The Rabbit Hunter

61

Verner Sandén leans back in his chair and looks at Saga, who is standing in front of his large desk.

‘I know how the Security Police work,’ she says quietly, putting her pistol and ID card on the desk.

‘You’re not being fired, you’re just on leave,’ Verner says.

‘There’s no way—’

‘Don’t get angry now,’ Verner interrupts. ‘I can’t deal with that.’

‘There’s no way in hell that I’m going to let a murderer keep killing just because it suits the Security Police,’ she concludes.

‘That’s why we’re paying for you to go off to the Canary Islands.’

‘I’d rather take a shot in the back of the neck,’ she says.

‘Now you’re just being childish.’

‘I can accept the fact that we’re saying the Foreign Minister died of natural causes, but I can’t let this go. That’s out of the question.’

‘Janus is in charge of the investigation,’ Verner explains.

‘He told me he’d been put in charge of the logistics surrounding the funeral.’

‘But after that he’ll be picking up where you left off,’ he says.

‘That doesn’t exactly scream high priority to me.’

Verner adjusts some papers in front of him, then clasps his hands together.

‘There’s no need for you to get angry,’ he says. ‘I think it will do you good to get away for a while, get a bit of distance from—’

‘I’m not angry,’ she says, taking a step closer to him.

‘Saga, I know you’re disappointed about the operation at the marina,’ he says. ‘But the upside is that this has led to us getting an increased budget, and that means we’ll be able to fight real terrorists much better.’

‘Great.’

‘We’re already getting requests from other security services to share our experiences.’

‘So you’re playing with the big boys now,’ she says with a smile, as irritable red spots start to appear on her forehead.

‘No... well, yes, we’re at least in the same playing field,’ Verner confirms.

‘Fine. Then I need to keep working,’ she says.

‘You had information on your computer that jeopardised the confidentiality of the operation. That’s a serious offence against the democratic state.’

‘I know what confidentiality is,’ Saga snaps. ‘But the Foreign Minister is dead — isn’t he?’

‘He died a natural death,’ Verner points out.

‘Who’s going to find the killer?’

‘What killer?’ he asks, looking at her without blinking.

‘Absalon was sliced open in front of his wife and children by the same—’

‘That’s very sad news.’

‘By the same killer.’

‘Janus doesn’t think there’s any connection between the deaths — which is why we’re having to deprioritise the investigation.’

‘I have to keep looking,’ she says in an agitated voice.

‘OK, so keep looking.’

‘No damn holiday.’

‘Fine... but you have to work with Janus.’

‘And Joona,’ she adds.

‘What?’

‘You promised Joona an unconditional pardon.’

‘No,’ he says.

‘Don’t you dare lie to me,’ she says threateningly.

‘If you’re referring to confidential material, I must remind you that—’

She sweeps her hand across his desk, sending his phone and a stack of reports flying.

‘I’ll continue the investigation with Joona,’ she says.

‘Why are we even talking about him?’

‘Joona understands killers, I don’t know how, but he does. And now you’ve sent him back to Kumla.’

‘You’re not to have any contact with Joona Linna, and that’s an order—’

Saga knocks a coffee cup and a thick folder to the floor.

‘Why are you doing that?’ Verner asks.

‘You promised Joona, you fucking promised him!’ she screams.

‘Now you won’t get that vacation after all,’ he says.

‘Fuck the fucking Canaries!’ Saga snarls, and marches towards the door.