Page 71 of Hidden in Memories
Hanna has all the figures at her fingertips, especially when it comes to violence against women. Daniel gives her an encouraging nod, and she responds by discreetly rolling her eyes.
“We’ll take a look,” Nisse says.
Grip has also had enough of his lackadaisical approach, and gives him an impatient look.
“Come back to us as soon as you find something. This case is top priority.”
It is a long time since Daniel saw her so stressed; she usually remains calm and composed. She must be under a lot of pressure from above.
Grip brings the meeting to a close.
“The media are churning out pages and pages about this murder. The phone never stops ringing. It’s unfortunate that it’s Easter and that we’re understaffed, but we have to try to solve this case as quickly as possible.”
Daniel knows she is right.
There is a killer on the loose in Åre. And it’s their job to find him.
57
As Daniel drives out of the parking lot at the police station, the sun is so bright that Hanna has to flip down the visor to avoid being dazzled.
There is a feeling of spring in the air. The snow is gone from the road surface, and here and there patches of brown earth can be seen on the slopes. The winter’s frozen streams have begun to flow down the mountainsides, and a constant gurgling can be heard in the shallow ditches.
She ought to be spending an afternoon like this on a sun lounger with a glass of rosé in her hand, Hanna thinks gloomily. Not focusing on a tragic homicide investigation.
She spoke to Lydia a little while ago, and her sister sounded anxious, in spite of the fact that she doesn’t tend to worry unnecessarily.
The uncertainty is taking its toll on everyone in the area.
They are on their way to Copperhill to speak to Paul Lehto. Apparently he is in work today and seems fit and well.
Hanna clamps her lips together. They don’t know if or how Lehto is involved, but it feels as if he is an important piece of the puzzle. She intends to do all she can to make sure the guilty party doesn’t walk free.
She takes out her phone to see what the papers are saying today. Over the past few days, they have wallowed in wild speculation.
The first thing she sees when she brings up the largest evening paper’s home page is an image of Filip’s grief-stricken face.
Oh no.So he agreed to the interview after all.
If only she’d advised him more strongly against it. He’s in a very difficult position, and under those circumstances it’s easy to let yourself be exploited.
In the photograph he is standing at the entrance to Åregården, looking so vulnerable. The resemblance to Charlotte is striking—they have the same eyes, the same chiseled facial shape, although his cheeks are rounder, slightly childlike.
The subeditor has done a worse job with the headline than Hanna was prepared for.
Son of Murdered Businesswoman: Who Killed My Mom?
She skims through the article, which sensationalizes the complicated relationship between Filip and Charlotte. The reporter also claims that Filip has come to Åre to bid a final farewell to his mom, but that the police have denied him this opportunity.
They don’t know what they’re talking about,Hanna thinks. She is angry that the journalist has managed to attack the police while at the same time exposing a young man and his grief.
Filip is a victim too.
The most upsetting thing is the way the writer has managed to present the fact that Filip and Charlotte had quarreled about his studies shortly before she was murdered. It sounds as if Filip has no direction in life. He comes across as weak and spoiled, and Charlotte is portrayed as a harsh parent who placed unreasonable demands on her son.
As if that weren’t enough, the piece deep dives into every detail about the murder, and expresses indignation that the police have yet to identify a suspect.
Hanna feels dejected.
