The Chosen Read Free

was a closed book. He knew it was one of Stockholm’s Jewish communities, but that was all. He couldn’t understand why
the case had landed on his desk. If the motive was anti-Semitism, then it should be investigated by the National Crime Unit’s specialist team who dealt with hate crimes. Maybe the National
Security Police, Säpo, should be involved. But why Alex’s team, which had only just been formed and wasn’t yet ready for a major challenge? And even more importantly, who the hell
would have a reason to shoot a pre-school teacher in broad daylight in front of a group of adults and kids?
    ‘Her new partner,’ Alex’s boss said, tossing a computer printout onto his desk. ‘This is no hate crime, although that’s how the internet editions of the papers are
reporting it. This is linked to serious organised crime, and if you look under a few stones I’m sure you’ll discover that the poor little schoolteacher who got shot in the back isn’t quite as pure as the snow she’s lying on.’
    Alex picked up the printout, which was an extract from the serious crimes database.
    ‘This is her partner?’
    ‘Yep.’
    The words in front of him were all too familiar. Drugs-related offences. Unlawful threats. Assaulting a police officer. Resisting arrest. Aggravated theft. Armed robbery. Procurement.
    ‘Anything on the teacher herself?’
    ‘Not a thing. She isn’t even in the suspects’ database.’
    ‘In which case she might be as pure as the driven snow after all; perhaps she just has particularly poor judgement. And bad luck.’
    ‘I’ll leave it to you to look into; find out if this is about her or her boyfriend. Or possibly both of them. And don’t hang about.’
    Alex looked up.
    ‘Are we in a hurry?’
    ‘The Solomon Community is very energetic when it comes to security issues. If they don’t get answers from us fast enough, they’ll start their own investigation. Whatever
happens, they’re bound to demand major input from the police, and they’ll do it very publicly.’
    Alex ran a hand over his chin.
    ‘Maybe not if we tell them that their teacher was living with someone who has a criminal record as long as your arm,’ he said. ‘Surely that will give the impression that
they’re recruiting potentially dangerous individuals, which won’t be very good for their image.’
    His boss was already on his way out of the door.
    ‘Exactly. So make sure you get in touch with them as soon as possible. Go over there and have a chat. Take Fredrika with you.’
    ‘She’s not in this afternoon, but I’ll call her tonight and let her know what’s going on.’
    His boss frowned.
    ‘That’s up to you, of course, but don’t you think you ought to call her now and ask her to come in? If she’s in town, that is.’
    ‘She is in town, and of course I can call her, but she probably won’t answer.’
    ‘Has something happened?’
    ‘She’s rehearsing with the orchestra.’
    ‘Orchestra? What does she play?’
    ‘The violin. And it makes her feel good, so I’m not going to interrupt her.’
    After being away from the police for almost two years, Fredrika Bergman was back at last. Back at Kungsholmen. Back with Alex. Which was exactly where he had always thought she should be, so he
had no intention of quibbling over the odd rehearsal.
    He would make a start on the investigation himself. The teacher had been living with a man who had been in a hell of a lot of trouble, so that was the obvious place to begin.
    ‘So why am I dealing with this?’ Alex asked. ‘Serious organised crime isn’t in my remit.’
    ‘The Östermalm police have asked for back-up in the initial stages,’ his boss explained. ‘I promised you’d give them a hand. If there’s a clear link to
organised crime, just pass the case on to the National Crime Unit.’
    It sounded so simple. Just pass the case on through the system. God knows how easy that would actually be. Alex thought back to the unique team he had led