Murder in Malmö: The second Inspector Anita Sundström mystery (Inspector Anita Sundström mysteries) Read Free Page A

she was on leave of absence from the polishus. Westermark had believed Strachan to be guilty all along and felt that she had been protecting the British journalist because he could see – even when she hadn’t initially – that she was falling for him. This had infuriated Westermark because she was one of the few women he had failed to add to his impressive list of conquests. Her pointed rejections of his obvious advances had only increased his hatred of her whilst heightening the sexual tension and desire. It was a volatile combination that would only strain the atmosphere within the team on her return.
    Anita now found herself at a standstill. The traffic was going nowhere. It was unusual to have a jam at this time of day. This was annoying. She only lived across the park, but had taken the car as she wanted to do some shopping at Mobilia after her hospital appointment. Now that she was stuck she just wanted to get back home, put on her running clothes and jog away her worries in Pildammsparken. Living in Malmö meant she hadn’t a quiet space to run or walk along. In the summer too many people came out to enjoy the sun on the city beaches. She had managed to escape during her suspension to Simrishamn, staying with her old school friend Sandra. There she had been able to wander by herself up towards Baskemölla and onto her favourite beach, Lilla Vik. It was her mental sanctuary. Out of season there would be just her on her own, the sand and the Baltic stretching away to the horizon.
    Anita looked around to see if there was another way out. The car was trapped. She smacked the steering wheel in frustration. The sun was now beating down and her old Volkswagen was getting decidedly stuffy, despite the open window. Like some of the other drivers, she got out so see what was holding them up. Further along the street she could see a large group of bystanders. She also spotted a couple of uniformed policemen. She slammed the car door shut and walked towards the crowd. On reaching the group she recognised one of the officers, Carl Svanberg. Her attempts to attract his attention were drowned out by the blaring of an ambulance siren. The ambulance wove its way through the traffic until it stopped in the middle of the street.
    ‘Carl.’
    The officer turned and looked at Anita in some surprise. Once he recognized her, was that a smirk he was trying to hide? Or am I being paranoid? thought Anita. ‘What’s up?’
    Svanberg pointed through the throng. ‘Someone’s been knocked over. Probably wasn’t looking when crossing the street.’
    ‘Can I help?’
    For a moment she could see the confusion on his face. Like everyone based at the polishus, he would know her situation and be aware of its aftermath. ‘I thought you—’
    ‘I start tomorrow. Any development on the Rosengård shootings?’ The press had lost interest when it became clear that both immigrant women would survive. She hoped the police attitude hadn’t been the same.
    ‘No.’
    Fortunately, Svanberg was saved by his colleague calling to him. The paramedics were dealing with what Anita could now see was a man lying on the ground. He was soon lost to view and, as she walked back to her car, the ambulance siren started up again.

CHAPTER 5
    Chief Inspector Moberg stared out of his office window over the canal that encircles the old centre of Malmö. The sun glinted on the calm water. It didn’t reflect his disposition at that moment. He was irritated – and he was hungry. The two weren’t mutually exclusive. It took a lot to satisfy his appetite. He knew he ate and drank too much, but it was more out of habit these days. He had long given up on the idea of diets and controlling his weight. He had always been big. Now he was gross. He realized that colleagues must make comments behind his back, though his temper ensured that no one would dare make derogatory remarks to his face.
    He hadn’t eaten properly because he had been called out to the Ekman case. It