after excavating, we take a bus back to Warfsholm. After working in the heat and dirt for eight or nine hours, everyone is really eager to take a shower and change clothes. But Martina would often disappear as soon as we got home.'
'Where did she go?'
'I have no clue.'
'Did you see which direction she went?'
'Yes. The bus would pull up right in front of the youth hostel and stop. Then everyone rushed out to get to the shower first. In the beginning I didn't give a thought to the fact that Martina didn't go inside with the rest of us. It took a few days before I noticed. She headed over to the hotel instead.'
'Did you ever ask her where she was going?'
'Once. She told me that she was going to buy some ice cream. There's a kiosk next to the restaurant.'
'Did she usually go off alone?'
'I never saw anyone go with her.'
'And you think that she was meeting someone?'
'Yes, because she always came home at the same time, a couple of hours later.'
'Did you mention this to any of the others?'
'To my roommate, Jonas, of course. He had a better handle on what Martina did than anyone else.'
'What do you mean by that?'
'He was in love with her, although that's not something that he wanted to talk about.'
'Did anyone else know about this?'
'Sure. It was really obvious.'
'Were his feelings reciprocated?'
Feathers shook his head. 'No, not a chance.'
Jacobsson decided to change tack. 'Is this your first time in Sweden?'
'Why do you ask?'
'Why shouldn't I ask?'
'Er, I don't know…It just seems so unrelated to what's happened.'
'How about answering the question?'
'Well, no, I've actually been here before.'
'When was that?'
'I was here on Gotland last year, and also the year before.'
'How did that happen?'
'The first time, I was with a friend whose girlfriend was from here. They met when she was an exchange student in the States. I hung out with him, and we had such a good time that I wanted to come back. So when it was time for him to come back, I came along.'
'Isn't it awfully expensive for a student to come over here?'
'My parents pay for it,' said Feathers, unperturbed.
'How long have you been studying archaeology?'
'About three years, off and on.'
'What do you mean by 'off and on'?'
'I've dabbled in a little of everything-traveled, sailed. I compete in a lot of windsurfing contests.'
That's the reason for the muscles and the athletic look, thought Jacobsson.
'Have you made any friends here during your visits?'
'I've met a lot of people, of course, but the ones you meet in the summer, at the beach or in a pub, are often from somewhere else. So I haven't met very many people who actually live on Gotland.'
'Can you mention any at all?'
'Sure. A few who live in Visby.'
Jacobsson took down their names and phone numbers.
'How long are you planning to stay here this time?'
'The course goes until the middle of August. After that I plan to stay a couple more weeks.'
'Where are you going to stay?'
'With friends in Visby.'
'The ones you gave me the phone numbers for?'
'Yes. I'm going to stay with Niklas Appelqvist.'
'Did you meet Martina during your previous visit to Gotland?'
'No.'
'What were you doing on the night she disappeared?'
'Why do you ask?'
'It's routine.'
'I was drinking beer with some others in the group on the hotel porch after the concert. Martina was there, too.'
'How long did you stay?'
'As long as the others did, until three or four or so. After that we all went to bed. Jonas and I share a room, so we were together all night.'
'So he can confirm that you were with him all evening and all night?'
'Sure. I can vouch for him, too.'
THURSDAY, JULY 8
The next day Martin Kihlgard arrived, accompanied by an NCP colleague. The forensic psychiatrist Agneta Larsvik had been called in to help with interpreting the special circumstances surrounding the murder, in particular the modus operandi.
When Kihlgard showed up in the corridor of the criminal investigation division, he was greeted with enthusiastic shouts and slaps on the back. The jovial inspector had become very popular in Visby during his previous visits to assist Knutas with homicide investigations. Jacobsson seemed especially delighted to see him.
'Hey there,' she cried when he appeared in the doorway. She threw herself into his arms and was completely swallowed up by his massive body.
'Good gracious, what a reception,' he said happily. 'How are things out here in the country?'
'Well, one strange thing after another seems to be happening,' said Jacobsson. 'We're having a meeting in a minute, so you'll get to hear more about it.'
'I've already heard a lot. Sounds damned nasty.'
'It really is. Come and say hello to Anders. I think he's in his office.'
She took her stout colleague by the arm and escorted him to her boss's office.
'Hi, Knutie.' Kihlgard's face broke into a smile when he caught sight of Knutas sitting at his desk.
Knutas shook hands with him, keeping a straight face. Martin Kihlgard was the only person who would even consider calling him by that disgusting nickname.
Kihlgard's colleague Agneta Larsvik had a gentle and less brusque manner. A tall and slender brunette with her hair pulled back into a knot, she greeted Knutas pleasantly.
After a little small talk the investigative team gathered to inform the detectives from the NCP about the latest events.
'Do you need to have to something to eat?' Jacobsson knew what sort of appetite Kihlgard had.
'Yes, that would be great. Don't you think?'
He turned to Larsvik, who looked surprised. She made an attempt to say something but was stopped by Jacobsson.
'I'll order sandwiches.'
'Thank you.'
With a pleased look on his face, Kihlgard sat down between Lars Norrby and Birger Smittenberg. It didn't take
