Page 23 of Hidden in Memories
“Enough!” he yells. “I’ve already said I can’t comment!”
Without thinking he lashes out with one hand. The movement is more violent than he had intended. He catches the arm of the microphone and knocks it over the banister onto the stone floor. The volume in the foyer immediately shoots up, there are horrified exclamations from the pack of journalists.
“What are you doing?” the reporter shouts.
Suddenly Hanna pushes her way through. She grabs Daniel by the arm and drags him through the crowd.
“There will be a press conference later, when you will be given more information,” she calls over her shoulder. “Right now you’ll have to excuse us.”
She manages to get Daniel out into the fresh air, and doesn’t stop until they are at least ten yards from the entrance.
It is such a relief to get out of there. Daniel takes several deep breaths. He is so angry that his entire body is shaking. He can’t understand why he had such a strong reaction. After many months of therapy, he thought he had his emotions in check. Over the past year he hasn’t lost his temper once, either at home or at work.
“Are you okay?” Hanna asks sympathetically.
“I’m fine.”
She waves a hand in the direction of the reporter, who is still standing in the foyer.
“I don’t understand how he can behave so disrespectfully. We’re talking about a murdered woman here, not some sleazy celebrity scandal.”
Daniel turns and sees the guy staring at them. The anger that was beginning to subside comes back like a tsunami.
His blood is boiling.
That’s when he realizes. That journalist reminds him of his father.
18
The parking lot outside Åre police station on Kurortsvägen is empty. As they get out of the car, Hanna sees Carina Grankvist’s white Volkswagen turn in off the main road. The crime scene investigation must be finished.
Daniel locks the car, and they make their way with Carina up to the meeting room, where Anton Lundgren is waiting with Rafael Herrera—or Raffe, as everyone calls him.
Both men are based in Åre as general investigators. They are really supposed to deal with crimes such as robbery, abuse, and criminal damage, but in a homicide case like this, every available resource is needed.
Anton and Raffe are sitting at the rectangular wooden table on bright-red chairs. The colorful upholstery forms a stark contrast to the otherwise white room. Only a few years ago the local hospital was housed in this building, and its legacy still lingers in the décor.
As Hanna walks in, Raffe is busy setting up the link to Östersund. A second later their boss, Birgitta Grip, appears on the screen. She is accompanied by several colleagues from the Serious Crimes Unit, much to Hanna’s relief. Both she and Daniel have been worried about the lack of resources. This means that the case is being prioritized, even if that means that other matters have to be set aside.
Grip, who is in her sixties, strokes her chin and looks from Daniel to Hanna.
“Which of you would like to begin?”
Hanna can’t help feeling a sense of satisfaction that Grip included her in the question. Daniel has been with the unit for a lot longer than her, and he was the one who helped her to secure the post in Åre. He is regarded as more experienced, although he is only two years older. However, they have worked together for almost fifteen months now, and it seems as if Grip regards her as a reliable member of the team.
Hanna sits up a little straighter. She has the utmost respect for Grip, who leads the unit with a firm hand. Grip grew up in Östersund, and is well aware of the challenges of working in a rural community. She is also wise and fair, and extremely practical.
Hanna has never had a female boss before, and she likes it.
Manfred, her former superior who gave her no choice but to leave her post in the Domestic Violence Unit with the City Police in Stockholm, was completely different. He had his favorites, and didn’t like it when anyone opposed him or asked difficult questions.
In complete contrast, Grip encourages different points of view. She likes it when her officers look at things from another angle.
In the past, Hanna didn’t give much thought to the need for female role models—she would simply shrug if the issue arose. Now she realizes what it’s about. Grip makes Hanna stronger as a police officer. She feels more secure in her own role with a competent woman as head of the unit.
In a case like this, involving extreme violence against a woman, that feels especially good.
Daniel glances at Hanna. “You or me?”
