Hidden in Snow (The ?re Murders, #1)(6)

Lydia makes everything sound so simple.

“We were up in ?re last weekend, but we’re off on that cruise I mentioned on the twenty-sixth. The house will be empty until at least the end of January.”

Lydia and her husband, Richard, built a large house outside ?re a couple of years ago, in an area known as Sadeln. Hanna has never been there, but Lydia has proudly shown her pictures of the elegant decor. The sofa alone probably cost more than Hanna earns in three months.

“It’ll be perfect,” Lydia says firmly.

Hanna doubts that, but she has no other options. She has nowhere to go, and no job. Nor does she have very much money.

“I’ve booked you a plane ticket.”

Lydia doesn’t wait for Hanna’s response.

“The flight leaves at three thirty this afternoon. You also have a seat on the transfer bus from ?stersund Airport, which stops in ?re Bj?rnen. It’s a ten-minute walk from there to the house, or you can take a cab.”

Her sister’s dynamism makes Hanna feel even more helpless. How can she go away when she can’t even bring herself to have a shower and get dressed, let alone get on a plane to ?re?

She doesn’t even have the energy to be grateful. It’s an effort just to hold on to her phone; her hand is trembling, even though she is lying down.

“Speaking of which, a cab will pick you up at a quarter to two. You’re already checked in.”

“I can’t afford a cab to Arlanda,” Hanna objects.

Lydia is like a steamroller once she gets moving. Her attitude—that everything is fixable—is overwhelming. It’s as if she has a mental list and simply ticks off one point after another. As if doing something always helps.

“It’s prepaid, don’t worry about that.” She gives a little sigh of satisfaction. “So there you go—the situation is under control.”

Nothing is under control, but Hanna has neither the strength nor the ability to explain why. Nor is she capable of resisting Lydia.

“Thank you,” she whispers wearily.

“There’s plenty of food in the freezer, help yourself to whatever you want. You’re welcome to use our ski equipment too—we’ve got so much spare gear that we could open our own rental shop.” Lydia gives a little laugh at her own joke. “Call me when you get there so that I know you’re okay. I have to go—I’m meeting an important client at his office, and I can’t be late. Christmas—everything has to be ready before the holiday. You know how it is.”

They end the call, and Hanna tries to digest what’s just happened.

Lydia is sending her to ?re to lick her wounds. It’s all organized—Hanna just has to get dressed and pack a bag.

The cab will be here soon.

?re.

She sees ?reskutan before her, as clearly as if she were standing at the foot of the majestic mountain. Lydia hadn’t considered building her dream holiday home anywhere but the mountains of J?mtland. Hanna has always loved the place as well, but it reminds her too much of her childhood, particularly the years when she was alone with her parents after Lydia left home.

Now she has no choice. If she doesn’t go to ?re, she has nowhere to go. She doesn’t want to call her friends and ask for help; they’re all busy with their own lives, especially just before Christmas. She is too embarrassed; she can’t cope with explaining what’s gone on.

She curls up in the fetal position. Her intense longing for Christian makes her feel like she’s falling apart.

Waking up with him in the mornings. The security of living with another person.

Being part of a couple.

She can still smell him on the pillow next to her.

If only she could turn back time, make everything all right again.

OceanofPDF.com





6

The door of the room where Amanda Halvorssen is due to have her review session with the class adviser, Lasse Sandahl, is closed. Lasse is the head of economics at J?mtland High School, where Amanda is in her final year.

He must be delayed; they were supposed to meet at four. She hopes he won’t be long. The school is in J?rpen, and the bus home to ?re leaves at twenty to five.

Amanda turned eighteen in September, so there is no requirement to have a parent present. It’s the first time, and it feels good. Mom is hard work, with her constant comments on Amanda’s progress. She pokes her nose into most things, always wanting to know where Amanda’s going, who she’s hanging out with. It’s as if she can’t understand that her daughter has come of age and is able to make her own decisions.

That’s why Amanda hasn’t told her about Viktor.

She knows exactly what her mother would say if she found out about Amanda’s new boyfriend. Viktor, with his bad reputation, definitely wouldn’t be appreciated at home.

Amanda sits down on a bench by the wall in the white-painted corridor and takes out her phone. She checks her appearance in the blank screen. Her newly dyed, shoulder-length black hair looks good. As always she has used plenty of black eyeliner and a dark-red lipstick that she bought a few days ago; it was a bit too expensive, but she doesn’t care.

She opens Snapchat and idly scrolls through. Ebba, her best friend, has sent several snaps and a message, even though they saw each other less than a quarter of an hour ago.

Where the hell is Lasse?