Grendel's Game (25 page)

Ekman half expected Holm to be at his desk, but remembered that he and Gerdi would be watching Lindfors. He wondered how that had gone. One of them would probably be at the meeting.

He had just hung up his hat and coat, when Rystrom poked his head in.

“God morgen, Walther. I assume you saw the TV and papers?”

“God morgen, Garth. Yes, they gave it the coverage we wanted. We'll see if it bears some fruit. Alenius or Rosengren should be filling us in at this morning's meeting.”

“I'm looking forward to meeting your crew,” Rystrom said, sitting down.

“I think you'll find they're a good team. Don't be disturbed if some of them seem a little distant at first. They'll soon adjust to your joining us. I don't expect everyone to be there. A few have ongoing assignments that will keep them away, but you'll meet most of them.”

“I'm sure they'll get used to me soon enough. I've been thinking about that theory I came up with.”

“Yes?”

“Maybe it's too soon to mention it at the meeting. There's not enough evidence yet to make it credible.”

“No, Garth, don't hesitate to bring it up. Whether it's right or not, it will get everyone thinking along different lines. We need to stimulate them to come up with ideas about what's behind all that's happened. Your theory will help do that.”

“I just don't want everyone seizing on it prematurely and running off in the wrong direction.”

“Don't be afraid of that. Between us, we'll keep things on the right track,” Ekman said with a smile. “We should be getting more solid information about connections among the missing men.”

They sat in the conference room chatting about mutual acquaintances until a little before eight, when Bergfalk and Rapp came in, followed by Vinter and Alenius.

Ekman and Rystrom got up, as Ekman said, “Please shake hands with Superintendent Garth Rystrom of CID, who's joining us, as I mentioned before. You heard him speak at yesterday's conference.”

Once everyone was seated, Ekman turned to Rystrom. “Gerdi and Enar Holm have been watching Lindfors since yesterday. What can you tell us, Gerdi?”

“We trailed her from her office to her apartment building,” she said, describing the photos they'd taken and how they'd figured out a way to sort visitors from residents.

Ekman was impressed. “That was very clever, Gerdi. When Enar comes in, we'll have to check those photos.”

“There's no need, Chief. I asked him to hook up the camera to his mobile and send the photos to me. They're being run against our facial recognition database right now.”

Rystrom's raised eyebrows showed he was impressed.

“Thank you, Gerdi. You're moving things along quickly, as usual,” Ekman said, pleased. Technology did have its uses, he thought.

“Alrik and Mats, what have you found?” he asked, trying not to stare at Mats's shimmering, florescent blue shirt.

“We went back, Chief, to Gustaffson's, Henriksson's, and Westberg's chess clubs,” said Alrik. “They were all good amateur players, but not grand masters, or anything like that. They were well liked at their clubs and didn't have problems with anyone. None of the three clubs played matches against the others. And we ran the names of the opponents each man had at his club over the last three years, and none matched at the other clubs. So we think the missing men and the people they played with were strangers to each other, outside of each man's club. There don't seem to be any connections. Mats and I think it's a dead end.”

“That's too bad,” said Ekman, stroking his chin. “I'd hoped we'd find a real link.”

“Have you checked if they played on the Internet?” asked Rystrom.

“No,” replied Bergfalk. “We didn't think about that.”

“Is there a lot of chess playing on the Net?” asked Rapp.

“A huge amount,” responded Rystrom. “I've played chess that way, myself.”

“How would we find out what they did on the Net?” asked Rapp belligerently.

“There's only one way,” said Ekman. “We have to get the men's computers from their former homes and offices. I'll talk to Edvardsson today about warrants to bring them in so our IT expert can check them out. If they played on the Net, it should still be on their hard drives.” He was showing off a little that he wasn't completely technologically illiterate.

“If it would help speed things up,” added Rystrom, “I can bring in some of our tech people at CID.”

“A great idea,” said Ekman with real enthusiasm; but he also thought that too much CID involvement in his case might become a problem for him at some point.

Ekman asked Alenius, “Any luck so far with the calls?”

“A lot of people think they've seen Westberg, not only in Weltenborg, but in Stockholm, Lund, Malmö, you name it. But after Rosengren or I questioned them, they turned out to be either mistaken or cranks. Rosengren is still taking calls. Maybe something will turn up.” He shrugged.

A mobile phone rang; it was Vinter's. “Yes. Please repeat that,” she said, scribbling notes on a pad. “Okay, got it. Thanks for being so quick. I appreciate it.”

Everyone looked at her.

“We got a hit,” she said, grinning. “Do you remember when we spoke about Stina Lindfors's background that she had an early marriage? The name of her first husband is Carl Stillen. I've just been told he has a criminal record: assault with grievous bodily harm. He served four years. The conviction probably led to their divorce. He was one of three male visitors we photographed going into Lindfors's building last night. When I double-check the photos, I think we'll find he's the one who didn't leave. My guess is he spent the night with her.”

Alenius looked surprised. “When we interviewed her, I thought she was genuinely upset about Westberg. She sure fooled me.”

“Because she may be seeing her first husband,” said Vinter, “doesn't necessarily mean she's not upset about Westberg.”

“Yeah,” put in Bergfalk, “she's grieving all the way to the bank.”

“But does she know Westberg changed his will in her favor?” asked Rystrom. “If she does, her involvement with Stillen gives added support to a theory I've come up with,” he said, explaining how the entire case, including Grendel and all the missing men, could fit together.

Everyone, except Ekman, was stunned. It was an improvement on Enar's approach.

“Garth's theory of the entire case could work,” said Ekman. “But before we jump too far ahead, let's consider alternatives. What Gerdi has just found out can lead in a couple of different directions. For example, Stillen may have been Lindfors's lover since he came out of prison. She may be involved with him, but it may not be as her accomplice in the complex, multiple murder scheme Garth has outlined. She could have truly loved Westberg, and may just be unfaithful.

“A second theory is that Stillen became intensely jealous of her relationship with Westberg, and without her knowledge, killed him. So her grief may be quite genuine, even if she knew about the changed will, and it's not certain she did.

“As a third theory, she could have loved only Westberg's money. If she didn't know he'd already changed his will, then it would explain her being upset, seeing the money slipping away with his disappearance.

“Now we need to gather evidence to tell us which of these theories is true.” He looked around the table. There was silence for a few moments while they digested this.

“But Chief, how do Grendel and the other missing men fit in?” asked Alenius. “In Rystrom's theory, Stillen is Grendel. Stillen has a history of serious assault; maybe now he's become a killer. It all works, with money the prime motive, and getting rid of a rival for Lindfors a possible secondary motive.”

“We don't know how Grendel and the other men fit in yet,” replied Ekman. “Grendel may be a real person acting for reasons we don't understand, or simply a useful fiction created by Lindfors and Stillen to cover up their real motives. Garth's theory has very helpful explanatory power,” he said, looking at Rystrom. “All I'm saying is that we have to reduce any theory to hard facts. Otherwise we won't have a case that will stand up in court.”

“I agree,” said Rystrom.

“What should we do next, Chief?” Rapp asked.

“We need to keep watching Lindfors and find out where Stillen goes when he's not with her. If he's simply killed Westberg out of jealousy, he could lead us to Westberg's body. And if he's indeed Grendel, perhaps the bodies of all three men. Gerdi, I want you and Enar to keep watching Lindfors until Stillen appears again, then follow him. Let's discover where he goes, what he does, who he meets.

“I'm going to ask Edvardsson for warrants for the missing men's computers so we can search for a possible link. Alrik and Mats, I want you to confiscate those computers. There could be six or more. Most have probably been moved. You'll have to find out where they are and who has them. We'll need that information for the warrants.

“Alenius, you and Rosengren keep on with the phone calls. We may turn up something that will help us, if we just persist.” Alenius nodded, but everyone could see he was unhappy.

“Is there anything else?” Ekman asked. When no one responded, he got to his feet. “We're making exceptionally good progress. See you tomorrow.”

42

Edvardsson Intervenes

E
kman was back in his office on the phone with Edvardsson as Rystrom sat across the desk.

“Malin, Garth Rystrom and I need to see you. I want to bring you up to date, and speak to you about some warrants. We'll be there in fifteen minutes. Thanks.”

In his car on the way over, Ekman said to Rystrom, “Malin may want to take over the investigation herself, but I don't think so. We've always worked well together, and she usually just gives us general guidance. But now that we've reached the warrant stage, she may want to be more actively involved.”

“You know, she has a reputation in Stockholm for being abrasive and difficult to work with,” said Rystrom.

“I'm really surprised to hear that. I've always found her to be a good colleague, ready to listen, not just give orders. She's also a decent person.”

“Now I'm the one who's surprised,” said Rystrom. “But I'm glad to hear it. Sometimes things get distorted at a distance. Perhaps some people in the Prosecutor General's Office have decided she's not deferential enough.”

“That's probably it,” said Ekman, as they pulled into a reserved police parking space at the courthouse. He pulled down his visor with the police ID, as they got out. Ekman had decided he wasn't going to take the time to hunt for a space, parking police be damned.

The same officer was on duty in front, and saluted Ekman as they went in. Doesn't he ever get time off? thought Ekman. As they came in to Edvardsson's outer office, the receptionist got up.

“Please don't trouble yourself, Froken Sundquist, we're expected. This is Superintendent Rystrom from the National CID,” Ekman said, introducing them.

“A pleasure to meet you, Superintendent,” she said smiling, and then went back to her desk.

Ekman knocked on the inner office door, and they entered. Edvardsson came forward to meet them holding her hand out to Rystrom.

“It's good to see you again, Garth,” she said, and then turned to Ekman. “It sounds like things are progressing, Walther,” she added, as she led them to a seating area. They took the couch and she sat in an armchair facing them.

“Yes, Malin, we've had some new developments,” he said, briefly sketching out for her the results of that morning's meeting, and the important discovery of Carl Stillen.

“So you now have two potential suspects to follow. You also want warrants for several computers, but you don't know how many?”

“There are probably at least four, and could be six, if we count the three men's office computers, as well as those they used at home. Westberg's will be easy to get hold of, but because the other men have been missing for some time, the computers will probably have been moved. I'll get you the names of current owners and addresses.”

“I'll need affidavits supporting the warrants as soon as you have that information. Now, tell me more about your case against the two people you'll be following.”

“Garth has come up with a comprehensive theory that has become stronger after discovering Stillen's possible involvement. Why don't you describe it, Garth?” he asked, turning toward him.

Rystrom laid out his idea as Edvardsson listened with an intent expression.

“What will it take to prove your theory?” she asked.

“Apart from getting outright confessions, which seems unlikely, it won't be easy,” Rystrom responded. “We both hope following them, particularly Stillen, will lead us to hard evidence,” he said, looking at Ekman.