Chapter 23
Hanna’s eyes are stinging as she heads for the small kitchen at the station on Tuesday morning to pour herself a large cup of coffee.
Six hours’ sleep is not enough; a yawn gets the better of her on the way.
It is seven thirty, and they are due to hold a briefing with everyone involved in the special unit that has been put together to investigate the murder of Charlotte Wretlind.
She says good morning to a couple of colleagues who are heading out on patrol, then makes her way to the conference room.
Daniel is already seated at the table. His face lights up when she comes in, and as usual her mood improves as soon as she sees him.
Today he is wearing jeans and a crewneck sweater with a white shirt underneath—his standard attire.
His hair is tousled, as if he simply ran his fingers through it this morning instead of looking for a comb.
Hanna is seized by an impulse to lean forward and smooth it down, but quickly pulls herself together.
Daniel also seems to be suffering from a lack of sleep, but he no longer looks as desperately tired as he did during Alice’s first year. Hanna pictures Daniel and Ida smiling with their arms around each other, holding their baby daughter.
The unattainable nuclear family.
Which is not hers.
Maybe she’s acquired a cat instead.
The thought provides some consolation, even though she was woken at least ten times during the night because Morris seems to have decided that the only acceptable place to sleep is on Hanna’s bed, preferably on her chest.
For the first time, she understands why Daniel looks so worn out when Alice has had a bad night.
“How long did you stay yesterday?” he asks.
“I think I got to bed around midnight. By the way, I checked out Henry Sylvester’s alibi, and several witnesses confirm that he was in Stockholm on Sunday evening.”
The door opens, and Raffe and Anton join them. Anton is carrying a pile of printouts, which he places on the table, while Raffe’s contribution is a plate of brownies baked by Nilla.
“Okay, let’s go,” Daniel says, opening the link to ?stersund, where the rest of the group are assembled with Birgitta Grip and the prosecutor.
They have several matters to deal with today.
After lunch they are meeting the victim’s son, who is due to arrive in ?re this morning.
Before that they plan to go through the printouts of the interviews with hotel staff conducted so far.
Hanna also wants to speak to Carina to get the lowdown on the examination of the crime scene, and she hopes to find time to dig deeper into Charlotte’s background and private life.
She glances at the wall, where the photographs of Charlotte’s mutilated body have been put up.
The red blood against the white skin, the wide-open eyes staring into eternity.
Hanna shudders. Who does that to another person?