The Sandman

78

It’s ten o’clock in the morning and sharp winter light is shining on Magdalena Ronander as she returns to police headquarters from her yoga session. Petter Näslund is standing in front of a large-scale map of the residential area where the two Kohler-Frost children disappeared. He frowns as he pins up photographs from the old investigation. Magdalena says a quick hello, throws her bag onto her chair, and goes over to the whiteboard. She quickly strikes through the lines of inquiry they managed to follow up yesterday. Benny Rubin, Johnny Isaksson and Fredrik Weyler are sitting round the conference table making notes.

‘We need to take another look at everyone who was employed at Menge’s Engineering Workshop at the same time as Jurek Walter,’ she says.

‘I’ve compiled the interviews with Richard van Horn from yesterday,’ Johnny says. He’s blond and thin, and sports the same haircut that Rod Stewart had in the 1980s.

‘Who’s calling Reidar Frost today?’ Petter asks, twirling a pen between his fingers.

‘I can take care of that,’ Magdalena replies calmly.

‘Wonder if they want us to carry on looking for Wee Willie Winkie,’ Benny says.

‘Joona wants us all to take the whole Sandman thing seriously,’ Petter reminds him.

‘I found a great clip on YouTube,’ Benny says, searching his mobile.

‘Do we have to?’ Magdalena sighs, picking up a heavy file from the table.

‘But have you seen that clown who hides from stupid cops?’ Benny asks, putting his phone down.

‘No,’ Petter replies.

‘No, because I’m probably the only person in the room who’s actually managed to catch sight of him,’ Benny laughs.

Magdalena is smiling as she opens the file.

‘Who’s going to help me find the last people connected to Agneta Magnusson?’ she asks.

She’s the woman who was found alive in the grave in Lill-Jan’s Forest when Jurek Walter was caught. The two bodies in the plastic barrel that was buried nearby belonged to her brother and nephew.

‘Her mother vanished years ago, and her dad disappeared just after she was found.’

‘Didn’t they all disappear?’ Fredrik Weyler asks.

‘Not her husband,’ Magdalena says, glancing at the file.

‘This whole thing’s so sick,’ Fredrik whispers.

‘But her husband is still alive, and—’

‘Does yoga make you more flexible?’ Benny asks, slapping both hands down on the table with a bang.

‘Why did you do that?’ Magdalena asks gravely.