Hidden in Snow (The ?re Murders, #1)(38)

Daniel crouches down beside the dead girl.

Amanda’s eyes are closed, her face is peaceful. The body is slightly hunched. She must have been dead for a while—he doesn’t need a forensic pathologist to tell him that.

Ice crystals shimmer on her skin.

Daniel straightens up. Half an hour ago they were planning a search, hoping to find Amanda alive before it was too late.

The evidence of their failure lies before them.

Now it’s time to start searching for something else entirely.

A murderer.

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38

Daniel parks outside the Halvorssen family’s white brick house, Anton beside him. He has spent the drive over trying to work out the best way of delivering the tragic news, but it probably doesn’t matter. The parents will be devastated anyway.

He undoes his seatbelt, wishing it were all over. He never gets used to these situations; this is absolutely the worst aspect of his job.

He will end up lying awake tonight, wondering if he could have handled things differently, if they could have done more to find Amanda in time.

Only half an hour has passed since they established that the victim was her. The forensic pathologist and CSIs are on their way, and the whole area around VM6 has been cordoned off. Daniel wanted to inform the family as soon as possible; he can’t risk them hearing the news via the media.

At least he can spare them from that shock.

“Let’s do this,” Anton says. “No point in drawing it out.”

Neither of them speaks during the short walk to the front door. Anton also looks as if he’d rather be anywhere else. He has pushed both hands deep into his pockets, as if he doesn’t know what to do with them.

Daniel rings the bell. He is freezing. Why does it have to be so damned cold all the time?

Eventually Harald opens the door. His face is ashen, and he is unshaven.

“May we come in?” Daniel says. “We need to speak to you and your wife.”

Lena comes running down the stairs, her eyes red and swollen from crying. They sit down at the kitchen table, with Lena as close as possible to her husband. She is clutching a piece of paper towel, and she repeatedly dabs at the tears pouring down her cheeks.

Daniel searches for the right words—do they even exist?

He can’t put it off any longer.

“I’m afraid we have some bad news.”

Lena’s eyes widen, and Harald grips the edge of the table with both hands.

“A call came through this morning. Amanda has been found over by the chairlift at VM6.” Daniel takes a deep breath. “I’m very sorry, but your daughter is dead.”

At first Lena remains absolutely still, as if she hasn’t really heard what he said. Then she makes a strange noise, like nothing Daniel has ever heard before. It is animalistic and guttural, a despairing howl from deep inside her body.

Harald doesn’t move. He sits there with his eyes closed as Lena’s howl grows in volume, filling the room.

Eventually it fades away and she collapses, hiding her face in her hands.

The kitchen clock ticks loudly in the silence.

“How did it happen?” Harald asks quietly, without looking at Daniel. “How did my daughter die?”

“We can’t answer that at the moment. The cause of death hasn’t yet been established.”

Harald clenches his fists. “What did she look like? Was she . . . injured?”

“She looked perfectly normal,” Daniel assures him. He doesn’t mention that Amanda was wearing only her bra and panties. That piece of information can wait.

“Can we . . . can we see her?”

“Of course, but she’ll be sent straight to Ume? for the autopsy, and then we’ll hopefully be able to tell you the cause of death.”

“You’re going to cut her open?” Lena whispers. She covers her mouth with her hands, her fingers are shaking.

“In circumstances like these, there has to be an autopsy,” Anton says.

“I don’t want you to cut my daughter open.”

“I’m very sorry.”

Daniel gathers his strength for the next question.

Amanda’s parents are already traumatized; the next part of the conversation isn’t going to make them feel any better.

He gives himself a few extra seconds, runs his thumb over the surface of the table. It bears the scars of family life —rings from hot cups, a burn mark from a dropped match, deep lines where someone has chopped food without a cutting board.

“We have reason to suspect that a crime lies behind Amanda’s death. We’d like to ask one or two questions, if that’s okay with you.”

Lena takes no notice; she is sobbing helplessly, shutting out everything around her.

Only Harald reacts. “What do you mean?”

“We believe that Amanda was abducted against her will, and that she may have been held captive in a cabin on the mountain during the period between her disappearance and the discovery of her body this morning.”

Harald gives himself a little shake. “Why would anyone do that?”

“That’s what we need to talk to you about.” Daniel leans forward. “Has anyone been following your daughter recently? Has she mentioned feeling uncomfortable around anyone?”

“No. Not that I’m aware of.”