Chapter 56
The sun has gone down by the time Hanna knocks on the sturdy door of the Lowengrens’ house. Beyond the reach of the white beams of the external lighting, there is only darkness. Daniel, who is a few steps behind her in a navy-blue jacket, almost melts into the background.
Carina and her team have left.
Once again it is Emil who answers the door. His expression changes when he sees that the two officers from this morning are back.
Hanna can see how much their presence is stressing him out. His eyes become watchful, his jawline tenses. Just like before, he clenches his fists before pushing his hands into his pockets.
Is he worried that they will tell Pontus that the police have taken his laptop because of what Emil told them? Or that they will reveal his assault conviction to his friends?
Or is this about something else?
Maybe it was Emil who had sex with Filippa, but he is afraid to admit it because of the implications.
“We need to speak to you and your friends again.”
“They got back a little while ago. They’re pretty upset that you searched the house without letting them know in advance.”
Hanna doesn’t bother to comment. She understands their feelings, but under the circumstances it can’t be helped.
“Where’s Olivia? I need to speak to her on her own.”
They have decided that she will begin with Olivia, while Daniel sits down with Pontus.
“I expect she’s in the guest cabin.” Emil points to a smaller building not far away. “She went over there as soon as she arrived home.”
Hanna turns to Daniel.
“Okay, I’ll go and find her, leave you to make a start here.”
When Hanna knocks on the door, there is no answer. She tries the handle. It isn’t locked, so she steps into the hallway and calls out, “Hello? Olivia?”
The floor is littered with discarded wet ski clothes—a white jacket and a white ski suit—and Hanna can hear the sound of the shower from what must be the bathroom. She calls Olivia’s name again, louder this time, and the water is turned off.
The door opens, and a slender girl in a white toweling robe appears. Her black hair is soaking wet, her eyes large and suspicious.
“My name is Hanna, and I’m with the ?re police,” Hanna explains quickly, to reassure her. “I’d like to ask you a few more questions about Filippa’s death, if that’s okay?”
Olivia stares at her, then blurts out, “Was it Amir?”