The Disappeared Read Free Page A

feet.
    ‘I would have expected more of you, Erland.’
    Erland Malm walked silently around the desk and picked up Spencer’s stick.
    ‘Say hello to Fredrika from me.’
    Spencer left the room without bothering to reply. He was furious and anxious at the same time. How the hell was he going to get out of this?
    ‘Rebecca Trolle,’ said Alex Recht.
    ‘How do you know?’ asked Torbjörn Ross.
    ‘Because I was in charge of the investigation when she disappeared almost two years ago.’
    ‘And you never found her?’
    Alex stared at his colleague.
    ‘Obviously not.’
    ‘The hands and head are missing and the body is in a very poor condition. Identification will be difficult, but of course it will be possible using DNA if we have something to compare it with.’
    ‘Which we do. But you can regard the official identification as a formality; I know it’s Rebecca Trolle.’
    Alex could feel his colleague’s gaze; he had encountered more looks like that than he could count over the past six months. Curious eyes that pretended to convey sympathy, but in fact held only doubt.
    Is he going to make it? they seemed to be wondering. Can he cut it now he’s lost his wife?
    Margareta Berlin, head of Human Resources, had been a refreshing exception to the rule.
    ‘I’m trusting you to give me the signals I need,’ she had said. ‘Don’t hesitate to ask for help. And don’t doubt that I’m behind you, because I am. One hundred per cent.’
    It was only then that Alex had lowered his guard and asked for some leave.
    ‘Do you want me to sign you off on the grounds of ill health? I can sort that out.’
    ‘No, I just want some leave. I’m going to do some travelling.’
    To Baghdad, he could have added, but it sounded far too exotic to say it out loud.
    Alex held up the item of jewellery from the navel piercing.
    ‘Her mother gave her this when she passed her final exams at school. That’s why I know it’s her.’
    ‘That’s a hell of a present.’
    ‘She was also given twenty-five thousand kronor to help her with her studies. Rebecca was the first person in the family to go on to higher education, and her mother was incredibly proud of her.’
    ‘Has anyone contacted her? The mother?’
    Alex looked up.
    ‘Not yet. I thought I’d do it tomorrow.’
    ‘Not today?’
    ‘No, I want to see if we find the victim’s head and hands today. There’s no reason to act quickly. Her mother has already waited for such a long time; one more day won’t make any difference.
    It was only when he had spoken the words that he realised how painful they were. One day could be a lifetime. He would have given ten years of his life for one more day with Lena. Just one day.
    It hurt so much to be without her.
    His hand trembling slightly, Alex slipped the piece of jewellery back into the bag.
    ‘What’s the staffing situation as far as your team goes? Can you take on such a big case?’ Torbjörn wanted to know.
    ‘I think so.’
    Torbjörn looked dubious.
    ‘Is Rydh still on the team?’
    ‘He is. And Bergman. But she’s still on maternity leave with her daughter.’
    ‘Ah, yes.’
    His colleague smirked.
    ‘She ended up with a bun in the oven from some old professor, didn’t she?’
    He stopped smirking when he saw the expression on Alex’s face.
    ‘Talk to somebody else if you’re going to come out with that kind of crap, Torbjörn. I’m not interested.’
    Torbjörn changed the subject.
    ‘But she’ll be back soon, won’t she?’
    ‘I think so. Otherwise, I have other investigators I can bring in. But it would be excellent if Fredrika came back very soon. Tomorrow, for example.’
    Alex gave a wan smile.
    ‘You never know,’ Torbjörn replied. ‘Perhaps she’s tired of being at home.’
    ‘Perhaps,’ said Alex.

3
    ‘Tomorrow?’ said Fredrika Bergman.
    ‘Why not?’ Spencer replied.
    Fredrika sat down at the kitchen table, completely taken aback.
    ‘Has something happened?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘Oh, come on,