sits in the chair beside the bed. She looks at Joona with an expression he finds appealing as she rises to introduce herself:
“Lisbet Carlen,” she says. “I’m a social worker. I’ll be Josef ’s advocate during the interview.”
“Excellent,” says Joona, shaking her hand.
“Are you leading the interrogation?” she asks with interest.
“Yes. Forgive me. My name is Joona Linna, and I’m from the National CID. We spoke on the telephone.”
At regular intervals there is a loud bubbling noise from the Bulow drainage tube connected to Josef ’s punctured pleura. The drain replaces the pressure that is no longer naturally present, enabling his lung to function.
Lisbet Carlen says quietly that the doctor has explained that Josef must lie absolutely still, because of the risk of new bleeds in the liver.
“I have no intention of putting his health at risk,” says Joona, placing the tape recorder on the table next to Josef ’s face.
He gestures inquiringly at the recorder and Lisbet nods. He starts the machine and begins by describing the situation: It is Friday, December 11, at 8:15 in the morning, and Josef Ek is being questioned to try to elicit information. He then lists the people present in the room.
“Hi,” says Joona.
Josef looks at him with heavy eyes.
“My name is Joona. I’m a detective.”
Josef closes his eyes. “How are you feeling?”
The social worker looks out the window.
“Can you sleep with that thing bubbling away?” he asks.
Josef nods slowly.
“Do you know why I’m here?”
Josef opens his eyes. Joona waits, observing his face.
“There’s been an accident,” says Josef. “My whole family was in an accident.”
“Hasn’t anybody told you what’s happened?” asks Joona.
“Maybe a little,” he says faintly.
“He refuses to see a psychologist or a counsellor,” says the social worker.
Joona thinks about how different Josef ’s voice was under hypnosis. Now it is suddenly fragile, almost non- existent, yet pensive.
“I think you know what’s happened.”
“You don’t have to answer that,” Lisbet Carlen says quickly.
“You’re fifteen years old now,” Joona goes on.
“Yes.”
“What did you do on your birthday?”
“Can’t remember,” says Josef.
“Did you get any presents?”
“I watched TV,” Josef replies.
“Did you go to see Evelyn?” Joona asks in a neutral tone.
“Yes.”
“At her apartment?”
“Yes.”
“Was she there?”
“Yes.” Silence. “No, she wasn’t,” says Josef hesitantly, changing his mind.
“Where was she, then?”
“At the cottage,” he replies.
“Is it nice there?”
“Not really… It’s cosy, I guess.”
“Was she happy to see you?”
“Who?”
“Evelyn.” Silence. “Did you take anything with you?”
“A cake.”
“A cake? Was it good?”
He nods.
“Did Evelyn like it?” Joona goes on.
“Only the best for Evelyn,” he says.
“Did she give you a present?”
“No.”
“But maybe she sang to you.”
“She didn’t want to give me my present,” he says, in an injured tone.
“Is that what she said?”
“Yes, she did,” he answers quickly.
“Why?” Silence. “Was she angry with you?” asks Joona.
He nods.
“Was she trying to get you to do something you didn’t want to do?” asks Joona calmly.
“No, she- ” Josef whispers the rest.
“I can’t hear you, Josef.”
He continues to whisper, and Joona leans close, trying to hear the words. “That fucking bastard!” Josef yells in his ear.
Joona jumps back and rubs his ear as he walks around the bed. He tries to smile.
Josef ’s face is ash-grey. “I’m going to find that fucking hypnotist and bite his throat; I’m going to hunt him down, him and his- ”
The social worker moves over to the bed quickly and tries to switch off the tape recorder. “Josef! You have the right to remain silent- ”
“Keep out of this,” Joona interrupts.
She looks at him with an agitated expression and says in a trembling voice, “Before the interview began, you should have informed- ”
“Wrong. There are no laws governing this kind of interrogation,” says Joona, raising his voice. “He has the right to remain silent, that’s true, but I am not obliged to inform him of that right.”
“In that case, I apologize.”
“No problem,” mumbles Joona, turning back to Josef. “Why are you angry with the hypnotist?”
“I don’t have to answer your questions,” says Josef, attempting to point at the social worker.
Chapter 31
Erik runs down the stairs and through the door. He stops outside and feels the sweat cooling on his back. A chill is in the air; not far away, a man sleeps under a thick mound of blankets. After a moment of indecisiveness, he walks slowly up toward Odenplan and sits down on a bench outside the library. He feels sick with fear. How can he be so stupid, pushing Simone away because he feels hurt?
After a while, Erik gets up and sets off for home, stopping to buy bread at the stone oven bakery and a
