Stalker

138

Joona is driving as fast as he can on the poor roads. Margot has organised a police operation, but he can’t risk them getting there too late. The Norrtälje Police haven’t been able to get any response from their patrol car in the area.

The headlights sweep across the field as he swerves onto the narrow gravel track through the forest. The tyres slide across the loose surface, unable to get any grip, but he steers into the skid and manages to overcome it. He puts his foot down again and the car thunders along the uneven track.

Two deer run across ahead of him and he brakes and sees them leap through the light and disappear among the trees.

The car judders, slowing almost to a halt as it hits a deep puddle, throwing up a cascade of water on both sides.

Joona pulls out of a bend and accelerates again. The white light stretches out along the straight track by the side of the field, forming a glowing tunnel through the darkness.

Now he can see the tall chimney of the glassworks between the trees, like a black obelisk against the lead-grey sky.

Far ahead at the very limits of the beam of the headlights he sees two figures. They’re standing in the road, in a motionless embrace.

It’s Erik and Jackie, he’s almost certain of that.

A stone strikes the undercarriage and the light disappears from the road for a few seconds.

Branches lash the windscreen and it’s hard to see their faces, unsteady in the wavering light.

Up ahead near the ruined buildings he can see empty cisterns and heaps of crushed glass.

A deep pothole in the road forces Joona to slow down and swerve. There’s a bang, and the light of the headlamps lurches high above the two figures.

And then he sees the light reflect off something yellow at the side of the road.

Nelly.

She’s standing not far behind Erik and Jackie. Her raincoat catches the light from the headlamps. She’s moving forward with her face lowered, across a shimmering green layer of crushed glass.

Joona blows his horn, changes gear and puts his foot down. Grit flies up beneath the underside of the car. The car lurches and the glove compartment opens, scattering its contents across the seat. He veers off the side of the track and tall weeds lash the windscreen.

Joona blows his horn as Nelly gets closer to the pair from behind. She’s striding purposefully through the nettles and undergrowth.

Erik squints towards the car, he looks relieved as he waves.

Joona blows his horn again and again, loses sight of them for a moment, rounds a slight bend and sees that Nelly is holding a knife in her hand.

She steps across the ditch and now she’s right behind them, crouching down and staying in their shadow.

Still blowing his horn, Joona speeds up along the track, and the engine roars. In the shaky light of the headlamps he sees Nelly walk right up to Jackie and stick the knife into her.

A heavy branch smashes one of the headlights and the ruins to the right of the car disappear in sudden darkness.

In the weakened light Joona sees Jackie collapse on the rough track. Erik is still holding her hand.

Some branches are swaying by the side of the road, but Nelly has vanished.

Joona brakes hard, the tyres smoke as they slide across the loose grit, he swerves and the windscreen smashes, sending glass swirling into the car and hitting his face. Branches and grass lash the body of the car as it slides to a halt with two wheels in the ditch.

Joona clambers out onto the bonnet of the unsteady car, jumps down onto the track and runs over to Erik, who’s kneeling down next to Jackie.

‘I didn’t see anything,’ he says, tugging Jackie’s blouse open and touching the knife to see how deep it goes. ‘It could have hit one of her kidneys, we need an ambulance as soon as-’

‘Where’s Maddy?’ Joona interrupts.

‘At home in the flat, we’ve got to call-’

‘She’s not in the flat,’ Joona says. ‘Nelly snatched her along with Jackie.’

‘Dear God,’ Erik whispers, looking up at him.

‘Could she be inside the house?’

‘There’s a cage in the basement, and loads of tunnels that…’

Jackie is gasping for breath and Erik can feel her pulse getting weaker. He glances quickly towards the house, brushes his fringe from his face and sees something yellow glint in one of the windows on the upper floor.

‘There’s a light in the window,’ he points. ‘They must be…’

He breaks off when Jackie’s pulse disappears completely, and puts his ear to her chest. Her heart has stopped, all he can hear is a muffled sound from deep within her.

‘Get an air ambulance!’ he yells. ‘Her heart’s stopped, it’s urgent, it’s desperately urgent!’

So as not to have to pull the knife out, Erik leaves her on her side. He begins chest compressions, no longer aware of the pain in his arm as he counts thirty quick compressions, then blows into her lungs twice before resuming the compressions again, hearing Joona give the address and coordinates to the emergency services operator.

‘Make sure Jackie survives – I’ll get her daughter,’ Joona says, and sets off running towards the house.