Hidden in Snow (The ?re Murders, #1)(19)

She reaches out to touch a candlestick, feels the cool metal against her fingertips.

The house bears no resemblance to the cabin with pine furniture and bunk beds that their parents used to rent on the outskirts of ?re when Hanna was growing up. This place is designed for her sister’s perfect family, for cozy dinners in front of a crackling log fire, adults enjoying a glass of wine at the table while the children hang out in the TV room downstairs. Everyone can enjoy the mountain environment while de-stressing from their demanding high-level jobs in the city.

The fact that it’s also possible to spend time with other successful families from the same Stockholm suburbs, because they’ve also built houses in ?re, only improves the situation.

There is no danger of having to step outside their social circle.

Hanna’s glass is empty. So is the bottle. She heads for the kitchen to fetch another. Lydia said she could take whatever she wanted, but she can’t help feeling guilty.

She opens the wine cabinet, but closes it again. She needs to slow down.

She wonders what will happen when Christian discovers that she’s put mustard in his Italian shoes. She’s never done anything halfheartedly—he ought to know that by now.

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20

Ebba is lying on top of the unmade bed. She ought to start cleaning up after the party. The kitchen is a mess, and the living room still stinks of smoke. Instead she stares up at the ceiling, following a barely visible crack with her gaze.

Harald was here a few minutes ago, asking questions about Amanda. He was clearly worried.

Ebba thought she’d gone home to Pilgrimsv?gen, since she hadn’t slept over, but it seems that no one has seen her since last night.

Harald’s anxiety frightened Ebba.

What if something really has happened to her?

Why would she simply disappear?

Ebba didn’t say anything about Viktor. Maybe she should have?

She knows that Amanda hasn’t told her parents about him, because of his reputation. Amanda assured Ebba that Viktor has definitely changed—what happened in Ume? was an accident. He swore that the situation with that girl was nothing more than a misunderstanding.

Amanda believed him.

Ebba picks up her phone and realizes that she hasn’t had a single message from Amanda in almost twenty-four hours. They’re usually in touch all the time.

She checks Instagram to see if Amanda has been active since yesterday, but there’s nothing. The latest post is the picture she uploaded just before the party started. They are standing side by side with their glasses raised to the camera, lips pursed in exaggerated kisses, cheeks pressed together.

Party time, Amanda has written, followed by a series of stupid emojis.

Where has she gone?

Ebba tries to swallow her fear. She shivers and pulls up the covers. She is struggling to remember what happened in the bathroom, what Amanda said before she left the party.

Everything is kind of blurred. She recalls only fragments of the last few hours before she passed out.

Amanda was kneeling beside her as she threw up into the toilet. After that everything is blank. Hang on . . . Wasn’t Amanda mad at Viktor?

Could this really be something to do with him?

Ebba has no idea what time he left. But surely he would never hurt Amanda . . . ?

The guilty feelings burrow deeper in her chest. If Ebba hadn’t gotten so drunk, then maybe she could have persuaded Amanda to stay and everything would be okay now.

She really wants her mom, but if she calls and tells her what’s happened, she’ll also have to tell her about the party, and she dare not do that.

Instead she sends yet another message to Amanda.

She is terrified of not getting a reply.

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21

When Harald pulls up in front of the family’s red-painted wooden house, the police car on the drive is the first thing he sees.

For a moment he doesn’t want to get out of his car; it’s easier just to sit here in the darkness.

He closes his eyes and rests his forehead on the steering wheel as a strong urge to drive off spreads through his body. He isn’t ready to hear anything negative about Amanda. It’s bad enough that she wasn’t at Ebba’s.

The minutes pass. In the end reason takes over and Harald straightens his back and switches off the engine.

During the short walk up to the house, he tries to pull himself together. He mustn’t break down. The police might be here about something else altogether.

His hands are shaking as he opens the unlocked front door. Ludde comes running, but Harald doesn’t even notice him.

Lena is in the living room, sitting opposite two police officers. There is no sign of the twins.

All of Harald’s worst fears are about to be confirmed.

“What’s happened?” He barks the question, he can’t help himself. He takes a couple of rapid steps toward the two strangers, stares at them. “Is she . . . ?” He can’t finish the sentence. He stands there in his outdoor clothes, waiting for the answer. He feels hot and cold at the same time. A small puddle is forming around his boots as the snow melts. “Is Amanda . . . ?”

There isn’t enough air in the room.

“It was me who called them,” Lena says, getting to her feet.

It takes a few seconds before Harald is capable of answering. “So she’s okay?”