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to the export of military equipment in Sweden, this was the one person who made all the final decisions regarding Sweden’s export of arms, and now he’s found hanged.
    What if I’m wrong? What if he really was murdered? Joona says to himself. I have to talk to Pollock before I go see The Needle. Maybe Pollock and Kofoed have had a chance to look at the material evidence by now.
    Joona strides through the hallway, runs down a staircase, and calls his assistant, Anja Larsson, to see if Nathan Pollock is still at the station.

 
    9
    all about hand-to-hand combat
    Joona’s thick hair is still wet as he opens the door to Lecture Hall 11 where Nathan Pollock is lecturing a special training group on handling hostage situations and rescue operations. Projected on the wall behind Pollock is the anatomy of a human body, and seven weapons are lined up on a table. They range from a small silver SIG Sauer P238 to a matte-black automatic carbine from Heckler & Koch equipped with a 40 millimeter grenade thrower. Pollock is demonstrating an attack technique on a young police officer. He holds a knife close to his body, then suddenly rushes the officer and marks his throat. He turns back to the group.
    “The problem with a cut like this is that the enemy can still scream. He can still move, and since only one artery is cut, it’ll take some time for him to bleed to death,” Pollock tells them.
    He walks up to the young officer again and puts his arm around the officer’s face so that his elbow covers the officer’s mouth.
    “If I do this instead, I can cover the scream, control his head, and slice open both arteries with one cut.”
    Pollock lets the young officer go just as Joona Linna enters the room. The young officer wipes his mouth and returns to his seat. With a big grin, Pollock tries to wave Joona over, but Joona shakes his head.
    “I just need a word with you,” Joona says quietly.
    A few of the police officers swivel their heads as Pollock walks over to Joona and shakes hands. The shoulders of Joona’s jacket are dark from the water dripping from his hair.
    “Tommy Kofoed took shoe prints from the Palmcrona scene,” Joona says. “I must know—did he find anything else unusual?”
    “I didn’t realize there was a rush on it,” Nathan says. He also keeps his voice low. “Of course we photographed all the impressions on the foil, but we haven’t had time to analyze the results. I absolutely have no overview yet—”
    “But you saw something,” Joona states.
    “It seems that maybe … when I entered the photos into the computer … there could have been a pattern … it’s too early—”
    “Just tell me what you think—I have to run.”
    “It looked like two different sets of shoe prints in two circles around the body,” Nathan tells him.
    “I’m going to see The Needle. Why don’t you come with me?” Joona asks.
    “Right now?”
    “I have to be there in twenty minutes.”
    “Damn, I can’t.” Nathan gestures to the class. “I’ll keep my phone on in case you have to get back about something.”
    “Thanks,” Joona says, and turns toward the door.
    “Hey … could you just say hi to this gang for a second?” Nathan asks.
    The entire class has already turned to look at them. Joona waves.
    Nathan raises his voice. “May I introduce Joona Linna? He’s the one I was telling you about. I’m trying to talk him into giving you some insight into hand-to-hand combat.”
    The room is silent and everyone is staring at Joona.
    “Most of you know more about hand-to-hand combat than I do,” Joona says with a small smile. “But one thing I do know is when you’re in a fight for your life, no rules apply. It’s not a game—it’s a real fight.”
    “Listen up,” Nathan says, his voice hard.
    “In a real fight, you’ll only win if you keep thinking. Be flexible. Take advantage of anything and everything that comes your way,” Joona continues calmly. “Maybe you’re in a car or on a