Page 28 of The Sleepwalker

‘Hard to say. There wasn’t any money in his wallet, and he wasn’t wearing a wedding ring.’

‘What about differences?’

‘I haven’t examined the body,’ Joona begins. ‘But the firstvictim was completely dismembered, while this—’

There is a loud crack as Noah knocks the cue ball into the pack, and Joona’s mind drifts back to the two divers transferring the victim into a body bag. His blood hadn’t yet coagulated, and it seeped through the frozen surface of his neck wound. The shirt he was wearing had ridden up, and he had a long, vertical gash across his chest, likely from the edge of the ice when he slumped to his knees.

Aside from his severed head, the only other sign of injury was the fact that he was missing half a hand.

The divers zipped up the bag and dragged it ashore, causing the yellowed reeds around them to bend and break, and a dusting of snow to dance in the air.

‘What were you going to say?’ Noah asks as he moves around the table.

‘That the killer left this victim immediately after the fatal blow.’

‘I’ve seen the pictures, of course, but I’m having a little trouble making sense of what happened where.’

‘The victim was in the passenger seat in his car, with the backrest fully reclined, when he was first attacked,’ Joona explains.

‘That much I got.’

‘The axe missed him; there was no blood in the car.’

‘So he ran down to the water?’

‘He climbed over the centre console when the windscreen broke and escaped through the driver’s side door while the perpetrator moved around the bonnet. They swung the axe again, severing the fingers on his left hand and striking the wall of a building nearby. The victim then ran and tried to hide in the reeds – bleeding heavily and in shock – but he was followed. He entered the water, possibly in an attempt to swim away, and that’s where the perpetrator caught up with him.’

Noah studies Joona with a sceptical smile.

‘You sound pretty damn confident.’

‘We haven’t been able to lift any footprints from the gravel in the parking area, but it’s still possible to read the different stages – the damage to the car, the blood spatters on the ground .?.?.’

‘I believe you, I believe you, it all sounds plausible enough. I’m listening. It’s just that I’m not a proper police officer.’ Noah smiles. ‘I’m a careerist, a fucking careerist. I’ll be totally open about that. Today, I’m head of the NCU, and tomorrow, I’ll probably be the district police chief .?.?. I’m sociable, I like going for after-work drinks, but I also make sure that things get done.’

‘That’s all that matters,’ says Joona.

‘Liking after-work drinks? No, but seriously, I’m all for a bit of fun around here, but I also want to keep the press on a tight leash, if you catch my drift.’

‘I can take care of myself.’

‘You know, I was warned about you, Joona, but I wanted to make up my own mind .?.?. and so far, I like what I see. The prosecutor tells me she doesn’t think we have any chance of a conviction with the teenager, so she’s dropping the preliminary investigation. The case is back in our lap now, and plenty of people are desperate to take over, but I want you to do it.’

‘Thanks.’

‘We’re in the process of recruiting a new partner for you – and don’t just tell me you want to work with Saga Bauer again.’

‘I want to work with Saga.’

‘Who doesn’t?’ Noah jokes. ‘I mean, she’s one of the best. Truly. But it’s too soon.’

‘Then I’d rather work alone.’

‘Ha. I knew you’d say that. The trouble is I need team players.’

‘You need all sorts.’

‘Maybe so, but—’