For several years Petter has been flirting with Magdalena Ronander without noticing her troubled expression and constant attempts to switch to a more businesslike tone. Magdalena has been a detective in the Reconnaissance Division for four years, and she intends to complete her legal training before she turns thirty.
Lowering his voice suggestively, Petter questions Magdalena about her choice of service weapon, wondering aloud how often she changes the barrel because the grooves have become too worn. Ignoring his coarse innuendoes, she tells him she keeps a careful note of the number of shots fired.
But you like the big rough ones, dont you? says Petter.
No, not at all, I use the Glock Seventeen, she replies, because it can cope with a lot of the defence teams nine-millimetre ammunition.
Dont you use the Czech?
Yes, but I prefer the M39B, she says firmly, moving around him to enter the meeting room. He follows, and they both sit and greet Joona. And you can get the Glock with gunpowder gas ejectors next to the sight, she continues. It reduces the recoil a hell of a lot, and you can get the next shot in much more quickly.
What does our Moomintroll think? asks Petter, with a nod in Joonas direction.
Joona smiles sweetly and fixes his icily clear grey eyes on them. I think it doesnt make any difference. I think other elements decide the outcome, he says.
So you dont need to be able to shoot. Petter grins.
Joona is a good shot, says Magdalena. Good at everything. Petter sighs.
Magdalena ignores Petter and turns to Joona instead. The biggest advantage with the compensated Glock is that the gunpowder gas cant be seen from the barrel when its dark.
Quite right, says Joona.
Wearing a pleased expression, she opens her black leather case and begins leafing through her papers. Benny comes in, sits down, looks around at everyone, slams the palm of his hand down on the table, then smiles broadly when Magdalena flashes at him in irritation.
Magdalena ignores Petter and turns to Joona instead. The biggest advantage with the compensated Glock is that the gunpowder gas cant be seen from the barrel when its dark.
Quite right, says Joona.
Wearing a pleased expression, she opens her black leather case and begins leafing through her papers. Benny comes in, sits down, looks around at everyone, slams the palm of his hand down on the table, then smiles broadly when Magdalena flashes at him in irritation.
I took the case out in Tumba, Joona starts.
Thats got nothing to do with us, says Petter.
I think we could be dealing with a serial killer here, or at least-
Just leave it, for Gods sake! Benny interrupts, looking Joona in the eye and slapping the table again.
It was somebody settling a score, Petter goes on. Loans, debts, gambling
A gambling addict, Benny says.
Very well known at Solvalla. The local sharks were into him for a lot of money, and he ended up paying for it, says Petter, bringing the matter to a close.
In the silence that follows, Joona drinks some water and finishes the last of his sandwich. Ive got a feeling about this case, he says quietly.
Then you need to ask for a transfer, says Petter with a smile. This has nothing to do with the National CID.
I think it has.
If you want the case, youll have to go and join the local force in Tumba, says Petter.
I intend to investigate these murders, says Joona calmly.
Thats for me to decide, replies Petter.
Yngve Svensson comes in and sits down. His hair is slicked back with gel, he has blue-grey rings under his eyes and reddish stubble, and, as always, hes in a creased black suit.
Yngwie, Benny says happily.
Not only is Yngve Svensson in charge of the analytical section but hes also one of the leading experts on organized crime in the country.
Yngve, what do you think about this business in Tumba? asks Petter. Youve just been having a look at it, havent you?
Strictly a local matter, he says. A loan enforcer goes to the house to collect. Normally, the father would have been home, but hed stepped in to referee a soccer match at the last minute. The enforcer is presumably high, both speed and Rohypnol, Id say; hes unbalanced, hes stressed, something sets him off, so he attacks the family with some kind of SWAT knife to try and find out where the father is. They tell him the truth, but he goes completely nuts anyway and kills them all before he goes off to the playing field.
Petter sneers. He gulps some water, belches into his hand, and turns to Joona. What have you got to say about that?
If it wasnt completely wrong it might be quite impressive, says Joona.
Whats wrong with it? asks Yngve aggressively.
The murderer killed the father first, Joona says calmly. Then he went over to the house and killed the rest of the family.
In which case its hardly likely to be a case of debt collection, says Magdalena Ronander.
Well just have to see what the postmortem shows, Yngve mutters.
Itll show Im right, says Joona.
Idiot. Yngve sighs, tucking two plugs of snuff under his top lip.
Joona, Im not giving you this case, says Petter.
I realize that. He sighs and gets up from the table.