Page 47 of The Sleepwalker
‘Hi,’ says Joona.
‘Hi.’
‘We met while you were in custody. My name is Joona Linna, and I’m a detective with the National Crime Agency,’ he says as he shakes Hugo’s hand. ‘I’ve taken over the investigation, and I want to start by apologising for the time you spent in Kronoberg. The prosecutor made a mistake and .?.?. I know it’s been hard on you.’
‘I’m home now,’ Hugo replies, lowering his yellow highlighter to the table.
‘But not completely cleared, just so you know,’ Bernard speaks up.
‘No possible scenarios will be ruled out until I’ve solved the case,’ Joona explains.
‘You seem pretty sure you’ll be able to,’ Hugo says, looking up at him with a flicker of interest.
‘Yes,’ Joona replies as he takes a seat opposite him.
17
Bernard glances over to Joona and pulls out a chair for himself, then hesitates with his hand on the backrest and asks whether he would like a coffee.
‘Please.’
‘Strong and black, I’m guessing?’
‘Sounds good,’ Joona replies with a smile. He takes out his phone and sets it down on the table, then turns back to Hugo. ‘I’ll be recording our conversation today, just so you know.’
‘Look, I don’t want to be rude or anything,’ Hugo tells him, ‘but I really need to study for .?.?.’
He pauses when the coffee grinder starts whirring and leans back in his chair, scratching his stomach through his fadedActes SudT-shirt.
‘I won’t take up too much of your time,’ says Joona.
‘It’s just that I’ve got a test today.’
The hissing and bubbling from the coffee machine fades, and Bernard sets a cup and saucer down in front of Joona.
‘Thanks.’
‘I guess I’m also not really sure why you’re here,’ Hugo continues, though he closes his chemistry book.
‘We consider you a witness, even though you’ve said you don’t remember anything.’
‘I don’t.’
‘I’m assuming your solicitor took you through what to say before the first interrogation?’ Joona begins.
‘We talked, yeah.’
‘But things changed following the second murder?’
‘Yeah.’
‘That must have come as quite a relief?’
‘I mean, I already knew I was innocent, so .?.?.’ says Hugo.
‘Of course.’ Joona smiles. ‘But ultimately it comes down to you convincing everyone else .?.?. And in order to do that, it’s not unusual for people to fine-tune their story a bit.’
‘What are you trying to say?’
