Silver Tears(47)

Faye had a warm feeling inside at the thought of his concern.

“It’s not about the money. If I have to have protection, then he’s managed to scare me. Cow me. And who knows how long this will last? He might stay hidden for months. If we’re lucky, he’ll be caught soon. At least now the police know he’s in Stockholm.”



David stopped in front of her.

“I know you’ve only just gotten home, but I’d like us to go away—just for a couple of days. Until things calm down a bit.”

Faye caressed his cheek. Yes, she really did want to go away with him.

“What do you think of Madrid?” she asked. “I have to go anyway, for a meeting. We could fly out early, celebrate Midsummer there?”

He took her hands and drew her to him.

“As it happens, I’m one of those guys who loves Midsummer. Schnapps, herring, V?sterbotten cheese, maypoles. But for you, my love, I’m happy to sacrifice it all. Yo amo Madrid.”





Faye took David’s hand as they strolled along Strandv?gen. She remembered the evening they had broken into the boat and made love for the first time. In many ways, her relationship with David was the most straightforward, most natural one she had ever had.

With Jack, she had often been uncertain and had adapted to please him. She had always been at war with her own internal instincts over the fear of losing him. When she spent time with David, she never even had to consider forgoing anything. He showed clearly and wholeheartedly that he wanted her the way she was. Perhaps it was age? Perhaps it was just that she and David were a better match than she and Jack had been?

“What are you thinking about?” he asked, looking at her in amusement. “You’re smiling…”

“Us, as it happens.”

“We’re good together,” he said. “I like it when you think about us.”

The sun was shining, and the heat had arrived with gusto.

They passed the pier at Nybrokajen where the Djurg?rden ferries waited to fill up with tourists, while to the right Berzelii Park opened up before them. People were half reclining on the grass in the shade, eating their lunch.

When they reached the Grand H?tel on Blasieholmen, Faye stayed in the lobby while David took the elevator up to his room.

It was cool and felt pleasant. Faye closed her eyes, enjoying the murmuring voices echoing between the stone walls.



She was looking forward to the trip to Madrid—it was their first trip together. She had one business meeting, but other than that, she was going to ensure that she and David had a wonderful time together.

Her mobile vibrated in her handbag and she took it out.

“Henrik was just in the office,” said Kerstin.

“At Revenge? You’re kidding!”

“Afraid not. I wasn’t there, but Sandra in PR called.”

“Revenge isn’t his yet, he has no right…What did Sandra say he was doing there?”

Faye was so worked up that she stood from her armchair.

“He went around introducing himself to the staff. Inspected the office. According to Sandra, he acted like he owned the place. He asked everyone to send in their CVs so that he could, as he put it, ‘determine who will be assets for the company.’?”

“The cheeky bastard. Irene told me how he treats women in his current company—the few that he even hires—chauvinistic shit that he is.”

Faye almost collided with a white-haired lady in a chinchilla fur coat and several strings of pearls.

“Sorry.”

“Excuse me?” said Kerstin.

“No, no. I wasn’t talking to you. But what does he think he’s playing at? There was no point in that except to wind me up. Which he’s succeeded in doing.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to remain calm, not do anything hotheaded, and stick to Ylva’s plan.”

“It went well in Amsterdam, in other words?”

Faye recollected a couple of key moments from the trip to Amsterdam, but decided it was best Kerstin knew as little as possible about what had happened there.

“It was above expectations.”

“Well, then. Let’s ignore Henrik for now and do what we have to do.”



“Yes. We’ll ignore him,” Faye said, ending the call. But she could feel herself grinding her teeth.

An agitated voice made her turn around. A woman with long, dark hair was remonstrating with the receptionists. Faye recognized her right away. Naturally, she had googled her and spotted her penchant for Chanel dresses. It was Johanna Schiller, David’s wife. Faye got out her phone, put it to her ear, and crouched as she hurried for the exit. If Johanna caught sight of her, she would probably cause a scene. She must be here to find David. As Faye exited through the revolving door, she heard Johanna continuing her argument with the receptionists:

“What do you mean, you can’t give me a key? It’s my husband staying here. David Schiller. I’m Johanna Schiller. Surely I can have a key to my own husband’s room?”

Faye clenched her fists in frustration and anger as she quickly continued on her way down the steps and toward the water. Everything Johanna was doing was so low. She couldn’t leave David alone. Not even here. And she was using their two daughters to blackmail him. It was so selfish.