Missing in Malmö: The third Inspector Anita Sundström mystery (Inspector Anita Sundström mysteries) Read Online Free PDF Page A

you’re so thin. Aren’t you eating properly?’ She had reverted to her maternal default setting.
    He played with his hands in a distracted manner. She could sense that there was something wrong.
    ‘What’s up?’
    Ewan glanced up at her. ‘You haven’t been for a while.’ The tone was matter-of-fact and not admonishing. He was changing the subject.
    ‘Been busy. And now Lasse’s at home all the time, I have my hands full.’
    ‘It must be good. I mean having Lasse around.’
    She sighed and pulled her snus tin out of her bag. ‘He’s driving me mad at the moment. I don’t know what to do with him.’ She went on to explain why he was causing her so much angst. Ewan listened, as he always did.
    ‘He’ll come good,’ he said when she had finished. ‘Give him time. Space.’
    They fell silent.
    ‘You know, Anita. You’re the only visitor I’ve had in a year and a half. Except for the suited half-wit who calls himself the British Consul. He came a couple months ago to make sure I was being treated properly – probably thinks he’s upholding the Geneva Convention, or something. I don’t think he can wait for me to drop dead or be transferred.’
    ‘Do you want to go to a British prison? Maybe near your brother?’
    Ewan raised a laugh. ‘You’re kidding. He’s a respectable lawyer. He only deals with genteel crime. Fraudsters, insider traders... not with your common-or-garden murderers. He’s washed his hands of me.’ He paused. ‘Besides, you’re here.’
    An awkward stillness pervaded the dismal room. Their eyes engaged. She wanted to say so much to him, but the words stuck in her throat. She was afraid.
    ‘I love you.’
    Anita was exhilarated and embarrassed at the same time. It wasn’t the first time that he had said it to her. She had never told Ewan that she loved him, even though she yearned to. It was a psychological barrier she couldn’t overcome. It seemed like an eternity before she said, ‘I know.’
    Now it was her turn to change the subject. ‘I can see that something’s troubling you. Tell me.’
    Thoughtfully, he ran his hand over the top of his shaven head.
    ‘Nothing really.’ Then he sat up in his chair. Was he going to tell her?
    She didn’t find out because her mobile suddenly started ringing. She pulled an apologetic face as she took out her phone and saw who it was. ‘Lasse,’ she mouthed.
    ‘Hi. What’s up?’
    ‘Mamma. You’d better come home.’
    ‘Is it important?’
    ‘It’s Dad. He’s here!’

CHAPTER 6
    As soon as she let herself into the apartment, the tall figure of Lasse was there to greet her.
    ‘What is it?’ she said with concern. As Lasse hadn’t been forthcoming over the phone, she had dreamt up all sorts of awful scenarios on the drive back from the prison. ‘What’s he done now?’ It was an instinctive reaction. What on earth had brought Bjorn down from Uppsala?
    Lasse nodded his blond head in the direction of the kitchen.
    ‘He’s in there.’ Then he raised a disapproving eyebrow. ‘He’s pissed.’
    Anita was not at all happy to have been dragged away from Ewan just to have to cope with her wretched ex-husband. And a drunken ex-husband at that. Lasse’s call had put her into a panic and she had left Ewan hurriedly. Not even a proper goodbye, just a hurried ‘see you sometime’. Her last image of Ewan was of resigned disappointment on his face.
    Björn Sundström was slumped on one of the two chairs in the small kitchen. He had obviously brought a bottle of red wine as a peace offering. It stood in front of him half-empty, a thimbleful left in the bottom of his glass. That didn’t improve her mood. He looked up at her. He must have been drinking all day. His eyes were glassy, trying to focus on her. It was a strange sight. Despite the fact that Björn had always been a party animal – they had first met when she arrested him after a rowdy gathering – he had usually been able to hold his drink. He liked to be in control.