Hidden in Snow (The ?re Murders, #1)(86)

The car stops and the driver sounds the horn a couple of times. Hanna can’t tell if it’s a man or a woman at the wheel; it’s too far away, and he or she is wearing a jacket with a hood.

The front door opens, and Zuhra emerges with a mop and bucket in one hand and the vacuum cleaner in the other. She opens the trunk, stows her equipment, and gets into the passenger seat.

Meanwhile the driver gets out and locks the front door.

Clearly Zuhra is not entrusted with the keys, which says even more about her precarious situation. She is nothing more than a marionette, transported from place to place to clean the second homes of rich folk.

The Golf reverses, turns around, and sets off toward the east.

The registration plate is clearly visible before it disappears.

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92

It is almost one o’clock when Hanna and Daniel arrive at the Bergfors family home. It turned out that Mira was taking the day off to look after a sick child, which saved them a trip to the council offices in J?rpen.

Daniel is driving. Hanna has pushed her concerns about Zuhra to one side for the moment. She made a note of the Golf’s license-plate number and will run it through the registration database as soon as she can. Right now she needs to concentrate on Amanda.

Mira opens the door, wearing jeans, a sweater, and no makeup. Her eyes are red and swollen, but she is still very beautiful, with her thick, dark hair hanging loose over her shoulders. No doubt she looks even more petite next to her tall, broad-shouldered husband.

A small child who doesn’t appear to be in any way unwell comes running along. Daniel explains why they’re here, and they sit down in the living room, tastefully decorated for Christmas. There is a picture of a saint on the wall and pots of white amaryllis in the windows.

The house reminds Hanna of Lydia’s, with its open-plan layout and large windows overlooking the lake. However, the decor isn’t quite as trendy. There are toys everywhere, and Hanna is pretty sure the sofas are from IKEA.

Suddenly an elegant blue Burmese cat strolls into the room. Mira gives a wan smile as it rubs itself around her legs. It purrs loudly and jumps up onto her lap.

“We need to talk to you about your relationship with Harald Halvorssen,” Daniel begins.

Mira goes very still. “Harald is my boss.”

“We have reason to believe he’s rather more than that.”

Mira glances at her daughter, who is absorbed in building a tower of red and blue Lego bricks.

“Can you tell us about your relationship?” Daniel continues. “It’s very important that you’re honest with us.”

“We had a relationship, but it’s over,” Mira replies quietly.

“When did it end?”

“Just over a month ago. I finished it.” She swallows. “It wasn’t fair to Fredrik.”

“Does he know about your affair?” Hanna asks.

“Yes.”

“And how did he take it?”

Mira looks down, strokes the cat with her slender fingers. “Not very well.”

“What did Fredrik do when he found out you’d been having an affair with Harald Halvorssen?”

Mira keeps shifting in her seat. At first the cat looks affronted; then it jumps down and stalks off in the direction of the kitchen.

“He . . . he was very angry.”

“Did he hit you?”

Mira straightens her shoulders. “Fredrik has never hit me. He’s not that kind of person.” There is passion in Mira’s voice as she defends her husband, but Hanna has a strong feeling that she is hiding something.

There are many men who would never resort to violence—until

the

day

they

do.

Under

certain

circumstances, especially if alcohol is involved, the barriers can break. Even a controlled person like Fredrik Bergfors can cross the line if he feels sufficiently provoked.

But maybe he didn’t hit his wife. Maybe he took it out on someone else.

Daniel clears his throat.

“Your husband says he was at home on the night between December 12 and 13. Can you confirm that?”

Mira seems confused; then she realizes why they’re asking. Her hand flies to her mouth. “Absolutely,” she says, nodding. “He was here all night.”

“Did you go to bed at the same time?” Hanna says.

“I don’t remember.”

“Why not?”

“I usually go to bed about ten; Fredrik often stays up and works for a while.”

“Is that what he did on December 12?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Can you really confirm that he was in bed all night?”

Daniel pushes her.

Mira’s cheeks are flushed. “Yes.”

“How?”

“I would have noticed if he hadn’t come up.”

Hanna stares at her, but Mira won’t allow herself to be intimidated. She stares right back and gives her husband his alibi. “He was there,” she says firmly.

Hanna decides to change the subject. “Would you describe Fredrik as hotheaded?”

Mira shakes her head. “He’s a calm person.”

“What happens when he loses his temper?”