Hidden in Snow (The ?re Murders, #1)(61)
“Anton said you were interested in working up here.”
Hanna nods enthusiastically. “I wasn’t sure he was serious when he mentioned it.”
Daniel rests his arm on the back of the chair beside him.
“I’ve spoken to my boss, Birgitta Grip, who runs the Serious Crimes Unit in ?stersund. We have three unfilled posts in the team, and we really need help—especially with the investigation into Amanda’s death.”
“I can start right away.”
Daniel gets the feeling that Hanna doesn’t want to seem pushy, but her eagerness spills over anyway. Her eyes are shining in the light of the deer-horn lamp on the ceiling.
“I mean . . . ,” she goes on. “I’m not doing anything at the moment, and just hanging out is getting kind of boring.
If you’re a cop, you’re a cop.” She turns her head away for a second, and when she looks at him again, her gaze is steady and confident. “A case like Amanda’s has to be solved as quickly as possible. It must be a terrible strain on her family.
I’d be happy to help.”
“We’ve discussed the possibility of a temporary placement effective immediately.”
“Seriously?” Hanna is so thrilled that she spills her coffee. She quickly gets up and grabs a cloth to wipe the table. “Sorry,” she mumbles as she sits down again.
“It’s fine,” Daniel assures her. “I’m hoping to hear within a couple of days, but can I take it you’re interested if we can persuade the City Police to agree?”
“Absolutely.”
There is a brief silence. Hanna draws a little circle on the table with her index finger. Just as Daniel is about to get up and leave, she takes a deep breath.
“Before you go, can I ask you about something completely different? It’s a company in ?re. Since you’re here anyway.”
“Of course.”
She fetches her laptop, opens it up, and brings up a business analysis on a finance site. At the top of the page it says Fj?ll-st?d AB.
“Are you familiar with this company?”
“It’s a cleaning firm in ?re. There are quite a few.”
“Do you know anything about their clients?”
“I presume they include some of your neighbors. These new holiday homes have created a significant demand for cleaning services. The houses are often rented out when the owners aren’t using them, so there’s a lot of activity in the winter season.”
“I understand.”
Hanna opens another tab with pictures of five middle-aged men. Daniel realizes they must make up the board of Fj?ll-st?d AB.
“Do you recognize any of these men?”
Daniel peers at the screen. Most of the names are familiar, but not all. Anton would have a better idea.
“What about the chair?” Hanna points to the top name, Arvid Gustafsson.
The name means nothing to Daniel. “That guy lives in Duved,” he says, indicating the next line down. “Anders Matsson. He runs an ICA grocery store. Fredrik Bergfors owns a construction company; he’s built houses for many of your neighbors here in Sadeln.” The second name from the bottom is familiar too. “That’s Bosse Lundh. He’s the local organizer for Missing People—they helped with the search for Amanda over the weekend.”
“That’s why I recognized him,” Hanna says with a nod.
“He’s a local entrepreneur,” Daniel explains. He can’t place the last name on the list. “Why do you ask?”
Hanna smiles. “My sister uses the company. She asked me to check something out, that’s all. Thanks for your help.”
She closes the laptop, then makes a sweeping gesture toward the kitchen.
“Would you like another coffee? Or something to eat? I haven’t had dinner yet.”
It’s tempting. Daniel would have liked to stay, toss ideas back and forth, but it could be misinterpreted.
This evening’s meeting has reinforced the impression he got this morning: she is a committed police officer who knows what she’s talking about. There’s a lot he’d like to discuss with her, but it will have to wait until later. At the station.
“I have to go,” he says. “Thanks anyway. I’ll be in touch as soon as I know what’s happening. My boss is going to contact your boss in Stockholm.”
Hanna’s face closes down for a second; then she looks normal again.
“Of course.”
“If you could send me your references, that would be great,” he says, getting to his feet.
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17
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63
The soft sound of gurgling wakes Daniel.
He is alert in a second; his sleep was superficial, even though he fell into bed as soon as he got home last night.
Ida doesn’t stir as he slips out of bed and gently picks up his daughter. He prepares a bottle and carries her into the living room. Ida is still breastfeeding, but Alice often has formula when Daniel feeds her.
He settles down on the sofa with her head resting in the crook of his arm. Her downy hair barely covers her scalp, where the fontanelles are just visible.
Every time he sees his child, it feels like a miracle. He still can’t quite believe that she exists, that he and Ida have created this new little person.