Page 138 of Hidden in Memories
“She” is Charlotte.
Little by little Hanna has teased out the motive behind the first murder. What happened when Charlotte began to stay at Copperhill on a regular basis, and Mogren realized whose daughter she was. How the sight of her made him increasingly frustrated. Her snobbish big-city attitude brought back everything his mother had told him.
Terrible childhood memories came swirling to the surface.
Charlotte’s plans to restore the Storlien mountain hotel to its former glory infuriated him. He couldn’t bear the thought of the place coming back to life.
It would be a constant reminder of what his mother had been forced to go through.
Ever since he was a little boy, she had imprinted his father’s name, Curt Wretlind, in the child’s mind. He grew up with the story of the man who had behaved with such ruthless cruelty, he was reminded over and over again that Curt refused to accept responsibility for his son.
During all those years Erik attempted to make contact only once, and Curt refused to have anything to do with him. He denied paternity, told him never to contact him again. If Erik made the slightest attempt to contact Curt’s wife or other children, he would regret it.
In the end the dam broke.
It was the evening when he witnessed the altercation at reception, when he saw how badly Charlotte behaved toward Paul Lehto.
It proved once and for all that she was exactly like her father. She simply took what she wanted and treated everyone else like shit. CurtWretlind’s egotistical, self-obsessed bloodline had continued, and it was unbearable. Okay, so the original perpetrator was dead, but Charlotte was very much alive.
That was when Erik made his decision.
He had dreamed of punishing her. That was why he took her key card in an unguarded moment. Now it was clear what he had to do. It was as if fate was directing his actions.
Deep down it was all about penance and atonement. Someone had to pay for what Curt had done.
That was why Filip had to be removed too, according to Erik’s twisted logic.
Daniel hands Hanna a bottle of Coca-Cola. She drinks gratefully. She isn’t hungry, but is beginning to feel dehydrated. The slight pressure over her temples is a sure sign.
Erik Mogren and poor Filip must also be suffering from the lack of food and drink.
However, it does feel as if they are making some progress. Over the past hour Erik hasn’t sounded quite as aggressive. His mood swings have become less frequent, and a few times he has even asked for Hanna’s opinion.
She hopes this means that she is getting through to him.
“What can I do for you?” she says when a natural pause arises.
“I’m hungry.”
This is the first time during the entire conversation that he has diverted from his main theme—bitterness because of the assault almost fifty years ago, and its consequences.
“I’m sure you must be—we’ve been talking for a long time. I’d be hungry too if I were you.”
“I want a pizza from Flamman.”
Hanna recognizes the name of the nearby restaurant. “I’m sure we can arrange that. Shall I order one for Filip too?”
“Fuck him.”
Hanna wonders if the time is right to make another attempt to speak to Charlotte’s son.
It’s make or break.
“I’d really like to hear him say he doesn’t want anything, if that’s okay with you?”
Silence.
When Hanna looks down she realizes she has her fingers crossed. It’s childish, but she really hopes she will be able to speak to Filip.
