Page 16 of Hidden in Memories
“Charlotte Wretlind,” he begins, his eyes fixed on the screen. “She arrived last Friday and was staying for the whole of the Easter break. The booking was made in the name of her company, SEG—Swedish Establishment Group. They’re property developers, I believe.”
“Was she a regular guest?”
“She’s stayed here quite a lot. I’d say seven or eight times over the past fifteen months. Her last visit was in February.”
“Why so often?” Hanna wonders.
“She was behind the new Storlien project,” Espen explains. “Refurbishing the old mountain hotel. You might have seen the article inÖstersunds-Postena few weeks ago? Apparently the plan was to put Storlien back on the map, make it as renowned as it was all those years ago, in the 1960s and ’70s.”
Daniel searches his memory. He probably read about it but didn’t give it another thought. He exchanges a glance with Hanna. Storlien’s glory days are long gone.
“I’m not sure how much you know about the development since then,” Espen goes on, “but in those days Åre was just a small village, and Storlien was the center for skiing and tourism in the area. The king has a mountain cabin nearby, which no doubt contributed to its reputation.”
“I believe the king and queen usually spend Easter there,” Hanna says. “So they should be there now?”
“That’s right.”
Espen scrolls down and Daniel leans forward.
“Can you tell us more about the victim’s stay here at Copperhill?”
“Like I said, Charlotte Wretlind was supposed to be with us for just over a week. She had also booked one of our finest conference rooms for a press conference this afternoon. She was going to reveal her ambitious plans for a new mountain hotel.”
Daniel sees that Hanna is frowning. Something about the way Espen said “ambitious plans” doesn’t sit well.
He almost sounded contemptuous.
It puts him in a new light.
“Was there something controversial about the project?” Hanna asks.
“I don’t quite know how to put this.” Espen looks uncomfortable. “Many people in Storlien have been worried about the consequences, with regard to both the execution of such a large build and what the final result will look like. They don’t want a ‘new Åre.’”
“Why not?”
“It’s no secret that Åre is widely believed to have been overexploited. A lot of new houses have been built, and the number of tourists has increased significantly. Those of us involved in the hotel industry are pleased about that, of course, but it’s clear that the infrastructure hasn’t really kept up. During high season there are long traffic jams, and the ski lift system needs improvement. It’s often closed due to technical reasons, which leads to complaints from the guests.”
Espen looks away and scratches his neck, leaving red marks.
Daniel wonders whether it’s the competition that really concerns him.
“People move here because they want a different life,” the manager goes on. “Calmer, less hectic. If you flood the area with hundreds of tourists, it affects everyone. Particularly in view of the clientele I believe Charlotte Wretlind was hoping to target—the luxury sector. It creates tensions.”
“What do the owners of Copperhill think about the development?” Hanna asks. “Were they—and you—worried about a rival?”
Daniel had exactly the same question in his mind. Hanna is very good at putting things into words without sounding harsh or judgmental, which makes people lower their guard. He gives her an encouraging nod, and she smiles back almost imperceptibly.
“Why do you say that?” Espen mumbles.
“A great big luxury hotel in Storlien, no more than an hour from here—surely they’ll be looking to occupy the same market position as Copperhill? Is there room for two high-profile establishments so close together?”
“I would never think along those lines.” Espen looks at Hanna with more than a touch of arrogance. “Especially not now, when Charlotte Wretlind has met such a terrible fate.”
Hanna is not giving up.
“Are you absolutely certain about that? Surely the thought must have occurred to you?”
Espen refuses to look her in the eye.
