The Long Shadow by Liza Marklund Read Free Book Online

brother.’

3
    Annika tore out her mobile before she had even opened the car door, then sat in the driver’s seat and dialled Nina Hoffman’s number from memory. Why the hell hadn’t she mentioned that she was the sister of Filip Andersson and Yvonne Nordin? It took ages for the call to connect. Annika stared out at the dark windows of the rehabilitation home as the phone rang.
    How many times had she and Nina discussed the Södermalm murders, and whether Filip Andersson was innocent or guilty? And Filip’s contacts with the underworld, and with David Lindholm? After she had visited Andersson in prison last autumn she had gone to see Nina afterwards to tell her about it …
    There was now an engaged tone, as if the call had been rejected.
    Throughout their conversations Nina had had a hidden agenda. Maybe she had been lying the whole time. Maybe she had talked to Annika only to find out what she knew, and try to direct what she wrote.
    Annika dialled the number again, as she watched the lights go on in the corridor inside the building. Henrietta was walking along it with Alexander. He was so small that Annika could see only the curls on the top of his head.
    There was a click on the line and the message service clicked in. Annika hurriedly ended the call, as if she’d been caught doing something she shouldn’t.
    She’d trusted Nina, but Nina hadn’t been honest with her. Annika had asked her to dig out Yvonne’s passport picture, and Nina hadn’t said they were sisters.
    Annika dialled the mobile a third time. Voicemail again. She cleared her throat. ‘Er, hello, this is Annika Bengtzon,’ she said. ‘Happy New Year. Listen, can you call me when you get this? Okay? ’Bye for now.’
    She called Reception at Police Headquarters and asked to be put through to the duty desk of the station on Torkel Knutssonsgatan. The man who answered gave his name as Sisulu. ‘Nina Hoffman’s on leave,’ he said. ‘She’ll be back on Sunday.’
    Annika thanked him and put the mobile on the passenger seat, started the car and pulled out onto the road, heading back towards the office.
    When she reached Kallhäll she remembered she had no reason to hurry anywhere. She didn’t want to get back to Patrik and his little notes, and she was in no rush to return to the as yet unfurnished flat on Agnegatan.
    When the mobile rang on the seat beside her and she saw her ex-husband’s number on the screen, she felt strangely elated.
    ‘Hello, Thomas here.’
    She took a deep breath. ‘Hi,’ she said, rather too brightly.
    ‘What are you doing? Are you driving?’
    She laughed, feeling the warmth spread. ‘I’ve just been out on a job and I’m on my way back. No problem.’
    ‘Listen, we’re planning Easter, and we were wondering how you’re fixed that week?’
    The happiness was wrenched from her body with a force that felt quite physical. ‘Are you using the royal
we
?’ she asked, trying to sound light-hearted. It didn’t work.
    ‘Easter’s late this year – Maundy Thursday’s the twenty-first of April – and it’s the following week that’s a bit tight. I’m away at a conference, but that’s my week for the kids, so I was wondering if we could maybe swap …’
    ‘I can’t answer that,’ Annika said. ‘I got a new job at the paper today, and it’s going to mean a few changes.’
    ‘Don’t you think you should have discussed it with me first?’ he said curtly.
    Raw anger flared. She clenched her teeth and swallowed. ‘It won’t affect my weeks with the children, so I couldn’t see any reason to mention it to you.’
    ‘Okay,’ he said crossly. ‘Sophia wants to talk to you.’
    He passed the phone to his new partner.
    ‘Hi, Annika.’
    ‘Hello,’ Annika said.
    ‘We’ve been having a discussion, my girlfriends and I, and we’ve got a little invitation for you.’
    Annika took a deep breath and forced herself to stay calm.
    ‘You work with the written word so we wondered if you’d like to join