The Stranger. Camilla Lackberg

we were young, but we finally had everything we wanted. And then …’ Ola had raised his voice. Now he threw out his hands in a gesture that told them he still hadn’t grasped what it was that had happened to his marriage four years earlier.

      ‘Where were you last Sunday evening?’ Patrik gave him a stern look and waited for an answer.

      Ola met his gaze with incredulity. ‘Are you asking me for an alibi? Is that what you’re doing? You want my fucking alibi for Sunday evening? Is that what you mean?’

      ‘Yes, that’s correct,’ Patrik replied calmly.

      Ola looked close to losing his self-control but managed to restrain himself. ‘I was at home all evening. Alone. Sofie was sleeping over at a friend’s house, so there’s nobody to confirm I was here. But it’s the truth.’ His eyes were defiant.

      ‘Nobody you talked to on the phone? No neighbour who dropped by?’ asked Martin.

      ‘No,’ said Ola.

      ‘Well, that doesn’t sound so good,’ said Patrik laconically. ‘That means you will remain a suspect, should it turn out that Marit’s death was no accident.’

      Ola gave a bitter laugh. ‘So you’re not really sure. Yet you come here and demand an alibi from me.’ He shook his head. ‘You’re both fucking nuts.’ He stood up. ‘And now I think you should go.’

      Patrik and Martin got up too. ‘We were finished here anyway. But we may be back.’

      Ola laughed again. ‘Yes, I’m sure you will be.’ He went out to the kitchen without bothering to say goodbye.

      Patrik and Martin let themselves out. Closing the front door behind them, they paused for a moment.

      ‘Well, what do you think?’ said Martin, zipping his jacket all the way up. The real warmth of spring had not yet arrived, and the wind was still chilly.

      ‘I don’t know,’ Patrik sighed. ‘If we were sure that this was a homicide investigation it would have been easier, but now …’ He sighed again. ‘If only I could remember why this scenario feels so familiar. There’s something that …’ He fell silent and shook his head with a grim expression. ‘No, I can’t think what it is. Maybe the techs have managed to find something from her car.’

      ‘Let’s hope so,’ said Martin.

      ‘You know, I think I’ll walk home,’ said Patrik as they headed towards the car.

      ‘But how will you get in to work tomorrow?’

      ‘I’ll work it out somehow. Maybe I can ask Erica to give me a lift in Anna’s car.’

      ‘Well, okay then,’ Martin said. ‘I’ll take the car and go home too. Pia wasn’t feeling well, so I need to go home and pamper her a bit tonight.’