Chapter 95
Hanna is about to rejoin Daniel when the door to the patio opens and Olivia appears, dressed in gray sweatpants and a fleecy top.
“Hi, Olivia, how are you? Emil said you were resting when we arrived.”
“Not great.”
Olivia is very pale. Her coal-black hair against her white skin creates an almost ghostly impression. Only two red patches burning on her cheeks give her face any color.
“I realize it’s tough,” Hanna says. “But you did an amazing thing last night—you probably saved both your own life and Emil’s. It’s not surprising that you’re tired; you need time to recover.”
Olivia glances over her shoulder; she seems anxious in case someone sees her talking to Hanna. Is she still scared? Maybe they should send a uniformed officer over to keep an eye on things for the next day or so?
But Hanna reminds herself that Daniel was against the idea, and so was Raffe. Neither of them thought that Pontus would be dumb enough to return to the house, and it can only be a matter of time before they track him down.
“I have to tell you something.”
The girl’s voice is weak and uncertain, nothing like her usual self. However, she has gone through a great deal in the past twenty-four hours, which is bound to take its toll. Maybe she has a fever? What has happened to her could make anyone ill.
Hanna moves closer. “I’m listening.”
“It was this morning. I happened to overhear William and Amir talking in the living room.”
Then Olivia tells Hanna about the conversation, how one of the boys was trying to persuade the other to admit what he had done to Filippa, but Olivia couldn’t tell which of them it was.
Which of them was the guilty party.
“You should have called and told me this right away,” Hanna snaps. She regrets her tone immediately; there is no point in chastising Olivia when she is already so upset.
“I know.” Olivia bites her lip and looks away. “But I was shocked and confused; it was like I couldn’t think clearly. So I went back to bed.”
Hanna places a hand on Olivia’s shoulder, gives her a gentle squeeze.
“It’s good that you’ve told me now.”
The pieces of the puzzle are falling into place, one by one. If they can interview the boys at the station and get the truth out of them, they will be able to solve the case—she’s sure of it.
Then Hanna realizes something else. Pontus isn’t necessarily responsible for both Filippa’s death and the fire.
These are two separate crimes.
They could be looking at two separate perpetrators.