Marked For Life. Emelie Schepp

      “They matched. The handprints and fingerprints in Hans Juhlén’s house match the boy’s,” said Gunnar.

      “So he was there,” said Mia.

      “Yes. And my first guess says that he...”

      “...is the murderer.”

      Jana mumbled the words and felt a creeping sensation along her backbone. She was surprised at her own reaction.

      “...is the murderer, exactly,” Gunnar made clear.

      “But, what the hell, kids don’t murder people. Not just like that. And especially not here in Norrköping, not in Lindö. I think it’s extremely unlikely that he could have done it, or done it alone,” said Mia.

      “Perhaps. But for the moment we don’t have anything else to go on,” said Gunnar.

      “But then, what’s the motive?” said Henrik. “Would a child send threatening letters to a head of department at the Migration Board?”

      “It’s up to us to find out whether the boy is the murderer or not. And we must find out who killed the boy,” said Gunnar, breathing heavily.

      “But who is the boy?”

      “We don’t know that yet either. Nor do we know why he was in Viddviken or how he came to be there. At any rate, he hasn’t been lying in the water, that much is clear. He was on the shore but his back was turned against the sea,” said Gunnar.

      “He was running away from somebody,” said Henrik.

      “It seems so,” said Gunnar.

      “No tire tracks?” said Henrik.

      “So far, we haven’t found any, no,” said Gunnar.

      “So he came by boat, then. And the perpetrator must have been onboard,” said Henrik.

      “But we can’t exclude the possibility that he got there by car or some other means,” said Gunnar.

      “Witnesses?” said Mia.

      “None. But we are checking the entire coast from Viddviken to Arkösund.”

      “But still, who is he? The boy,” said Henrik.

      Gunnar took a deep breath.

      “So far he isn’t in any registry that we have. But, Mia, I want you to check through all cases of missing children. Check new ones as well as old, even those where the period of possible prosecution has expired. Get a photo of the boy and talk with the social services, check schools and youth clubs. We might have to ask the public for help,” said Gunnar.

      “Via the media?” said Henrik.

      “Yes, but I’d rather not do that. There would be such a...how can I put it?...such a circus.”

      Gunnar went up to the map on the wall and pointed out the finding place.

      “This is where the body was found. So we’re looking for some sort of a boat or vehicle that passed Viddviken on the water between 19:00 and 23:00 Sunday night.”

      He moved his hand upwards across the map.

      “We’ve put in a unit to go door-to-door there, and there’s a dog patrol going over the immediate area.”

      “What shall we do about Kerstin?” said Jana. “If you can’t get me more evidence, I’ll have to release her early tomorrow morning.”

      “Perhaps she knows who the boy is?” said Mia.

      “We must also ask her about her husband’s financial situation,” said Gunnar.

      “Ola, make sure you have scoured his bank accounts. Private, savings account, investments, you name it. Check them all.”

      Ola nodded in response.

      “Henrik, interview Kerstin again. We haven’t finished with her. Not yet,” said Gunnar.