Chapter 107
They don’t start interviewing William until seven o’clock.
Daniel thinks he looks furious more than anything when he is led into the room by a colleague. Unlike Pontus, who resembled a dog that was terrified of being beaten when he was brought in.
William is of a completely different caliber—a young man who has grown up on the sunny side of society, with everything that brings with it in terms of privilege, security, and confidence.
In his world the police do not automatically evoke distrust. Quite the reverse: he and his ilk expect positive discrimination and special treatment because they pay high taxes and therefore, in principle, are paying police officers’ wages.
His parents are currently on a flight home from New York, heading straight to ?re so they can inform Birgitta Grip what the police may and may not do with their son.
Let’s see how that goes, Daniel thinks.
William sits down with a mulish look on his face while Hanna switches on the tape and records the relevant details.
“Where’s my phone?” he demands as soon as she’s finished. “You can’t just take it.”
Hanna pushes a glass toward him without commenting on his assertion. “Would you like some water?” she asks with her hand on the carafe.
“I want to speak to my father. I’m entitled to a phone call. You can’t deny me that.”
“You’ve been watching too much TV,” Daniel says. “That’s not how the law works in Sweden. There is no automatic right to call anybody. However, we can contact your family when we’re done here to tell them we’re holding you on remand. If we feel that is appropriate.”
His directness makes William lose a little of his self-assured attitude.
“I haven’t done anything.”
“You lied to the police,” Hanna points out.
“We’ve spoken to you and questioned you on several occasions, and not once did you tell us that it was you who had sex with Filippa on the night before she died.
” She doesn’t raise her voice, but what she says clearly hits home. William stares down at the table.
“I know I have the right to a lawyer,” he says.
“That’s correct,” Daniel replies. “And if you want legal representation, a lawyer will be appointed for you. In which case we will have to end the interview now and wait until we can find someone who is available. Let’s hope we can do that by tomorrow or the next day.
In the meantime you will be held in custody.
There’s a well-used plastic mattress on the floor that you’re welcome to sleep on.
It might smell of vomit and urine, but I’m told you get used to it . . .”
Daniel doesn’t take his eyes off William. If he thinks he’s going to get away with his unpleasant attitude, he is very wrong.
Everyone is equal before the law.
“Or you could start by answering our questions,” Hanna suggests. “Then we can make a decision about what happens next—whether you need to stay here overnight or not.”
William pushes back his hair from his forehead, considerably less bumptious than when he walked in.
“What do you want to know?” he mutters.