Youll be a fine replacement for Carl.
Without waiting for an answer, Grunlicht heads out of the door. Meeting with the expert group this afternoon at three, he calls as he goes.
Axel is left standing alone in the room. A heavy silence descends around him. He sits back down at the desk and begins to glance through the document that Carl Palmcrona had left unsigned behind him. It seems perfectly well-prepared. It deals with the export of one and a quarter million units of 5.56? 45 millimeter ammunition to Kenya. The Export Control Committee had voted for a positive recommendation. Palmcronas preliminary decision had also been positive. Silencia Defense AB was a well-known, established firm. But without this last step of the general directors signature on the permission form, the actual export could not take place.
Axel leans back and suddenly Palmcronas mysterious words come back to him: Ill pull an Algernon so I wont reap my nightmare.
43
Goran Stone smiles at Joona Linna, removes an envelope from his briefcase, opens it, and holds out a key in his cupped palm. Saga Bauer stands right next to the elevator, looking downcast. All three of them are outside the apartment of Carl Palmcrona at Grevgatan 2.
Our technicians come tomorrow, Goran says.
Do you know what time? asks Joona.
What time, Saga? asks Goran.
I believe-
Believe? You should know exactly, Goran says.
At ten oclock, Saga says in a low voice.
And did you give them my orders to start with the Internet and telephone system?
Yes, I-
Goran silences her with a wave of his hand as his phone rings. He takes a few steps down the stairs to answer, stepping into a niche next to the window with reddish brown panes.
Joona turns to Saga and asks quietly, Arent you in charge of this case?
Saga shakes her head.
Yes, I-
Goran silences her with a wave of his hand as his phone rings. He takes a few steps down the stairs to answer, stepping into a niche next to the window with reddish brown panes.
Joona turns to Saga and asks quietly, Arent you in charge of this case?
Saga shakes her head.
What happened? he asks.
Dont know, she says in a tired voice. It always happens this way. Counterterrorism isnt even Gorans specialty.
So what are you going to do about it?
Theres nothing to do
She falls silent as Goran finishes his phone call and returns to where theyre standing. Saga suddenly holds out her hand for the key to Palmcronas door.
I want the key, she says.
What?
Im in charge of this investigation, she states firmly.
What do you say about all this? Goran says jokingly as he smiles at Joona.
This is nothing against you, Goran, Joona says. But I was just in a meeting with the higher-ups and I accepted an offer to work under Saga Bauer-
Oh, she can come along, Goran says hastily.
As the one in charge of the investigation, Saga says again.
Are you guys trying to get rid of me-or what the hell is this all about? Goran says, looking both surprised and injured.
Well, you can come along, if you want, Joona answers calmly.
Saga takes the key from Gorans hand.
Im going to call Verner, Goran says as he heads back down the stairs.
They listen to his footsteps and then how he speaks to his boss. The tone rises and his voice sounds increasingly upset until they hear him yell Fucking cunt! until it echoes.
Saga tries to stifle a smile as she turns to focus on the job. She puts the key in the lock, turns it twice, and opens the heavy door.
The police tape banning access to the apartment has been removed now that there no longer is any suspicion of a crime having been committed. The investigation was halted as soon as Nils Ahlens autopsy report was concluded. As Joona had suspected, it confirmed a suicide: Carl Palmcrona hanged himself using a laundry line made into a noose and hung from the ceiling lamp of his home. The crime scene investigation was broken off and no analysis was performed on any evidence sent to the National Forensic Laboratory in Linkoping.
But now it had been revealed that the day before, Bjorn Almskog had sent him an e-mail.
Later that same evening, Viola Fernandez had been killed on Bjorn Almskogs boat.
Saga and Joona walk into the hallway and notice theres been no mail delivery. They walk through the large rooms. Sunlight floods in through the windows and the smell of green soap lingers in the air. The red tin roof of the building across the street reflects the light, and from the bay window they can see the shimmering waters of Nybroviken Bay.
The forensic technicians protective mats have been removed and the floor underneath the ceiling lamp in the empty salon has been scrubbed.
They step lightly across the creaking parquet floor. There seems to be no lasting impression of Palmcronas suicide. Now the place appears merely uninhabited. Joona and Saga both feel that the large rooms, almost empty of furniture, are now filled with a quiet sense of peace.
The housekeepers still taking care of the place, Saga says as she realizes whats behind the change.
Exactly, Joona says and then smiles. The housekeeper has been there to clean the apartment, air out the rooms, carry in the mail, and change the linens.