Part 40 (2/2)

He forces himself to sit still while they explain that the evidence suggests that the perpetrator is divorced, with a relatively high socioeconomic status.

He tries to concentrate on what they're saying, but his heart is pounding and thoughts are racing through his head in an attempt to find some sort of pattern, some sort of sense.

How is this possible? he asks himself, trying to see any kind of system in this. He had a brief affair with Maria Carlsson, Sandra Lundgren was his patient, and he knows he's met Susanna Kern.

Three pictures of three women he's met.

It's like a recurring dream; he can't work out what it is that he recognises in this terrible situation. Across the table Margot picks up her ringing mobile. Adam stands and walks over to the window. Someone's left a coffee cup on the windowsill.

Suddenly Erik realises that the feeling of similarity is to do with Rocky.

During hypnosis Rocky described how the unclean preacher had shown pictures of Tina and Rebecka.

Rocky had blamed himself, bellowing with pain and repeating words from the Bible: I should pluck out my eye, for it has offended me.

And now he's lied to the police again. It felt impossible to say that he'd met all three of them.

When Erik feels he can control his voice and body, he stands up.

'I have to go, I've got an appointment with a patient now,' he says quietly.

'When can you next talk to Rocky?' Margot asks, looking at him.

'Tomorrow, I think.'

'Don't forget the pictures,' Adam reminds him, pa.s.sing them to him.

As Erik reaches out his hand to take the photographs from Adam he sways slightly, as it strikes him that he's a mirror-image of Rocky. d.a.m.nation brushes past him like a wind presaging a storm, and for a moment he sees himself gazing out through the six-metre-high fence surrounding the exercise yard at Karsudden.

70.

Joona is practising his knife techniques, his fist and elbow exercises, as well as skipping, weight-training and running. He's still a long way from his old level, but is getting stronger all the time. His hip ached after his five-kilometre run, and he walked the last bit.

It's seven o'clock when he sees Erik's BMW turn into the drive. Joona puts the meat in the oven and pours two gla.s.ses of Pomerol as he hears the front door close and the sound of keys being put down on the chest of drawers.

Joona takes the gla.s.ses and goes to the library. Pushes the door open with his foot and walks in.

Erik's jacket is lying on the floor. He's in his study, searching through the papers on his desk.

'Food will be ready in forty minutes,' Joona says.

'Great,' Erik murmurs, glancing up with a stressed look in his eyes. 'You've shaved ... nice.'

'It felt like it was time.'

'How are you?' Erik asks, switching his computer on.

'Good,' Joona says, walking into the room.

'How's your hip?' Erik says, looking at the screen.

'I've done some exercise, and I'm-'

'Can we talk?' Erik interrupts, looking Joona in the eye. 'I've just had a meeting with Margot and Adam, and ... I'm not p.r.o.ne to paranoia ... but I've met all three victims ... It's crazy, I don't understand anything, but that can't be a coincidence can it?'

'How do you know-'

'What are the chances of that?' Erik asks, staring at Joona.

'How do you know the victims?' Joona prompts, and puts the gla.s.ses of wine down on the desk.

'It feels like this is directed at me. Maybe it's just my imagination, but if that is the case, then ...'

'Sit down,' Joona says gently.

'Sorry, I'm just ... I'm pretty shocked,' Erik says, sinking down on to his chair and taking a deep breath.

'How do you know the victims?' Joona repeats, for the third time.

'I had a brief fling with Maria Carlsson earlier this summer ... Sandra Lundgren was a patient at the clinic ... And I recognise Susanna Kern ... I've met her, but I don't know where.'

'What does Margot say?'

'Well, I was so surprised that I didn't say anything about Susanna Kern ... but I'm going to, obviously ...'

His mobile rings, making Erik jump.

'It's work. I'll leave it,' he mutters, clicks to reject the call and drops his phone on the floor.

'And I couldn't tell her I'd slept with Maria,' he goes on, picking up his phone. 'I just said we went to the same gym.'

'Anything else?'

'I said that Sandra had been a patient of mine, but not ... I still don't think this is relevant,' he smiles, scratching his forehead. 'But I'll say it anyway ... It's not unusual for patients to want to control the situation by trying to seduce their therapist ... There's always a connection, that's only natural, but in this instance the patient went so far that I pa.s.sed her on to Nelly.'

'But nothing happened between you?'

'No ...'

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