24
Aneta Djanali called down to the shore in Vallda. Sigge Lindsten answered after the second ring. His voice was calm.
“Is Anette down there?” asked Aneta.
“We’re expecting her tonight again,” he said.
“There’s been a break-in at your home.”
“Another break-in?”
“In the house,” she said.
“Is Anette there?” asked Lindsten.
“No.”
“I’ll call her on her cell.”
“Give me the number,” said Aneta.
“I’ll call her now,” said Lindsten, and he hung up.
Aneta looked at Halders.
She dialed the number again and heard a busy signal.
“I’ll call forensics,” said Halders.
He went back into the hall with his phone. She heard him talking. She dialed the number to the Lindstens’ beach cottage again. Lindsten picked up.
“She’s not answering,” he said.
“Where could she be?”
“What actually happened?” asked Lindsten.
“We don’t know.”
“Was anything stolen?”
“We don’t know that either,” said Aneta. “I swung by here on my way home from Vallda and saw that the glass from the veranda door was broken.”
“And Anette wasn’t home then?”
What kind of question is that? thought Aneta. Would I have called and said what I said if she were?
“Is there any evidence?” asked Lindsten.
Evidence of blood. But I won’t tell you that. And not before I know what it is. And not before I know what you were doing this afternoon.
“Did you leave a message for your daughter?” she asked.
“Of course.”
“What did you say?”
“Oh, not much. I said she should call as soon as possible. That we were worried.”
“We want to speak with her too. As soon as possible,” said Aneta.
“We’re coming home right away,” said Lindsten.
“Good.”
She hung up and Halders came back.
“A guy is on his way. Reluctantly.”
“Doesn’t matter how he gets himself here.”
Halders let out a short laugh.
“Did you tell him that we’re talking about a disappearance here that might involve violence?”
“Yes,” he said, “but maybe I didn’t sound so convincing.”
“I have a bad feeling about this,” she said.
“I guess I do too,” said Halders after a bit.
“Have you called Susanne Marke?”
“Yes. No reply.”
“Try again.”
Halders took a deep breath.
“Well, we have to wait to hear what forensics says anyway.”
“We should go there now.”
“One of us can go,” said Halders. “No, wait. There have been enough solo trips.” He seemed to be listening for the sound of a motor from the road. “We can ask for a car there. In the meantime.”
“I’ll call dispatch,” said Aneta.
They drove across the bridge. The river was lit up as though by torches on both sides all the way to the sea to the west and up through the land to the east. Ferries came and went.
“They say that Gothenburg is a dead harbor, but that’s hard to believe when you’re looking down from here,” said Halders.
“Doesn’t it have to do with the shipbuilding industry?” said Aneta. “It must.”
“The hammers have become silent,” answered Halders.
“You sound sad about it.”
“There’s always a reason to be sad,” he said. “Who doesn’t light up to the sound of hammering?”
“They’re lighting up here, anyway,” she said as they parked in the new residential area. The attractive houses glistened and seemed to preen in the light from the torches.
“Can’t be cheap to live here,” said Halders.
“Obviously not.”
“How can Marke afford it? What was it she does?”
“Clerk at the district court.”
“Financial crime?”
“No,” said Aneta.
“Then I don’t get it,” said Halders.
“Her ex probably has money. We’ll have to check.”
“If we need to,” said Halders.
Aneta took three steps to the left.
“Her car is home,” she said.
Susanne Marke opened the door after the first ring, as though she had been waiting just inside.
She doesn’t look as cocky anymore. Aneta could see an uncertain expression on her face, or maybe it was a puzzled one.
Susanne invited them in with a gesture. She told them to keep their shoes on.
The living room window had room for all the lights on the other side of the river. Halders could see the illuminated Seaman’s Wife. She looked him in the eye.
A woman was sitting in one of the two white leather easy chairs. She had a bandage on her left hand. Aneta recognized her face.
“What really happened?” she asked straight out.
“When?” said Anette Lindsten.
“At your… at your parents’ house.”
“What do you mean?”
“The glass in the veranda door is broken.”
“Oh, that. I ran into it.”
She held up her hand. The bandage was starting to fall off. It was only a few loops of cheap gauze.
“I was trying to open it-it sticks-and suddenly the glass broke and I… I cut myself.”
“Down by the doorstep?” said Halders.
“That’s where it… stuck,” she said, darting a look at Susanne.
Is this a lesson she’s reciting and checking with Susanne? thought Aneta. Is this a threat, too? But then why did she come here?
