The Fire Engine That Disappeared

‘Yes, I have to admit that. Damn, it’s cold.’

‘He didn’t have much time,’ said Melander.

‘No, exactly,’ said Martin Beck. ‘How could the house burn out at such a rate in such a short time?’

‘The fire department reckon it’s inexplicable.’

‘Mmm,’ said Kollberg.

He glanced over at the parked fire engine and picked up another train of thought.

‘Why are those guys still here? The only thing that could burn here now is the fire engine, isn’t it?’

‘Extinguishing the embers,’ said Melander. ‘Routine.’

‘When I was small, a funny thing happened once,’ said Kollberg. ‘The fire station caught fire and burned down and all the fire engines were destroyed inside, while the firemen all stood outside staring. I don’t remember where it was.’

‘Well, it wasn’t quite like that. It happened in Uddevalla,’ said Melander. ‘To be more exact on the tenth of—’

‘Oh, can’t one even have one’s childhood memories left in peace,’ said Kollberg irritably.

‘How do they explain the fire, then?’ Martin Beck asked.

‘They don’t explain it at all,’ said Melander. ‘Waiting for the results from the technical investigation. Just like us.’

Kollberg looked around despondently.

‘Damn, it’s cold,’ he said again. ‘And this place stinks like an open grave.’

‘It is an open grave,’ said Melander solemnly.

‘Come on, let’s go,’ said Kollberg to Martin Beck.

‘Where to?’

‘Home. What are we doing here, anyway?’

Five minutes later they were sitting in the car on their way south.

‘Didn’t that clod really know why he was tailing Malm?’ asked Kollberg, as they passed Skanstull Bridge.

‘Gunvald, d’you mean?’

‘Yes, who else?’

‘I don’t think he knew. But one can never be certain.’

‘Mr Larsson is not what you’d call a great brain, but…’

‘He’s a man of action,’ said Martin Beck. ‘That has its advantages, too.’

‘Yes, of course, but it’s a bit much to stomach that he had no idea what he was up to.’

‘He knew he was watching a man and perhaps that was enough for him.’

‘How did it come about?’

‘It’s quite simple. This Göran Malm had nothing to do with the Murder Squad. Someone else had caught him and had him up for something. They tried to get him remanded in custody and it didn’t work. So he was released, but they didn’t want him to vanish. As they were up to their necks with work, they asked Hammar for help. And he let Gunvald organize the surveillance, as an extra duty.’

‘Why just him?’

‘Since Stenström died, Gunvald has been considered the best at that sort of job. Anyhow, it turned out to be a stroke of genius.’

‘Insofar as?’

‘Insofar as it saved eight people’s lives. How many do you think Rönn would have got out of that death-trap? Or Melander?’

‘You’re right, of course,’ said Kollberg heavily. ‘Perhaps I ought to apologize to Rönn.’

‘I think you ought to.’

The lines of cars going south were moving very slowly. After a while, Kollberg said:

‘Who was it wanted him shadowed?’

‘Don’t know. Burglary division, I suppose. With three hundred thousand breaking-and-entering and theft cases a year, or whatever it is, those boys hardly have time to run downstairs to eat their lunch. We’ll have to find out all that on Monday. That’s easily done.’

Kollberg nodded and let the car creep forward another ten yards or so. Then they had to stop again.

‘I suppose Hammar’s right,’ he said. ‘It’s quite simply an ordinary fire.’

‘Well, it did begin to burn suspiciously quickly,’ said Martin Beck. ‘And Gunvald said that—’

‘Gunvald’s a fool,’ said Kollberg. ‘And he’s always imagining things. There are lots of natural explanations.’

‘Such as?’

‘Some sort of explosion. Some of those people were thieves and had a mass of high-explosives at home. Or jerry cans of petrol in the wardrobe. Or cylinders of gas. That Malm can’t have been any great shakes if they let him go. It seems insane that anyone should risk eleven people’s lives to get rid of him.’

‘If it turns out to be arson, then there’s nothing to show that it was Malm they were after,’ said Martin Beck.

‘No. That’s true,’ said Kollberg. ‘This is not one of my best days, is it?’

‘Not exactly,’ said Martin Beck.

‘Oh, well, we’ll see on Monday.’

At that, conversation ceased.