That was fast! Joona yells.
Teleporting, replies Nathan Pollock.
Joona stops, closes his eyes, and presses his fingers against his temples.
Headache?
I havent been sleeping much.
They get into the car and close the doors. Joona turns the ignition key and a tango by Astor Piazzolla comes from the speakers. Pollock turns the volume up a bit: it sounds like two violins echoing each other.
You didnt get this from me, you know, Nathan says.
Right.
Ive just heard from Sapo that they are going to use Marklunds attempt to break into Penelopes apartment as an excuse for conducting a raid of the Brigades headquarters.
Ive got to get to Marklund before that happens.
Then youd better hurry.
Joona backs out, turns, and drives up the ramp.
How much of a hurry? He turns left onto Kungsholmsgatan.
Theyre on their way now.
Show me the entrance to the Brigades headquarters and then you can head back to the station and pretend you dont know anything, Joona says.
Whats your plan?
Plan?
Nathan laughs.
Well, the plan is to find out why Marklund went to Penelopes apartment, Joona explains. Maybe he knows something about whats going on.
But-
Its no coincidence the Brigade tried to break into her apartment just now. Thats what I believe. Sapo thinks that the extreme left is planning some kind of attack, but-
They always think that. Its their job, Pollock says, smiling.
Anyway, Im going to talk to Daniel Marklund before I drop this case.
Even if you get there before Sapos boys, do you think the Brigade wants to talk to you?
29
Saga Bauer presses thirteen bullets into the magazine and then shoves it into her large black Glock 21. Sapo is about to storm the Brigades headquarters.
Saga is in a minivan parked at Hornsgatan, just outside the Folk Opera. Shes with three colleagues; all are dressed in civilian clothes. In fifteen minutes theyll head over to Nagham Fast Food and wait for the SWAT team.
For the past month, rumors have come back to Sapo that left-wing extremists are on the move. Perhaps its more than rumors, but Sapos best strategists have now decided many of these groups have joined forces to plan something really big, perhaps some explosive sabotage. Given the recent theft of explosives from a military facility on Vaxholm Island, they believe its a real possibility.
The strategists have also connected the murder of Viola Fernandez and the attempt to blow up Penelope Fernandezs apartment to this planned attack.
Sapo believes the Brigade to be the most militant and violent of the left-wing fringe groups. Daniel Marklund belongs to their innermost circle, and Sapos logic follows that since he tried to break into Penelope Fernandezs apartment, he might be the assailant who attacked Detective Inspector Joona Linna and his technician.
Goran Stone is smiling as he puts on his heavy protective vest.
Lets go get those fucking cowards!
Anders Westlund laughs but cant hide his nervousness. He says, Shit, I hope they resist. I really want to take out one of those communists!
Saga Bauer is replaying the memory of Daniel Marklund being caught outside Penelope Fernandezs apartment. Verner Zanden had assigned Goran Stone to the interrogation. Stone had come on strong to startle something out of Marklund, but that strategy had backfired. Marklund had requested legal representation and then clammed up.
The car door opens and Roland Eriksson slides in carrying a bag of marshmallow banana candy and a can of Coca-Cola.
Damn, Im jittery. Ill shoot the second I see a gun, Roland says, and they can hear the stress in his voice. Things can go so fast and the only chance you have is to shoot them first-
We will follow my plan, Goran Stone says firmly. But if shooting breaks out, you dont have to aim for the legs.
Shove it right into their mouths, Roland yells.
Take it easy, Goran says.
My brothers face-
We know all about it, Roland, shut the fuck up, Anders says. Hes also very nervous.
A firebomb right to the face! Roland repeats in a loud voice. Eleven operations later and he can-
Can you handle this? Goran asks sharply.
Sure, what the fuck!
Are you sure?
Im fine, Roland answers quickly. He looks out of the window and scrapes his thumbnail sharply over the lid of his tin of snuff.
Saga Bauer opens the door slightly to let some air into the van. She accepts this is the right time for a raid and theres no reason to wait. Even so, she still wants to understand the connection to Penelope Fernandez. What was her role in the Brigade? And why was her sister killed? Too much was still not clear. She desperately wants to talk with Daniel Marklund again, look him right in the eye and ask a few direct questions. Shed tried to bring this up with her boss. She wants answers before they go in on this raid. Especially if there is a question about who will be alive afterward.
Saga Bauer opens the door slightly to let some air into the van. She accepts this is the right time for a raid and theres no reason to wait. Even so, she still wants to understand the connection to Penelope Fernandez. What was her role in the Brigade? And why was her sister killed? Too much was still not clear. She desperately wants to talk with Daniel Marklund again, look him right in the eye and ask a few direct questions. Shed tried to bring this up with her boss. She wants answers before they go in on this raid. Especially if there is a question about who will be alive afterward.