Page 17 of Hidden in Memories
“Not at all,” he says, his attention fixed on the iPad.
Motive,Daniel jots down discreetly.Check out Espen Lund’s alibi.
15
Hanna turns her head and feels the vertebrae in her neck crack.
“Shouldn’t the CSIs be finished soon?” she says to Daniel, who is sitting opposite her. “Carina and her team arrived at about one, didn’t they?”
They have spent several hours in the conference room. After the conversation with Espen Lund, they spoke to the maintenance guy who found the body. In a shaky voice he explained how he had gone up to the suite in the morning and discovered Charlotte Wretlind’s remains drenched in blood.
They have begun to gather information about the deceased, and the police in Stockholm have been tasked with informing her relatives. Apparently her business partner, Henry Sylvester, is already on his way to Åre. They are now waiting for the staff lists that the manager promised to supply. Hanna is particularly interested to see which employees had anything to do with the murdered woman during her stay.
On the table is a pot of freshly brewed coffee and a plate of sandwiches that some kind soul brought in. Hanna pours herself a cup and takes a sip, even though it’s too hot. Then she reaches for a cheese sandwich and eats, without really being aware of the taste. She would really like to move, the air in here is beginning to feel stuffy, andrestlessness is tearing at her body. She wants to get back to the Silver Suite, go through the crime scene.
She needs to see the scene and the victim with her own eyes.
Daniel holds up his phone, showing her the screen.
“Have you seen the headlines in the evening papers? They’ve already dubbed it ‘The Hotel Murder in Åre.’”
Hanna frowns. “I don’t understand how it’s gotten out so quick—we’ve only been here for a few hours.”
“It’s impossible to keep something like this a secret. You know how they operate.”
Daniel is right. A violent homicide in a well-known hotel in the middle of Easter week is unlikely to escape the attention of the press. Besides which, the media had already been invited to the venue because of the planned press conference.
“How do you feel about not getting any time off over Easter?” Hanna asks.
Daniel looks tormented. Hanna can tell that he is worried about Ida’s reaction. His partner doesn’t like it when he has to work overtime, and they often quarrel about how much he is away from home, especially during major investigations. It has taken its toll on their relationship, and on several occasions Daniel has asked Hanna for her advice.
“Ida won’t be happy,” he admits. “I’d promised to spend the whole of the long weekend with her and Alice.”
That’s life with a cop,Hanna thinks. It’s not always fun, but it can’t be helped. They make an important contribution to society, and Ida should be pleased that Daniel is doing something that makes a difference.
She would never say that out loud, of course.
“Shall we go and talk to Carina?” she suggests, finishing her sandwich.
The Silver Suite is at the other end of the building, toward the northwest. From the walkway, Hanna can see a number of people gathered around the reception desk. Despite the distance, the gravity of the situation is clear. It looks as if several guests are in the process of checking out.
Who wants to celebrate Easter at the scene of a homicide?
For the sake of the investigation, she would have preferred people to stick around so that they could be interviewed, but the police have no right to stop anyone from leaving. However, those occupying the rooms closest to the Silver Suite have been asked to stay. Hanna can only hope they understand how important this is.
“I guess there won’t be so many people in the hotel over the next few days,” she says.
The fire down in the foyer is still crackling away cheerfully, with brightly colored Easter eggs displayed on the mantelpiece. Somehow the coziness and festive atmosphere feel kind of creepy under the circumstances.
“You’re probably right,” Daniel agrees.
The door of the Silver Suite is wide open, and the uniformed officers have disappeared. Carina and some of her colleagues are busy in the living room. The chief technician is wearing a full-body suit, with a white hood covering her blond hair. They make eye contact, and she comes over to them.
“Do you want to come in? If so, take a deep breath.”
Without waiting for an answer, she hands them blue overshoes and disposable protective suits to put on before they are allowed in.
By this stage Hanna and Daniel have acquired several photographs of Charlotte Wretlind, but the scene that meets them has very little to do with the stylish businesswoman in the dark jacket, perfectly applied makeup, and well-cut, highlighted hair that they saw on their screens a little while ago.
