had a bright idea. Apparently, people upload images of themselves and their friends onto club and bar web sites. The young women reveal quite a bit, let me tell you.”
    Kim A straightened up. “That’s not a bad idea. Take a closer look at her sexual history?”
    Toke reached inside his jacket, pulled out Stine’s picture, unfolded it, and placed it on the desk for everyone to see.
    Lars counted to ten. “Neither Stine nor anyone else deserves — let alone is asking for — this.” He jabbed his finger at the picture of Stine, naked, beaten, and bruised.
    â€œYes, but any defence lawyer in the country would bring up the victim’s sexual history in court. We might as well be prepared for it,” Kim A said.
    â€œIn front of a jury, with that image burned into their retinas?” Toke mumbled.
    â€œI don’t see it either,” Lars said. “Carry on, Lisa.”
    â€œDo you mind if . . . ?” Lisa reached across Lars, opened a browser on the computer, and typed in an address.
    The page loaded. The air above Lars’s desk was so heavy he almost couldn’t breathe.
    The image of a young blond girl appeared on the screen. She was in a short strapless dress, pouting and pushing up her breasts with both hands. Her cleavage almost reached her chin. A friend was pulling a face behind her. The flash made their pupils red. On the left, half-empty bottles and glasses filled a table.
    â€œIt doesn’t look like six foot three and curly hair is going to be enough here,” Frank snickered.
    Lisa pointed her index finger at the top right corner of the screen. Just above her chewed nails, Stine Bang was dancing, smiling with her eyes shut, her arms raised high above her head. A tall guy was reaching around her from behind, his palms facing inwards. His curly, medium-length hair hid his face.
    â€œPig,” Lisa mumbled.
    â€œAw, relax. They’re just dancing,” Frank said.
    â€œDoes anybody at the club know who this guy is?” Lars asked.
    â€œOne of the bouncers thinks a friend knows him.” Lisa got up. “I’ll just check to see if he’s got hold of him.”

Chapter 10
    T he black Mondeo turned into the roundabout. The car’s interior was baking from the sun. From the passenger seat, Sanne observed the bustling activity on Halmtorvet, the public square in the Vesterbro district. She saw mothers’ groups sitting in cafés, children playing around the sculptures and fountain. This wasn’t exactly how people back in her native city of Kolding had imagined Halmtorvet. Where were the junkies, the prostitutes? The sex shops?
    â€œSurprised?” Allan laughed in the seat next to her.
    â€œNo, it’s just . . .”
    â€œWe’ll be there soon.”
    The two uniformed officers in the front seat were silent. Still, she was sure they were laughing at her, at her accent. The innocent, inexperienced country girl in the big city. Her cheeks were burning. We’re almost there, we’re almost there , she chanted to herself. Focus.
    She had spent the previous day on the streets, searching the area where Mira normally worked, questioning prostitutes and the staff in the corner stores.