That evening he kills Viola.
He probably assumed that Bjorn had taken the photograph on the boat so he followed them, went on board, drowned Viola, and then searched the entire boat with the intention of sinking it afterward. Something made him change his mind. He left the archipelago, returned to Stockholm, and searched through Penelopes apartment-
You dont think he found the photograph, do you? asks Carlos.
Either Bjorn has it on his person or it is hidden at a friends place or in a safe-deposit box. Any place at all, really.
Silence on the line. Joona can hear Carlos breathe deeply.
But if we find it first, Carlos says, thinking out loud, and this killer finds out we have it, then all of this is over.
Thats right, Joona says.
Because if we on the force, we the police, see it, then its not a secret anymore. It will cease being something to kill over.
I only hope its that easy.
Joona, I cant I cant take this case away from Petter, but I presume-
-that Ill be busy lecturing at the Police Training Academy, Joona says.
Thats all I need to know, Carlos says with a laugh.
On the way to Kungsholm, Joona checks his voice mail and finds a number of messages from Erixson. In the first, Erixson says he can keep working from the hospital. Thirty minutes later, he asks if he cant be part of the work on the ground, and twenty-seven minutes later he yells that hes going crazy without anything to do. Joona calls him and after two rings, he hears Erixsons tired voice go Quack.
So Im too late? Joona asks. Youre already crazy?
Erixson hiccups as a reply.
I dont know what you know, Joona says. But were in a big rush. Yesterday morning Penelope Fernandez left a message on her mothers answering machine.
Yesterday? Erixson was immediately alert.
She said someone was chasing her.
Are you on the way here? Erixson asks.
Theres noise on the line and Erixson asks someone to leave him alone. Joona hears a womans strict voice telling him its time for physical therapy and Erixson hissing back that hes on a private call.
Erixson pumps Joona for information, and Joona obliges. He explains that Penelope and Bjorn were not together in the apartment on Sankt Paulsgatan the night before Friday. She was picked up by taxi at exactly 6:40 a.m. and was driven to the television station to be part of a debate. A few minutes after the taxi left, Bjorn entered the apartment. Joona tells Erixson about the palm print on the glass door, the tape, and the corner ripped from a photograph. He says hes convinced that Bjorn had waited for Penelope to leave the apartment so he could get the photo quickly without her knowledge.
And I believe that the person who attacked us is a hit man and he was looking for that photograph when we surprised him.
Maybe so, Erixson whispers.
It wasnt his priority to kill us. He just wanted to get out of the apartment, Joona says.
Otherwise we would be dead.
We can conclude that the hit man doesnt yet have this photograph, Joona continues. If hed found it on the boat, he wouldnt have bothered with Penelopes apartment.
And its not at her place because Bjorn had already taken it.
My theory is that his attempt to blow up the place means that the man behind all this doesnt really need the photo in his hand, he just wants it destroyed.
But why would such a photograph hang on the door of Penelopes living room? And why is it so damned important? asks Erixson.
I have a few theories, Joona says. Most likely Bjorn and Penelope took a photograph of something and left it in plain sight because they didnt realize that it was documenting evidence and what that evidence really meant.
Thats right, Erixson chortles.
As far as they knew, the photo wasnt something they needed to hide, let alone that someone would murder for it.
But then Bjorn changes his mind.
Maybe he figured something out. Maybe he realized that its dangerous and thats why he went to get it, Joona says. Theres still a great deal we dont know. Now weve just got to slog along through routine police work.
Exactly! Erixson exclaims.
Can you gather everything you can find-all the telephone calls made this past week? All text messages? All bank withdrawals? All that stuff: receipts, bus tickets, meetings, activities, working hours-
I sure as hell can!
On the other hand, maybe you should just forget about all that, Joona says. Isnt it time for your physical therapy?
Are you pulling my leg? Erixson says, hardly able to hold back his indignation. What is physical therapy anyway but hidden unemployment?
But you really ought to rest, Joona teases. Maybe another tech guy-
Im flipping out just sitting here!
Youve only been on sick leave for six hours.
Im climbing the walls!
33
Joona is driving east toward Gustavsberg. I ought to call Disa, he thinks. Instead, he calls Anja.
I need Claudia Fernandezs address.
Mariagatan 5, she replies immediately. Not far from the old porcelain factory.
Thanks.
Anja stays on the line.
Im waiting, she says, her voice teasing.
What are you waiting for? he asks softly.
For you to tell me that we have ferry tickets to Finland. Well rent a cottage with a wood-fired sauna next to the water.