Goran! Joona calls loudly, his voice penetrating through the thick glass door. Take another picture right there!
Everyone freezes in the apartment. The man by the outer door shoots Joona a curious look. The tech guy with a Dalarna accent sticks his head into the hallway from the kitchen. Tommy Kofoed takes off his face mask and scratches his neck. Goran Stone is still sitting on the floor, now looking very interested.
Like you did just now, Joona says. Take a photo of the ceiling.
Goran shrugs and lifts his camera to take another photo of the bathroom ceiling. Theres a flash, and Joonas pupils shrink in protest. Tears come to his eyes. He closes them and still sees a black triangle. He realizes that it is a glass pane in the door transformed into a negative image.
The middle of the square shows four white spots and next to them floats a light blue palm print.
He knew thats what hed seen.
Joona blinks and walks close to the door. The remains of four pieces of tape form a square, and right next to it is the palm print.
Tommy Kofoed steps up next to him.
A handprint, he says.
Can you lift it? Joona asks.
Goran, Kofoed says. We need a picture of this.
Goran gets up and is humming as he stands by the door, camera ready. He peers at the handprint.
Yes, somebody was here and wasnt too clean either, he says contentedly as he takes four pictures.
Yes, somebody was here and wasnt too clean either, he says contentedly as he takes four pictures.
Then Goran moves aside and waits as Tommy Kofoed treats the palm print with cyanoacrylate to bind the salt and moisture. Then he uses Basic Yellow 40.
Goran waits a moment and then takes two more pictures.
Now we got you! Kofoed whispers to the print as he carefully lifts it with a stiff sheet of plastic.
Can you check it out right away? Joona asks.
Tommy Kofoed carries the print to the kitchen. Joona remains behind to inspect the pieces of tape left on the glass pane. Caught under one is the torn corner of a piece of paper. Whoever left the palm print had no time to be careful but just ripped the paper free.
Joona takes a closer look at the ripped corner. Its not normal paper, he realizes immediately. Its shiny paper-the kind photographs are printed on.
A special photograph had been taped up here to be looked at over and over. Then someone was in such a hurry, they couldnt take the time to be careful but just ran up to the door, leaned on the glass with one hand, and ripped the photo off with the other.
Bjorn, Joona says.
Bjorn came here to get this photograph. He wasnt holding his stomach because he had a stomachache but because he was hiding a photograph underneath his jacket.
Joona turns his head to the side so he can study the palm print in the reflection. He can barely make out the thin lines of the palm.
The papillary lines of a humans palm or fingers will never change or grow old and are totally individual. Compared to DNA, even the fingerprints of identical twins differ.
Quick steps come stamping up behind him.
Stop whatever youre doing right now, damn it! Saga Bauer snarls. This is my investigation! Youre not even fucking supposed to be here!
I only want to-
Shut the fuck up, Joona Linna! she shouts. I was on the phone with Petter Naslund! Theres nothing for you to do here and you dont even have permission to be here!
I know. Ill leave soon, he says soothingly as he turns his gaze back to the glass pane.
Damn it, Joona! she says, but curiosity has taken over a bit and her voice is calmer. You cant just come in here and start messing with pieces of tape!
There was a photograph taped to the glass, he answers, unperturbed. Someone has pulled it off. Leaned over to steady himself with his hand while he pulled off this photograph.
She still looks at him with irritation, and Joona notices a white scar that cuts straight through her left eyebrow.
I am perfectly capable of running this investigation, she reiterates with clenched teeth.
Chances are the print came from Bjorn Almskog, Joona replies as he starts toward the kitchen.
Wrong direction, Joona.
He ignores her and walks right in.
This is my investigation! she yells futilely at his back.
The technicians have set up a work station in the middle of the room. Two chairs, a table with a computer on it, a scanner, and a printer. Tommy Kofoed is standing behind Goran Stone, who is connecting his camera to the computer. Theyve entered the palm print and are doing the initial fingerprint comparison.
Saga comes in right behind Joona.
What do you see? Joona asks them, not paying attention to Saga.
Dont you speak to him! Saga says quickly.
Tommy Kofoed looks up. Dont be ridiculous, Saga, he says. Sorry, this isnt our guy. This is from the boyfriend, Almskog.
Lucky hes already in the suspect register, Goran Stone says.
What do you have on him? Joona asks.
Rioting and harming an officer, Goran replies.
The worst kind of criminal, Tommy jokes. He probably took part in a demonstration.
You think thats funny, Goran growls. Not everyone on the force finds left-wing shenanigans and sabotage amusing.