Hidden in Snow (The ?re Murders, #1)(20)

Lena’s face crumples. “She’s still missing. I couldn’t wait any longer, so I rang one-one-two.”

One of the men stands up and introduces himself as Daniel Lindskog from the ?re police. His fair-haired colleague is Anton Lundgren.

Daniel suggests that Harald should take off his coat and join them so they can have a chat. He sounds perfectly in control, not worried at all.

Harald feels numb. He tries to find a sense of inner calm, but it’s too much, he can’t do it. When he saw the police officers in his living room, he was sure they’d come to inform him and Lena that Amanda was gone.

He notices a picture of his daughter on the coffee table.

It’s an old photograph, from before she dyed her hair black.

She still has her natural light-brown shade, very similar to Lena’s. Her expression is kind of sulky, as if she doesn’t really want her photo taken, but at least she’s looking straight into the camera, which has captured both her freckles and her still-rounded cheeks. Her chin juts out, suggesting a level of defiance. She’s so like her mother.

That’s why they clash all the time.

His darling daughter.

Harald clutches the arm of the chair tightly.

Daniel Lindskog asks one question after another. He has brown hair and a short, neatly trimmed beard. He bears a resemblance to Prince Carl Philip, although he’s taller.

“Has Amanda left home before?” Anton Lundgren asks.

“Or given any indication that she’s not happy here?”

Lena shakes her head as if the question is absurd. Her voice is shrill when she answers. “What makes you think she’s run away? Don’t you understand—something terrible must have happened to her! Amanda would never leave home without talking to us first!”

“That’s not what we’re saying,” Daniel says reassuringly. “But we have to ask certain questions so that we have a clear idea of what’s going on. We have to form a picture of your daughter and her normal patterns of behavior.”

Lena nods, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

“How were things between you when you last spoke?”

Daniel goes on. “Had you . . . quarreled before Amanda went to the party?”

Lena’s cheeks flush red.

“Not . . . not really. We hadn’t fallen out. My daughter and I get along well.”

Harald wonders whether he ought to mention the tense atmosphere between them, but decides against it.

“Could she have slept over at a friend’s without letting you know?”

“I’ve contacted her adviser and everyone in her class,”

Lena says, spreading her hands wide. “I’ve been on the phone for the last hour, calling everyone we know. No one has seen her.”

“Okay.” Daniel makes a note. “What’s the name of her adviser?”

“Lasse Sandahl. He’s looked after Amanda’s class all the way through high school.”

“I’ve just been to see her best friend, Ebba,” Harald says, and tells them about his visit to Trollv?gen.

Lena’s eyes are wide with fear by the time he’s finished.

“You have to do something! What if she was hit by a car when she was on her way home last night? She could be lying in a snowdrift along the road!”

It is even colder than yesterday. Harald can’t help glancing at the window that overlooks the garden. The blackness is impenetrable. It is impossible to see the snow-covered fir trees behind the house.

“Oh God,” Lena murmurs, “why didn’t she phone and ask us to pick her up? If only she’d called . . .”

Anton’s expression is full of sympathy. “Does your daughter use any kind of tracking function, for example, Find My iPhone?”

Lena shakes her head. “Not that we have access to. She refused to give us the code.”

Harald turns to Daniel. “Shouldn’t you contact Missing People? Isn’t it standard practice to involve them in situations like this? I know Bosse Lundh, who runs the local branch.”

The two officers exchange a glance.

“We’ll do everything we can to find Amanda,” Daniel says, getting to his feet. Anton closes his notebook and follows suit.

Harald sees that Daniel is holding a pink top. Is it Amanda’s? Does that mean they’re going to bring in dogs to search for her?

“We’ll be in touch as soon as we have any information,”

Daniel continues.

“You’re leaving already?” Lena stares at the two men in confusion. Ludde moves forward and places his nose in her lap, as if he can tell that she’s upset.

“We’ll be organizing things from the station,” Daniel explains. “But as I said, we’ll be in touch.”

He hands Lena a card bearing the police logo. “This is my number—you can call me any time.” He places a consoling hand on her arm. “Most people who disappear come back within one to three days.”

Harald wants to say something, but Lena gets there first.

“And what about those who don’t?” she whispers.

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When Amanda opens her eyes, she is lying under a thin blanket on a mattress. She looks around the room and sees untreated wooden walls and a door. There is a soapstone stove in one corner. This must be a mountain cabin.