'A crook,' Widen said. 'I bought a horse from him a month ago. He has some stables over at Hoor. I was going to collect it, but he's changed his mind. The bastard.'
'If you've paid for the horse, there's not much he can do about it,' Wallander said.
'Only a deposit,' Widen said. 'But I'm going to collect that horse no matter what he says.'
Widen disappeared into the kitchen. When he came back Wallander could smell alcohol on his breath.
'You always come when I'm not expecting you,' Widen said. 'Would you like some coffee?'
Wallander accepted the offer and they went out to the kitchen. Widen shifted piles of old racing programmes to one side, exposing a small patch of plastic tablecloth.
'How about a drop of something stronger?' he asked, as he set about making the coffee.
'I'm driving,' Wallander said. 'How's it going with the horses?'
'It hasn't been a good year. And next year's not going to be any better. There isn't enough money in circulation. Fewer horses. I keep having to raise my training fees to make ends meet. What I'd really like to do is close down and sell up, but property prices are too low. In other words, I'm stuck fast in the Scanian mud.'
He poured the coffee and sat down. Wallander noticed Widen's hand shaking as he reached for the cup. He's well on the way to drinking himself to death, he thought. I've never seen his hand shake like that in the middle of the day.
'What about you?' Widen asked. 'What are you doing nowadays? Are you still off sick?'
'No, I'm back at work. A police officer again.'
Widen looked bemused. 'I didn't think so,' he said.
'Didn't think what?'
'That you'd go back.'
'What else could I do?'
'You were talking about getting a job with a security company. Or becoming head of security for some firm.'
'I'll never be anything but a police officer.'
'No,' Widen agreed, 'and I don't suppose I'll ever get away from these stables. That horse I've bought in Hoor is a good 'un, by the way. Out of Queen Blue. Nothing wrong with its pedigree.'
A girl rode past the window on horseback.
'How many staff have you got?'
'Three. But I can't afford more than two. I really need four.'
'That's why I'm here, actually,' Wallander said.
'Don't tell me you want a job as a stableboy,' Widen said. 'I don't think you've got the necessary qualifications.'
'I'm sure I haven't,' Wallander said. 'Let me explain.'
Wallander could see no reason why he shouldn't explain about Alfred Harderberg; he knew Widen would never breathe a word to anybody else.
'It's not my idea,' Wallander said. 'We've recently acquired a new woman police officer in Ystad. She's good. She was the one who saw the advert and told me about it.'
'You mean I should second one of my girls to Farnholm Castle, is that it?' Widen said. 'As a sort of spy? You must be out of your mind.'
'Murder is murder,' Wallander said. 'The castle is impenetrable. This advert gives us an opportunity to get in. You say you have a girl too many.'
'I said I had one too few.'
'She can't be stupid,' Wallander said. 'She has to be wide awake and notice things.'
'I have a girl who would fit the bill,' Widen said. 'She's sharp, and nothing scares her. But there is a problem.'
'What's that?'
'She doesn't like the police.'
'Why's that?'
'You know that I often employ girls who've gone off the rails a bit. Over the years I've found them pretty good. I cooperate with a youth employment agency in Malmo. I have a girl from there at the moment, 19 years old. Name's Sofia. She was the one riding past the window just now.'
'We don't need to mention the police,' Wallander said. 'We can think up some reason why you need to keep an eye on what's cooking at the castle. Then you can pass on to me what she tells you.'
'Only if I must,' Widen said. 'I'd rather not get involved. Alright, we don't need to tell her you're a police officer. You're just somebody who wants to know what's going on there. If I say you're OK, she'll take my word for it.'
'We can try,' Wallander said.
'She hasn't got the job yet,' Widen said. 'I expect there'll be lots of horsey girls interested in a job at the castle.'
'Go and get her,' Wallander said. 'Don't tell her my name.'
'What the hell shall I call you, then?'
Wallander thought for a moment. 'Roger Lundin,' he said.
'Who's he?'
'From now on it's me.'
Widen shook his head. 'I hope you're right about this,' he said. 'I'll go and fetch her.'
Sofia proved to be thin and leggy with a mop of unkempt hair. She came into the kitchen, nodded casually in Wallander's direction, then sat down and drank what remained of the coffee in Widen's cup. Wallander wondered if she was one of the girls who shared his bed. He knew of old that Widen often had affairs with the girls who worked for him.
'You know I have to cut back here,' Widen said. 'But we've heard about a job that might suit you at a castle over at Osterlen. If you take the job, or rather get it, things might pick up here later, and I promise to take you back if they do.'
'What sort of horses are they?' she asked.
Widen looked at Wallander, who could only shrug his shoulders.
'I don't suppose they'll be Ardennes,' Widen said. 'What the hell does it matter? It's only going to be temporary. Besides, you'd be helping Roger here, who's a friend of mine. He'd like you to keep your eyes peeled and see what goes on there at the castle. Nothing special, just keeping your eyes open.'
'What's the money like?' she asked.
'I've no idea,' Wallander said.
'It's a castle, for God's sake,' Widen said. 'Stop being awkward.'
He disappeared into the living room and came back with the paper. Wallander found the advert.
'Interview,' he said. 'Applicants should phone first.'
'We can fix that,' Widen said. 'I'll drive you there tonight.'
She suddenly looked up from the plastic tablecloth and stared Wallander in the eye.
'What sort of horses are they?' she asked.
'I really have no idea,' Wallander said.
She cocked her head to one side. 'I think you're police,' she said.
'What on earth makes you think that?' Wallander said, astonished.
'I can feel it.'
Widen interrupted her. 'His name's Roger. That's all you need to know. Don't ask so many stupid bloody questions. Try to look comparatively respectable when we go there tonight. Wash your hair, for instance. And don't forget that Winter's Moon needs a bandage on her left hind leg.'
She left the kitchen without another word.
'You can see for yourself,' Widen said. 'She's nobody's fool.'
'Thanks for your help,' Wallander said. 'Let's hope she pulls it off.'
'I'll drive her over. That's the best I can do.'
'Phone me at home,' Wallander said. 'I need to know right away if she gets the job.'
They went out to Wallander's car.
