What happened if he placed the events surrounding the power substation at the center? With the grisly aid of a human body, someone had managed to disrupt the power in large areas of southern Sweden. It could therefore be viewed as sabotage. And why had the electrical relay been placed on the gurney when Falk’s body was stolen? The only reasonable explanation was that someone had wanted the connection between Sonja Hökberg’s fate and Tynnes Falk to be made perfectly clear. But what did this connection mean?
Wallander pushed his notes aside in a gesture of irritation. It was too early to even think of reaching a conclusion. They had to keep searching for more clues, without preconceived ideas.
He drank his coffee, absently rocking back and forth in his chair. Then he reached for the page he had ripped out of the newspaper and kept looking through the personal ads. What would I say in an ad? he wondered. Who would be interested in a fifty-year-old policeman with diabetes and increasing doubts about his career choice? Someone who isn’t particularly interested in walks in the forest, evenings in front of the fire, or sailing?
He put down the page and started writing.
His first attempt was somewhat disingenuous: Fifty-year-old police officer, divorced, grown daughter, tired of being lonely. Appearance and age don’t matter, but you should enjoy opera and the comforts of home. Send your answer to “Police ’97.”
Lies, he thought. Appearance does matter. I’m not looking to end my loneliness. I want companionship. That’s something completely different. I want someone to sleep with, someone who will be there when I want her. And who will leave me alone when I feel like it. He tore up the paper and started writing again. This time the ad was more truthfuclass="underline" Fifty-year-old police officer, diabetic, divorced, grown daughter, wishes to meet someone to spend time with. The woman I’m looking for is attractive, has a good figure, and is interested in sex. Send your answer to “Old Dog. ”
Who would respond to something like that? he wondered. Hardly anyone stable.
He turned over the page so he could start afresh, but was almost immediately interrupted by a knock on the door. It was already noon, and Höglund was at the door. He realized too late that the personal section of the newspaper was still lying on the table. He snatched it up and threw it in the trash, but he sensed she had seen what he was doing. It irritated him.
I’m never going to write a personal ad, he thought angrily. The chances are too great that someone like Höglund would answer.
She looked tired.
“I’ve just finished questioning Eva Persson,” she said and sat down heavily.
Wallander pushed all thoughts of personal ads aside.
“How was she?”
“She didn’t change her story. She insists that Sonja both stabbed and hit Lundberg.”
“I asked how she was.”
Hoglund thought about it before answering.
“She was different. She seemed more prepared for the questions.”
“How did you get that impression?”
“She spoke faster. Many of her answers seemed as if she had prepared them in advance. It was only when we got to the questions she wasn’t expecting that she started speaking in that slow, apathetic way. That’s how she protects herself, giving herself time to think. I don’t know how intelligent she is, but she’s clear-headed. She keeps track of her lies. I didn’t catch a single instance of self-contradiction in the two hours that we were at it. That’s pretty impressive.”
Wallander pulled over his notepad.
“We’ll take the most important stuff now, your impressions. The rest I’ll read about in your report.”
“It’s totally apparent to me that she’s lying. Quite honestly I don’t understand how a fourteen-year-old girl can be so hard-boiled.”
“Because she’s a girl?”
“I think it would be unusual even for a boy her age.”
“You didn’t managed to budge her?”
“No, not really. She sticks to her new story that she was innocent and claims she only said what she said because she was afraid of Sonja. I tried to get her to tell me why she was afraid, but she wouldn’t. All she said was that Sonja could be very tough on you.”
“She’s probably right about that.”
Höglund checked her notes.
“She denied taking any calls from Sonja, or anyone else, after Sonja’s escape from the station.”
“When did she find out Sonja was dead?”
“Erik Hökberg called her mother.”
“Did Sonja’s death come as a shock?”
“She claims it did, but I certainly couldn’t tell. Maybe she was surprised. She had no explanation as to why Sonja would have gone out to the substation, nor as to who could have taken her there.”
Wallander got up and walked over to the window.
“Did she really have no reaction? No sorrow, no evidence of pain?”
“In my opinion she was controlled and totally cold. Many of her answers were prepared in advance, some pure lies. But I did get the impression that she wasn’t surprised about what had happened, even though she claims she was.”
Wallander was struck by a thought that seemed important.
“Did she seem afraid of anything happening to her?”
“No, I thought about that. I don’t think what happened to Sonja made her worried for her own life.”
Wallander returned to the desk.
“Let’s assume that’s the case. What does that mean?”
“It means Eva Persson is at least partially telling the truth. Not about Lundberg’s murder, since I’m convinced she was an active participant. But I don’t think she had much of an idea what else Sonja was involved in.”
“And what would that be?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why did they switch seats in the restaurant?”
“Because Sonja complained of a cold draft. She won’t change her line on that.”
“And the man who was sitting behind them?”
“She claims not to have seen him or anyone else. She also says she didn’t notice Sonja having contact with anyone other than her.”
“She didn’t see anyone as they were leaving the restaurant?”
“No. That may even be true. I don’t think she could ever qualify for the title of The World’s Most Observant Person.”
“Did you ask her if she had ever heard of Tynnes Falk?”
“She claimed never to have heard the name.”
“Was she telling the truth?”
Höglund paused.
“There might have been a slight hesitation on her part, but I can’t say for sure.”
I should have talked to her myself, Wallander thought helplessly. If Eva Persson had been holding something back, I would have seen it.
Höglund seemed to be reading his thoughts.
“I don’t have your certainty about these things. I wish I could give you a better answer.”
“We’ll get to the bottom of all this sooner or later. If the main entrance is closed, you try the back door.”
“I’ve been trying to make sense of it,” Höglund said. “But nothing hangs together.”
“It will take time,” Wallander said. “I just wonder if we need reinforcements. We just don’t have the manpower we need, even if we shelve our other duties and concentrate on this case.”
Höglund looked at him with surprise.
“I never thought I’d hear you say that. Normally you always insist on us carrying out the investigation alone.”
“Maybe I’ve changed my mind. I just want to make sure we’re able to carry out the footwork necessary in this investigation. I’ll talk to Lisa about it. If she hasn’t already suspended me, that is.”