Postcard killers

Chapter 61

The five-star hotel by the harbor on Sodra Blasieholmshamnen had 366 rooms and 43 suites spread over eight floors. About half of them had a view of the water and the Royal Palace.

The hotel manager was calm but stern, even with the police, even with homicide.

"Natural y we're happy to cooperate," she said. "But I hope the search can be conducted with discretion."

Mats Duval ordered al available staff on the investigation to take part in the search.

Jacob and Gabriel a didn't wait for the reinforcements to arrive from headquarters.

They headed for the second floor and methodical y went to room after room on the side facing the water. They were accompanied by a receptionist holding a digital hotel register.

Jacob knocked, and whenever there was an answer, he moved on at once.

The kil ers were hardly going to be sitting with the bodies, just waiting to be discovered. That much was clear.

In the rooms where there was no reply, the majority of them, Gabriel a opened the door with a master key.

The suspense was like a drug. Jacob realized that he was holding his breath every time a new door opened.

The search on the second floor gave them nothing.

They ran up the stairs to the third floor.

"What have the other hotels looked like?" Gabriel a asked, slightly out of breath as she chased after Jacob along the guest corridor. "Have they been as upscale as this? The Grand Hotel is the finest in Stockholm."

Jacob knocked on the door at the far end and got an irritated "Oui?" in reply.

"Sorry," he said, "wrong room," as he moved on to the next.

He knocked, no reply.

"No," he said. "Nothing in this price range. Not even close."

Gabriel a put the key card in the door, and the lock clicked. Jacob opened the door and got a gruff "What the fuck?" from the bed in response.

"Sorry," he said again and closed it.

"There are cameras everywhere," Gabriel a said, pointing at the ceiling.

"Hasn't been like that anywhere else," Jacob said, striding on. "They're breaking their pattern."

At that moment, Gabriel a's cel rang. She answered with her usual grunt, listened for seven seconds, then hung up.

"Fourth floor," she said. "Two Dutch tourists."