Chapter 92
Hanna recognizes Anton’s red Toyota as they approach the Lowengrens’ house. What is he doing in Sadeln?
“Did you know Anton was coming here?” she asks Daniel.
“No. He didn’t mention it to me.”
At least that explains why Anton missed the briefing with Ylva, but Hanna thinks he should have told someone where he was going; it’s not like him to sneak off like that. Then she smiles to herself—who is she to judge? Taking off to check something out on her own is something she often does.
Daniel parks, and they get out of the car.
When Hanna looks up at ?reskutan, the mountain is hidden by a massive wall of gray fog.
She points to the Carlsson property.
“I’m wondering whether we ought to speak to them again. Check out what they might have seen last night.”
She knows that officers will call on them as part of the door-to-door inquiries, but reading someone else’s report isn’t the same as speaking to the person.
Or asking a key question.
Karin Carlsson turned out to be an important witness in the investigation into Filippa’s death. Maybe she was also up when the fire broke out?
It might be worth a visit.
“Later,” Daniel decides, setting off toward the front door. “First we need to pick up these boys—that’s why we came here.”
Hanna follows without protesting.
This time it is Emil who answers the door. His eyes are tired and his complexion sallow, apart from the angry red marks still clearly visible on his throat.
The events of the last few days have taken their toll. However, he doesn’t seem surprised to see the two detectives again.
“Hi,” Daniel says. “We’d like to see William and Amir—there’s something we need to talk to them about.”
“They’re in bed, but I can wake them.”
“And how are you doing?” Hanna asks as they step inside.
“Not bad.”
Emil runs his fingers through his hair, which needs washing. Hanna can almost smell the lingering odor of the fire in those greasy curls.
“Have you found Pontus?”
“Not yet.”
Hanna peers into the living room, but there is no sign of Anton or anyone else. “Where’s Olivia?”
“I think she went for a lie-down too. I’ll go down and tell the others you’re here.”
Hanna and Daniel wait in the hallway. There are shoes scattered everywhere, but the jackets are neatly hung up beneath the hat shelf.
Hanna suddenly notices a white alarm keypad on the wall, just below the hooks.
She didn’t notice it the last time she was here, presumably because it was hidden behind a coat or jacket, but today there is only an empty hanger.
She recognizes the layout; there is an almost identical one in Lydia’s house. When you open the front door, you have thirty seconds to enter a code, otherwise the alarm goes off.
She remembers that Lydia has something else linked to her alarm system.
Outdoor cameras attached to the house facade.
Lydia has an app that means she can see who is at the front door or any of the other entrances, even when she is in Stockholm.
Hanna nudges Daniel and points. “Look. I wonder if they’ve got cameras linked to the alarm. My sister has. If so, the cameras should have registered anyone moving around outside,” she explains.
“Do you think we could be that lucky?” Daniel sounds skeptical, as if he dare not believe in that kind of scenario.
“It’s certainly worth checking out,” Hanna replies. “Imagine if we can find footage from the night Filippa died. Or when the fire started.”
“How long is the footage stored?” Daniel asks. “Doesn’t it only exist in the moment?”
Hanna has no idea. She has never owned a house where an alarm was needed. She doesn’t have anything that valuable.
But she knows who to ask.
“I’ll call Lydia as soon as we’re done here. She’s bound to know.”