Joona Linna Crime Series Books 1-3: The Hypnotist, The Nightmare, The Fire Witness

“Check the drain in the women’s shower,” says Joona.

28

thursday, december 10: evening

After following the road around Tantolunden, Joona turns onto a path and parks in front of an apartment block facing the park. He wonders where the police car is, checks the address, and considers the possibility that Ronny and his partner have knocked on the wrong door. He grimaces. That would explain Sorab’s reluctance to let them in, since in that case his name probably wasn’t Sorab.

The evening air is chilly, and Joona walks briskly towards the door. If Josef’s account matches with what really happened, he did nothing to hide the crime at the time; did not protect himself. He had no thought for the consequences, he simply allowed himself to become covered in blood.

Joona thinks it’s possible that under hypnosis Josef Ek was merely describing how he felt, a confused, enraged tumult, while in fact his behaviour at the time was much more controlled. Perhaps he acted methodically, wore a waterproof covering, and showered in the women’s locker room before he went to the house.

He needs to speak to Daniella Richards, to find out when she thinks Josef will be strong enough to cope with an interview.

Joona walks in through the door. The lobby walls are tiled in black and white like a chessboard, and he sees his reflection in the black tiles: pale, frosty face, serious expression, blond, tousled hair. He takes out his mobile and calls Ronny again, jabbing at the button for the lift. No reply. Perhaps they gave it one last try, and Sorab let them in. Joona heads up to the sixth floor, waits for a mother with a buggy to take the lift down, then rings Sorab’s doorbell.

He waits for a while, knocks, waits for a few more seconds, then pushes the letter box open. “Sorab? My name is Joona Linna. I’m a detective. I need to talk to you.”

He hears a sound from inside, as if someone has been leaning heavily against the door but is now quickly moving away.

“You’re the only one who knew where Evelyn was.”

“I haven’t done anything,” says a deep voice from inside the apartment.

“But you said—”

“I don’t know anything!” the man yells.

“All right,” says Joona. “But I want you to open the door, look me in the eye, and say that to me.”

“Go away.”

“Open the door.”

“What the fuck. Can’t you just leave me alone? This has nothing to do with me. I don’t want to get involved.”

His voice is full of fear. He falls silent, breathing heavily, and slams his hand against something inside.

“Evelyn’s fine,” says Joona.

The letter box rattles slightly. “I thought—” He breaks off.

“We need to talk to you.”

“Is Evelyn really fine? Nothing’s happened to her?”

“Open the door.”

“I don’t want to.”

“It would be helpful if you could come to the station.”

There is a brief silence.

“Has he been here more than once?” Joona asks, all of a sudden.

“Who?”

“Josef.”

“Who’s Josef?”

“Evelyn’s brother.”

“He’s never been here,” says Sorab.

“So who did come here?”

“Why can’t you understand? I’m not going to talk to you!”

“Who came here?”

“I didn’t say anyone came here, did I? You’re just trying to trap me.”

“No, I’m not.”

Silence once again. Then Joona hears the sound of a tearing sob behind the door.

“Is she dead?” asks Sorab. “Is Evelyn dead?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I don’t want to talk to you.”

Joona hears footsteps moving away, down the hallway, then the sound of a door closing. Loud music starts up. As Joona is walking down the stairs, he thinks someone must have frightened Sorab into telling him where Evelyn was hiding.

Joona emerges into the chilly air and sees two men wearing Pro Gym jackets waiting by his car. When they hear him coming, they turn round. One sits on the hood, his mobile to his ear. Joona assesses them rapidly. They’re both in their thirties; the one sitting on the hood has a shaved head, while the other has a schoolboy haircut. Joona guesses that the man with the boyish hair weighs over 220 pounds. Perhaps he practises aikido, karate, or kick-boxing. Probably on steroids, thinks Joona. The other one might be carrying a knife, but probably not a firearm.

There is a thin layer of snow on the grass.

Joona turns away, as if he hasn’t noticed the men, and heads for the well-lit path.

“Hey, you!” shouts one of them.

Joona ignores them and heads towards the steps by a streetlamp with a green waste bin.

“Aren’t you taking your car?”

Joona stops and glances quickly up at the building. He realises that the man sitting on the hood is talking to Sorab on his mobile, and that Sorab is watching them from his window.