The House That Jack Built Read Free

here.” A hoarse female voice came from behind him. The Jutland accent wasn’t as strong as he had expected.
    He turned around and saw a pretty, blonde woman with an outstretched arm. A firm, dry handshake. She was tall, almost lanky. Her wispy hair covered her neck and ears but was pushed back from her animated grey eyes. There was a cluster of freckles drizzled across her nose and cheeks. She was wearing jeans and a pair of rubber boots that looked far too big for her thin frame.
    â€œYou must be Lars.” She smiled. Lars tried returning the smile. It went surprisingly well.
    â€œWelcome.” He nodded at the body and then looked at her. “Can you give me a quick overview?”
    Sanne looked at Toke, then at Frelsén as he waded through the shallow water. The forensic pathologist removed his latex gloves as he walked toward them.
    â€œWell, you see —”
    â€œLeave the poor girl alone.” Frelsén stuffed the gloves into his back pocket. “Now this is interesting. The corpse has been preserved. The same procedure used on bodies that are donated to science.”
    Sanne’s cheeks went red. “Are you saying someone abused the corpse?”
    â€œA person who donates their body to science seldom leaves this mournful world with a bullet through the heart.” Frelsén pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose. “Very tidy. Right above the left breast. Bint found a fine corona of gunshot residue around the entrance wound. Oh, and her eyes have been removed.”
    Everyone was quiet.
    â€œBint?” Sanne asked after a short while. Her voice only trembled a little.
    â€œWallid Bint,” Lars explained. “We hardly ever use his first name.” He turned to Frelsén. “So can you start from the beginning?”
    â€œCome.” Frelsén motioned for them to follow, walking through the water on the other side of the body. Lars, Sanne, and Toke lined up on the shore. Allan stood slightly apart from the rest.
    A slight hospital smell mixed with the scent of algae lingered by the water’s edge. Lars looked down.
    She was lying on her back, naked, with her legs slightly apart. She had a root stuck in her back, so her chest was pushed up and out. The skin had an unnatural yellowish-white tone and rubbery appearance. The water covered her from the knees down; the rest of her body was on land. Either the dark pubic hairs were very sparse or they had just started growing back after a recent shaving. Rigor mortis had set her forearms at a ninety-degree angle, pointing to the sky. Her face was contorted in an expression of terror and disgust. The frayed entrance wound from a bullet was visible just above her left breast.
    â€œYoung woman,” Frelsén started. “Presumably Eastern European, presumably a prostitute. Cause of death: a single gunshot to the heart. She’s been here no more than eight hours, judging by the condition of the skin.”
    He lifted the body’s lower leg, bringing the toes above the surface of the water. They all noticed the wrinkled skin, but the decomposition wasn’t far advanced. Frelsén pulled a small Maglite flashlight out of his breast pocket, and directed the light at the mixture of sludge, seaweed, and sand below her left shoulder. Something was gleaming.
    â€œBint thinks it’s glass,” Frelsén said.
    Lars looked across the small lake toward the suburban neighbourhood hidden behind the low vegetation.
    â€œHow long?”
    Frelsén straightened up. “Since she died? That will require further examination. But I suspect her eyes were removed first — presumably under anaesthetic, considering the clean incisions. Then she was shot.”
    Sanne cleared her throat. “Was she . . . was she conscious . . . during?”
    â€œWhen the eyes were removed? Unlikely. Afterwards? Judging by her facial expression, I’d say yes,” Frelsén