red-and-black synthetic blanket over his bare legs.
They had slashed Mella’s tyres, Martinsson reminded herself. Nicked her mobile and lured Jenny to Jarnvagsparken to scare the shit out of her. I must get a grip.
“We’re taking you to the station for questioning,” she said. “You’re not under arrest, so I’ll give you a lift home when we’ve finished.”
She controlled any feelings of sympathy. Made sure they were not noticeable. She caught sight of a raven perched on the porch roof.
“We’ll fetch you a pair of trousers.”
A.-M.M.: Interrogation begun at 19.35. Can you tell us your name, please?
T.K.: Tore Krekula.
A.-M.M.: You have told the police that you and your brother Hjalmar Krekula paid a visit to Hjorleifur Arnarson yesterday.
Why did you do that?
T.K.: We heard that the police had been there and asked questions about Wilma Persson and Simon Kyro. We were relatives of Wilma’s. She lived with her great-grandmother Anni Autio. And Anni and our mother are sisters. But the police never tell us a bloody thing. So we wanted to know what the hell was going on.
A.-M.M.: Can you tell us about your visit to Hjorleifur Arnarson?
T.K.: What do you want to know?
A.-M.M.: Just tell us what happened.
T.K.: We asked what he’d spoken to the police about. He said, nothing in particular. He said you’d asked about Wilma and Simon, but he knew nothing.
A.-M.M.: Who did the asking? You or your brother?
T.K.: Me. I asked the questions. Hjalmar isn’t much of a one for talking.
A.-M.M.: And what happened then?
T.K.: What do you mean, what happened then? Nothing happened then. We went home. He didn’t know anything.
A.-M.M.: Did you touch anything while you were in his house?
T.K.: It’s possible. I don’t remember.
A.-M.M.: Think hard.
T.K.: As I said, I don’t remember. Is that all? Some of us need to earn enough money to pay your wages, you know.
A.-M.M.: Interrogation concluded at 19.42.
A.-M.M.: Interrogation begun at 19.45. Can you tell us your name, please?
H.K.: -
A.-M.M.: Your name, please.
H.K.: Hjalmar Krekula.
A.-M.M.: You and your brother visited Hjorleifur Arnarson yesterday. Can you tell us about the visit?
H.K.: -
A.-M.M.: Can you tell us about that visit?
H.K.: -
A.-M.M.: Should I interpret your silence as meaning that you…
H.K.: He didn’t say anything. Can I go now?
A.-M.M.: No, you can’t go now, we have only just… Sit down!
R.M.: Can I have a word, please?
A.-M.M.: It’s 19.47. We are taking a short break.
“We have to let him go,” Martinsson said to Mella and Stalnacke. “We’ve got their clothes. We have to hope that the forensic examination gives us some results.”
They were standing in the corridor outside the interrogation room.
“But they haven’t said anything!” Mella said. “We can’t just let them go!”
“They are not under arrest. They’ve said what they’re going to say.”
“Nevertheless we have the right to keep them here and interrogate them for six hours. Those bastards can sit in there for six hours.”
“Do you want to be charged with professional misconduct?” Martinsson said calmly. “We have no justification for holding them.”
Olsson and Rantakyro came out into the corridor, attracted by the sound of raised voices.
“Rebecka says we have to let them go,” Mella said.
“We’ll nail them regardless,” Olsson said by way of consolation.
Mella nodded.
We simply have to, she thought. I won’t be able to cope otherwise. Please God, let them find something on their clothes.
“We managed to search the houses after all,” Rantakyro said. “Well done, Svempa.”
Stalnacke looked at the floor. Cleared his throat to show that he had noted the compliment.
“By God, we did!” Rantakyro said, making a manful effort to transform the gloomy atmosphere. “I’d have given anything to have been there.”
“Yes, it was perfect timing with the telephone,” Martinsson said, giving Stalnacke a congratulatory look. “Anyway, let’s say goodbye to the Krekula brothers for now. Anna-Maria, do you have the documentation for Wilma, Simon and Hjorleifur?”
“Of course,” Mella said.
“O.K. Since I’m taking over the investigation, I’ll need to read all the material. I thought I’d do that this evening.”
No-one spoke. Everyone was looking at Martinsson.
“Having made the decision to search the Krekulas’ houses, I’ll be taking over the preliminary investigation,” Martinsson said.
The three male officers turned to look at Mella.
“Of course,” she said in an unnaturally offhand tone of voice. “But we’re not used to being so formal. With Alf Bjornfot it was business as usual. We simply kept reporting to him as work progressed.”
“As I mentioned earlier today,” Martinsson said, and now the words came flowing smoothly out of her mouth, “you’re no longer working with Alf Bjornfot, but with me. I want to read all the material. And I naturally expect you to report to me as soon as anything happens.”
“‘Expect’,” said Mella before she could stop herself. Then she darted into her
