The hanged man suddenly trembles.
John Bengtsson holds his breath.
There’s a heavy thud from the ceiling, hammer-blows from the attic – someone is walking across the floor above. Another thud, and Palmcrona’s body trembles again. Then comes the sound of a drill, which stops abruptly. A man shouts something. He needs more cable, the extension lead, he calls.
John Bengtsson notices his pulse settle down as he walks back through the sitting room. In the hall the front door is standing open. He stops, certain that he closed it properly, but perhaps he was mistaken. He leaves the flat and before he reports back to the station he takes out his mobile phone and calls Joona Linna of the National Crime Unit.
It’s the first week of June. In Stockholm people have been waking up too early in the morning for weeks. The sun rises at half past three, and it’s light almost all night through. It’s been unusually warm for the time of year. The cherry trees were in blossom at the same time as the lilac. Heavy clusters of flowers spread their scent all the way from Kronoberg Park to the entrance to the National Police Committee.
The National Crime Unit is Sweden’s only operative police department tasked with combatting serious crime on both a national and international level.
The head of the National Crime Unit, Carlos Eliasson, is standing at his low window on the eighth floor looking out at the steep slopes of Kronoberg Park. He’s holding a phone, and dials Joona Linna’s number, but once again his call goes straight to voicemail. He ends the call, puts the phone down on his desk and looks at his watch.
Petter Näslund comes into Carlos’s office and clears his throat quietly, then stops and leans against a poster saying ‘We watch, scrutinise and irritate.’
From the next room they can hear a weary telephone conversation about European arrest warrants and the exchange of information in the Schengen Zone.
‘Pollock and his team will be here soon,’ Petter says.
‘I know how to tell the time,’ Carlos replies gently.
‘The sandwiches are ready, anyway,’ Petter says.
Carlos suppresses a smile and asks:
‘Have you heard that they’re recruiting?’
Petter’s cheeks go red and he lowers his eyes, then composes himself and looks up again.
‘I’d … Can you think of anyone who’d be better suited to the National Homicide Commission?’ he asks.
The National Homicide Commission consists of six experts who assist with murder cases throughout Sweden. The commission provides systematic support within a framework designed for serious crimes.
The workload of the permanent members of the National Homicide Commission is extreme. They’re in such high demand that they very rarely have time to meet at Police Headquarters.
When Petter Näslund has left the room Carlos sits down behind his desk and looks over at the aquarium and his paradise fish. Just as he is reaching for the tub of fish-food his phone rings.
‘Yes?’ he says.
‘They’re on their way up,’ says Magnus in reception.
‘Thanks.’
Carlos makes one last attempt to get hold of Joona Linna before getting up from his chair, glancing at himself in the mirror and leaving the room. As he emerges into the corridor the lift pings and the door slides open without a sound. At the sight of the members of the National Homicide Commission an image flits quickly through his mind, a memory from a Rolling Stones concert he went to with a couple of colleagues a few years ago. As they walked out on stage, the group reminded him of laidback businessmen. Just like the members of the National Homicide Commission, they were all wearing dark suits and ties.
First is Nathan Pollock, with his grey hair in a ponytail, followed by Erik Eriksson with his diamond-studded glasses, which is why the rest of the team call him Elton. Behind him comes Niklas Dent, alongside P. G. Bondesson, and bringing up the rear is the forensic expert Tommy Kofoed, hunch-backed and staring morosely at the floor.
Carlos shows them into the conference room. Their operational boss, Benny Rubin, is already seated at the round table with a cup of black coffee, waiting for them. Tommy Kofoed takes an apple from the fruit-bowl and starts to eat it noisily. Nathan Pollock looks at him with a smile and shakes his head, and he stops mid-bite and looks back quizzically.
‘Welcome,’ Carlos says. ‘I’m pleased you were all able to come, because we have a number of important issues to discuss on today’s agenda.’
‘Isn’t Joona Linna supposed to be here?’ Tommy Kofoed asks.
‘Yes,’ Carlos replies hesitantly.
‘That guy tends to do as he likes,’ Pollock adds quietly.
‘Joona managed to clear up the Tumba murders a year or so back,’ Tommy Kofoed says. ‘I keep thinking about it, the way he was so certain … he knew in which order the murders had taken place.’
‘Against all obvious logic,’ Elton smiles.
‘There’s not much about forensic science that I don’t know,’ Tommy Kofoed goes on. ‘But Joona just went in and looked at the footprints in the blood, I don’t understand how …’
‘He saw the whole picture,’ Nathan Pollock says. ‘The degree of violence, effort, agitation, and how listless the footprints in the row-house seemed in comparison to the changing room.’
‘I still can’t believe it,’ Tommy Kofoed mumbles.
Carlos clears his throat and looks down at the informal agenda.
‘The marine police have contacted us this morning,’ he says. ‘Apparently a fisherman has found a dead woman.’
‘In his net?’
‘No, he saw a large motor cruiser drifting off Dalarö, rowed out and went on board, and found her sitting on the bed in the front cabin.’
‘That’s hardly anything for the commission,’ Petter Näslund says with a smile.
‘Was she murdered?’ Nathan Pollock asks.
‘Probably suicide,’ Petter replies quickly.
‘Nothing urgent,’ Carlos says, helping himself to a slice of cake. ‘I just thought I’d mention it.’
‘Anything else?’ Tommy Kofoed says cheerfully.
‘We’ve received a request from the police in West Götaland,’ Carlos says. ‘There’s a summary on the table.’
‘I won’t be able to take it,’ Pollock says.
‘I know you’ve all got your hands full,’ Carlos says, slowly brushing some crumbs from the table. ‘Perhaps we should start at the other end and talk about recruitment to the National Homicide Commission.’
Benny Rubin looks around intently, then explains that the high-ups are aware of the heavy workload, and have therefore agreed as a first step to authorise the expansion of the commission by one permanent post.
‘Thoughts, anyone?’ Carlos says.
‘Wouldn’t it be helpful if Joona