Chapter 90
The tiredness catches up with Hanna again when she gets into the unmarked police car. Lunch chased it away temporarily, and the adrenaline rush following Ylva’s report helped too. But the warmth in the car is making her sleepy, even though she needs to stay sharp.
They will soon be seeing the four friends again—she has to be focused.
Student weeks, Hanna reminds herself. The other day there was a girl who, following après-ski and several shots, zoomed straight onto ?rev?gen on a sled. It was sheer luck that no cars were passing at the time—they would have had no chance of stopping.
“Filippa’s clothes,” she says in an attempt to wake herself up. “They have to be somewhere. Surely the murderer must have taken them—who else could it be?”
“Seems logical.”
Daniel sounds more brusque than usual. He’s been that way all day; he hardly said a word when they sat down for lunch. She had to work hard to get anything out of him before Raffe showed up.
She studies him discreetly, wondering for the umpteenth time if he has seen those awful articles. Is it the gossip columns that are making him so taciturn?
They are approaching the exit for Sadeln.
The clouds are so low that they are hiding the mountain known as Renfj?llet on the other side of the lake. They are like a lid on top of the whole valley, and odd flakes of snow drift down through the air.
It is sleeping-cat weather.
Hanna has started calling it that, because Morris likes to curl up with one paw covering his nose and sleep through this kind of weather. He is a clever cat, probably smarter than his owner.
“How are things with Alice when you have to be at work so much?” she asks, mainly to try to bring Daniel out of his shell.
His weary expression gives her the answer. “You mean how are things with Ida now we have another murder to investigate?”
“That too.”
“So far she’s been very understanding. I hope it lasts, but there’s always a risk that it won’t, especially if the case drags on.”
“You need a nanny who could jump in at short notice; then you wouldn’t have to call your ex every time there’s a problem.”
“Elisabeth usually helps out.”
“Isn’t that the same thing? If you call Ida’s mom, then Ida will find out.”
Hanna can’t see why Daniel doesn’t get it. If Ida is annoyed because he isn’t doing his share, then it won’t exactly improve things if he asks her mom to step in when he has to work.
Being a police officer can entail unreasonable working hours when a case is hotting up.
Because Daniel is a single dad to a small child, it’s hardly surprising if he is finding it hard to make things fit.
But that means finding a practical solution.
In Hanna’s world that means a neighbor or a childminder who can be there, not an ex-mother-in-law with a direct line to an already critical Ida.
“I’m sure you’re right. I ought to get to grips with that. I just haven’t gotten around to it yet.”
He sounds tired, almost defeated. As if life is on the point of overwhelming him, which isn’t like Daniel at all.
Hanna wants to lean over and squeeze his hand, give him a supportive hug, but she keeps her hands on her lap.
“Can I help you find someone?” she says instead.
“I could ask Karro if she knows anyone who’d like to earn a little extra as a childminder.
She’s friends with just about everyone in ?re and Duved, and the surrounding area.
Or you could put a query on the Facebook group—that reaches most people around here. ”
Daniel knows Anton’s sister, Karro, and he nods gratefully.
“I’d be happy for you to contact her—if you have time?”
“No problem. How about Facebook?”
Daniel frowns. “Let’s leave that for now. I’m not sure I want to advertise my situation on social media.”
Hanna can certainly sympathize with that.
More than Daniel can imagine.
“I’ll give her a call this evening.” She allows herself a brief touch, an encouraging pat on his arm. “We’ll sort something out, I promise.”