Page 41 of The Sleepwalker

‘From what you’ve said, it sounds like the two murders are connected,’ he says.

‘You know what I’m going to say,’ Noah replies with a smile. ‘That’s something we’re looking into.’

‘Still, it seems pretty likely that two axe murders in the space of four days .?.?.’

‘As I say, that’s something we’re looking into,’ Noah repeats, pointing to a woman from the TT News Agency, who raises her hand.

‘Is this part of the escalating violence we’ve seen between the various criminal networks over the past year?’ the man fromAftonbladetcontinues.

‘As things stand, there’s nothing to suggest that, but we’re exploring every angle,’ says Noah.

‘What other possible motive could there be?’ the journalist asks, sniffing loudly again.

‘I’m afraid I can’t speculate on an ongoing investigation – that’s your job,’ Noah says with disarming bluntness.

Before the laughter has completely died down, Agneta raises her hand. She manages to catch Noah’s eye just as the man fromAftonbladetclaims that he has a source who says the victims were sexually abused.

‘I can’t comment on the investigation in question,’ says Noah, pointing to the woman from TT again.

‘You had a suspect in custody,’ she begins, breathing heavily through her half-open mouth.

‘According to the tabloids.’

‘According to our sources, he has since been released. Has he been cleared, or does he remain a suspect?’

‘He was in custody at the time of the second murder,’ Noah replies.

‘But he was arrested at the scene of the first. Does that mean he is actually a witness?’

‘I see you’re still pretending not to understand that the principle of secrecy applies to preliminary investigations,’ Noah says with a smile.

‘Just doing my job,’ she retorts.

‘And mine is to round off and thank you all for coming today.’

‘One last question,’ Agneta speaks up, getting to her feet.

‘OK.’

The beta blocker she took half an hour ago is keeping her heart rate calm and her breathing even, but Agneta still feelsbutterflies in her stomach.

‘Isn’t it true that the witness you just mentioned was a minor, and was remanded in custody on fairly shaky grounds?’ she asks in a steady voice. ‘That a search was carried out at his home and that he sustained injuries while in custody, because you didn’t take his diagnosis seriously, and—’

‘If he sustained injuries while in custody, that is unfortunate. That sort of thing should not happen .?.?. And if it did, there’ll be an internal investigation,’ Noah explains, with warmth in his voice. ‘But as far as the legal process is concerned, we follow established protocol – as we must – even if that does occasionally mean that innocent people spend a few days in custody.’

‘There has already been another murder,’ Agneta presses him. ‘And I’m assuming you plan to question the witness about what he saw, but—’

‘He’s already been questioned.’

‘Only as a suspect,’ she says. ‘My question is how you aim to protect him if he helps you.’

‘Given that he’s over fifteen, he has a legal obligation to testify.’

‘But in reality, surely it’s a matter of mutual trust?’

‘I hope we all trust in the police’s ability to do their job,’ Noah says with a wave as he leaves the podium.

The press spokeswoman takes over to wrap up the session, and Agneta sits down.