Postcard killers

Chapter 31

Monday, June 14

The Paper Aftonposten was stuck in a downward sales and readership spiral that was probably hopeless. In an attempt to break it, the management was making increasing use of unusual and risky innovations.

Usual y they failed.

On other occasions everyone busted their butt to get things moving.

This was one of those days.

Dessie had parked herself at her desk with the first edition that day.

Aftonposten had fil ed practical y the whole paper with the Dalaro murders.

The front-page headline was "Butchered by the Postcard Kil ers." The photo that dominated the paper was a beautiful picture of the two young Germans. Claudia Schmidt and Rolf Hetger were in each other's arms, laughing happily toward the camera.

Dessie leafed through to the paper's heavyweight news spread, pages 6 and 7. "Death in the Archipelago" was the dramatic headline.

And the picture editors had chosen one of her shots of the yel ow wooden house.

It came out quite wel, actual y, with the contradiction between the idyl ic veranda and the heavily clouded sky.

She ran her eyes over the text. It was written by Susanna Groning, one of the paper's star female reporters.

Page 8 had an updated run-through of the kil ings around Europe, with 45 maps and graphics.

Page 9 was written by Alexander Andersson under the heading "Postcard Kil ers – Vicious Murderers Kil ing for Kicks."

Andersson referred to "anonymous sources close to the investigation" who claimed to have "a clear picture of the kil ers."

The Postcard Kil ers were at least two men, seriously deranged, probably with PTSD, according to the sources. They kil ed purely for pleasure, and they enjoyed seeing people suffer. The extent of the violence indicated that at least one of the men was very wel built and extremely strong. Seeing as the victims were usual y wel -off tourists, the motive was similar to that of terrorism: the kil ings were an attack on Western lifestyles.

Dessie read the text twice with growing astonishment, and final y, anger and disgust.

Then she got up and went over to the news desk. The group around Forsberg were laughing loudly at something as she approached.

"Alexander," she said, holding up page 9. "Where did you get this from?"

The reporter raised an eyebrow and smiled her way.

"Are you after my sources?"

"No need," Dessie said. "They're completely worthless."

Alexander Andersson's smile died and he stood up. Dessie felt al the men looking at her. They expected her to get her ass kicked now, didn't they?

"This doesn't make any sense," she said. "There's nothing in the investigation to suggest terrorism or kil ing for kicks. Quite the opposite."

"And you know that, do you, just because they sent you a postcard?"

Several of the men laughed and waited for more from Andersson. Dessie felt the blood rush to her face.

"This article is completely wrong, I know that much. If you real y have got a source, they must be several miles from the center of the investigation."

Forsberg stood up and took hold of Dessie's arm. "Come."