Rites of Spring

88

‘Lasse was dead when Bertil and I got down there.’ Kerstin’s voice is quiet, but the anger is clearly audible. ‘Lasse murdered Lola and Eva-Britt. Pushed their car off the road and into the canal. They didn’t have a chance in the muddy water. And as if that wasn’t enough, Bertil worked out that he must have got out of the pick-up and opened the boot of the Ford, retrieved the bag of money without making any attempt to rescue the women. Lasse got what he deserved . . .’

She falls silent. Thea wants to ask a question, but the thought slides away. She takes another sip of her tea.

‘What happened next?’ she manages to ask.

‘We didn’t dare contact the police. Bertil was afraid they’d realise what had gone on, that the count, Erik and he himself would be dragged in, and the whole sorry story would come to light. So he called Erik and together they sank Lasse’s pick-up next to the Ford. They made sure both vehicles ended up deep in the mud, where no one would find them.’

Thea thinks she knows the answer to her next question, but asks it anyway.

‘And the money?’

‘We agreed that it should go to Leo when he got out of jail. Anonymously, of course.’

Thea closes her eyes. Her mind is full of slow-moving thoughts.

‘What . . .?’ she begins, but can’t get any further. Her mouth refuses to co-operate, her chin keeps dropping. ‘What have you . . .?’

‘Sleeping tablets. I ground them up and put them in your tea. I’m very sorry, but we need time to think things through. Work out what to do. Close your eyes and everything will be fine, I promise.’

The darkness closes in around Thea, sweeping in from the sides and swallowing her vision before finding its way into her head.