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would work with the best and quickly put this terrible case behind her. That was the plan.
    The telephone rang.
    Reception.
    The Riksmord team was asking for her. Hanser glanced at the clock on the wall. They were early. Everything was happening at once. She must go and welcome them, there was no question about that. Lena Eriksson would just have to wait a few minutes. It couldn’t be helped. Hanser tucked in her blouse, straightened up, and headed for the stairs leading down to the main entrance. She stopped at the locked door separating reception from the inner areas of the station. Through the tiny leaded squares in the glass she could see Torkel Höglund strolling around calmly, his hands behind his back. A man and a woman were sitting on the green sofas by the window overlooking the street. They were both younger than Hanser. Torkel’s colleagues, she guessed as she pressed the keypad and pushed the door open. Torkel turned as he heard the click of the lock and smiled when he saw her.
    Suddenly Hanser felt a little unsure of herself. What was the rightthing to do? A hug or a warm handshake? They had been on a few courses together, had lunch now and again, met in corridors.
    Hanser had no need to wonder. Torkel walked up to her and gave her a friendly hug. Then he turned to the others, who had gotten up from the sofa, and introduced them. Kerstin Hanser welcomed them.
    “I must apologize, but I’m in a bit of a rush. I’m on my way to the mortuary.”
    “The boy?”
    “Yes.”
    Hanser turned to the receptionist.
    “Haraldsson?”
    “He should be on his way. I called him straight after I’d spoken to you.”
    Hanser nodded. Another glance at the clock. She couldn’t be too late. She looked quickly at Vanja and Billy, but turned to Torkel when she spoke.
    “Haraldsson has been leading the investigation up to now.”
    “Yes, I saw his name in the material we were sent.”
    Hanser was slightly taken aback. Was there a hint of condescension in Torkel’s voice? If so, his expression gave nothing away.
    Where was Haraldsson this time? Hanser was about to get out her cell when the lock of the door she had just come through clicked and Haraldsson walked into reception, limping badly. He deliberately took his time to reach the new arrivals and then shook hands.
    “What have you done?” Torkel nodded at Haraldsson’s right foot.
    “I sprained it when I was leading the search party looking for the boy. That’s why I wasn’t there when they found him.” The final remark was directed at Hanser, with a brief glance.
    She didn’t believe him, he knew that. So it was important to remember the limp over the next few days. She wouldn’t contact the hospital, surely? And if she did, they wouldn’t tell her whether he’d been there or not, would they? That must come under some kind ofpatient confidentiality agreement. Employers aren’t allowed to look at their employees’ notes. Or are they? He’d better check with the union. Haraldsson was so lost in his own thoughts that for a moment he had stopped listening to his boss. Now he became aware that she was looking at him, her expression serious.
    “Torkel and his team are taking over the investigation.”
    “From you?” Haraldsson looked genuinely surprised. He hadn’t expected this. Things were looking up. This was a team of real police detectives, just like him. Obviously they would appreciate his work more than the desk-bound lawyer who was his boss.
    “No, the ultimate responsibility remains mine, but Riksmord will be leading the operational side of the investigation, starting from now.”
    “Working with me?”
    Hanser sighed to herself and said a silent prayer that a crime wave wouldn’t suddenly sweep through Västerås. They wouldn’t stand a chance.
    Vanja gave Billy an amused look. Torkel listened to the conversation, his face expressionless. To degrade or humiliate the local force was the worst way to start a collaboration. Torkel had never been