The Fire Witness

135

The policeman on duty blushes as he looks at Saga Bauer’s ID. He opens the door to room 703 for her and tells her that the patient will be back soon.

Saga walks inside and finds two women in an almost empty room. The bed is gone but the IV is still there, along with two chairs.

“Excuse me?” asks the woman in a gray dress suit.

“Yes?” asks Saga.

“Are you one of Vicky’s friends?”

Before Saga is able to answer, Joona Linna walks in.

“Joona,” she says in surprise. She smiles and shakes his hand. “I thought they’d cut you off from everything.”

“I am cut off,” he says.

“How wonderful for you,” she says.

“The internal investigation folks are doing a great job,” he says, smiling so broadly that dimples appear in his cheeks.

Susanne Öst looks more closely at Saga.

“Säpo?” she asks. “I thought… I mean… Excuse me for-”

“Where’s Vicky Bennet?” Saga asks Joona.

“The doctor is doing a new CT scan,” Joona says, and walks over to the window. He looks out.

“This morning I decided to take Vicky Bennet into custody,” the prosecutor says. “It would be nice if we had a confession before I do so.”

“You’re going to prosecute her?” asks Saga.

“You weren’t there,” Susanne says. “I was. I saw the bodies. And it does mean that she will go to jail. She’s fifteen years old and is beyond juvenile closed care.”

Saga smiles although she’s skeptical. “But to send her to prison-”

“Don’t get me wrong,” the prosecutor says. “But I was expecting a more experienced interrogator.”

“I understand,” Saga says.

“Still, you should have a try. You really should.”

“Thanks,” Saga says.

“I’ve already spent half a day here and I can tell you, this is not your average interrogation,” Susanne Öst says, taking a deep breath.

“How so?”

“Vicky Bennet is not afraid. She seems to enjoy the power struggle.”

“And you?” Saga asks. “Do you enjoy the power struggle?”

“I don’t have time for her games and not for yours, either. Tomorrow I will be in court to request an arrest order.”

“I listened to the recording of this morning’s questioning. I don’t believe that Vicky is playing a game with you,” Saga says.

“I am absolutely sure that she is,” the prosecutor says.

“Still, murder can be traumatizing for the murderer. Her mind may have created islands of floating memories with no clear borders.”

“Is that what they teach you at Säpo these days?”

“The interrogator must begin by assuming that everyone wants to confess and to be understood,” Saga says, ignoring Susanne’s provocation.

“Is that all?”

“Any confession is connected to feelings of power. The person who is confessing has power over the truth.” Saga keeps her tone friendly. “That’s why threats don’t work. But using a friendly attitude and respect-”

“Don’t forget that this girl is suspected of two brutal killings.”

They hear the sound of the bed being wheeled up to the door of room 703.