The Fire Witness

152

The hearing concludes twenty minutes later after Susanne retracts her request for the suspect to be kept in custody on the kidnapping charge. Elin is sitting with her back straight and her face is expressionless as the prosecutor speaks. Vicky stares at the table and shakes her head slightly.

The judge leans back in his chair and declares that Vicky Bennet is free on her own recognizance in the matter of the murders of Elisabet Grim and Miranda Eriksdotter until the case is brought to trial.

Vicky Bennet would have been returned to Orre, the company that runs Birgittagården and other group youth homes, but the Swedish Organization for Institutionalized Care has confirmed Elin Frank as Vicky’s temporary foster mother.

As the judge turns to Vicky and tells her that she is free to go, Elin breaks into a large smile. She can’t help herself. Afterward, though, Johannes takes her aside and warns her: “Even though Vicky is not in custody, she is still a suspect in two murders and-”

“I know that.”

“If the prosecutor presses charges, we might be able to win in court. That wouldn’t mean she’s innocent,” Johannes says. “She could still be guilty.”

“I know she’s innocent,” Elin says, aware of how naïve she must sound.

“It is my job to warn you,” Johannes says.

“Even if Vicky were involved… Well, she’s much too young to go to jail,” Elin tries to explain. “Johannes, I can give her the best care in the entire world. I have already hired people to help me, and I’ve asked Daniel to stay with us, since Vicky feels secure around him.”

“That’s good of you,” Johannes says softly.

“We’ll consider all the options and find out what is best for her. That’s all I really care about,” Elin says, taking Johannes’s hands. “Maybe Daniel can continue her therapy for a while. Maybe we will entrust someone else with that. But I will not let her down again. I won’t do that.”