The Killing 2 by David Hewson Read Free Book Online

Politigården Lund was getting the stares again. From the ones who knew her. And the ones who’d only heard. Svendsen, the surly detective she’d
once threatened with a gun, marched past, folders in hand, giving her the coldest look she’d seen in months.
    Lund smiled at him, nodded, said, ‘Hi!’
    Then Brix whisked her into an interview room. A short, elegant woman in a business jacket and skirt sat at the table, talking on the phone. About Lund’s age, but with the air of
management: expensive clothes, a fetching, smiling face, dark hair carefully cut into the nape of her neck. Perfectly ironed white shirt.
    And perfume.
    In her winter jacket, jeans and red sweater Lund felt uncomfortable.
    ‘This is Deputy Commissioner Ruth Hedeby,’ Brix said, guiding her to a chair. ‘She wants to listen.’
    Hedeby shook her hand.
    ‘I’ve heard a lot about you.’
    ‘I can imagine.’
    ‘Mindelunden’s a national monument. I want this cleared up. It’s been ten days and we still don’t have it nailed.’
    ‘Charge the husband then.’
    ‘We don’t have enough.’ Hedeby folded her arms. ‘Any ideas?’
    ‘I can’t find fault with the investigation. The forensic evidence seems clear . . .’
    ‘Yes. But what do you
think
?’
    Lund glanced at Brix. He was waiting too.
    ‘I don’t think he killed her.’
    Hedeby closed her eyes for a moment and sighed. Not the answer she wanted.
    ‘I could be wrong,’ Lund added. ‘I doubt it.’
    Hedeby toyed with her wedding ring then asked, ‘Because?’
    She flicked through the files on the desk.
    ‘It says it’s a crime of passion. But the body was dragged from the house, taken to Mindelunden—’
    ‘To divert the investigation,’ Hedeby said. ‘To make us think it was the work of a lunatic. Forensics said his clothes were covered in her blood. How . . .’
    ‘Let’s hear what she’s got to say,’ Brix suggested. Hedeby glared at him. ‘If you don’t mind.’
    Lund looked at them and wondered: who was really the boss? In terms of rank it was Hedeby. But Brix came with friends, influence. Had done from the outset of the Birk Larsen case. Still kept
those links she guessed.
    ‘Anne Dragsholm was afraid of her murderer,’ Lund said. ‘Had been for a while. Her husband had a motive. He was manipulative, but we’ve no record of violence. She never
complained to us about him. I think . . .’
    She paused. Hedeby’s bright and hungry eyes were on her.
    ‘I think he wanted to make a statement by placing her body where he did. On the stake in Mindelunden. It’s too significant to ignore. Too . . . horrible to be an impulse, something
that occurred to a man in the middle of a drunken fight.’
    Ruth Hedeby folded her arms.
    ‘He was trying to say something?’
    ‘Exactly.’
    ‘Then he failed, didn’t he? Otherwise we wouldn’t be here trying to work out what?’
    ‘True.’ Lund pushed back the file. ‘Unless the real murderer’s waiting for his moment.’
    ‘Why would he do that?’
    ‘I don’t know. What did the woman do before she married?’
    ‘Quite a bit.’ Brix opened a second file. ‘Anne Dragsholm was thirty-nine. College education finished in the US. Worked for charities and NGOs in Africa and Asia. Did some
legal duties for Amnesty and the Danish Army. Never anywhere for long.’
    ‘What was her role in the military?’ Lund asked.
    ‘Legal adviser. Sent to the Balkans, Iraq, Cyprus and last of all to Afghanistan.’
    ‘Does she still have army contacts?’
    Brix went through the papers.
    ‘Doesn’t look like it. She makes a monthly contribution to a veterans’ club. A thousand kroner. That’s generous.’
    A knock on the door. Brix went to get it leaving Lund alone with Hedeby. The deputy commissioner was tapping the table with her finely manicured fingertips.
    ‘I’m just guessing,’ Lund said.
    ‘You always were from what I hear.’
    Lund didn’t like that.
    ‘If I’m right there’s something you haven’t found.