A helicopter, flying extremely low, was about to appear over the treetops any second now. HP made another attempt to close the door. But the wheel at the top seemed to have jumped its track and the door sat fast.
He bent his knees and pulled on the handle as hard as he could, with one leg on each side of the door. Suddenly and without warning the door jolted loose and came racing towards his chest. He threw himself to the side and only just escaped getting his head caught as it slammed shut.
Sorry! Jeff shouted, his hands still on the other end.
A moment later the helicopter thundered across the yard, and the pulsing rotor blades practically deafened HP.
Both he and Jeff crouched down instinctively as they tried to catch sight of the helicopter through the broken barn roof.
It seemed to be hovering a few metres above the barn.
HP glanced quickly at the others. Jeff seemed utterly focused on the helicopter, as did Nora. But Hasselqvist slipped quickly inside the van.
We need to go, now! he yelled as he scrambled into the drivers seat.
B-but, were not ready … Nora cried.
The helicopter was still hovering above them, and the downdraft from the blades was making what was left of the roof begin to shake. Slowly at first, then faster and faster.
Fragments of tiles came loose and fell into the barn.
Kents right! Jeff roared. Any minute now this roofs going to collapse on top of us …
A large piece of tile hit the roof of the van with a thud.
Ill open the door, then you lot get going … Just drive, dont stop and wait for me, Jeff yelled in HPs ear.
HP nodded, and tried to run towards the van in a crouch.
A small piece of tile hit him on the head and he raised his arm instinctively to protect himself. There was a loud bang, then another. Probably one of the helicopters runners hitting the roof.
Come on, Nora! he shouted when he reached the door of the van.
But she seemed to be hesitating.
Jeff roared something at her that HP didnt hear. He waved his hand towards the van. Another bang, more forceful this time. A large tile crashed to the floor right in front of the van, sending splinters in all directions.
Hasselqvist started the engine.
We have to go, come on! he yelled again.
Jeff had turned away and was bracing himself against the door. Tiles crashed down, the air was full of flying fragments. HP put his arm across his eyes as they thudded down onto the van. When he looked up Nora was lying on the floor.
Shit!
He leaped out of the van, but she was back on her feet before he could reach her.
Into the van, HP, come on!
She pushed him in ahead of her. More tiles rained down and seemed to pull part of the roof with them. Blood was running down Noras face from a wet patch on top of her head. He pushed her down into one of the seats.
Jeff! she groaned.
Never mind your boyfriend, weve got to go … he snapped.
Through the windscreen he saw the door slowly open.
Hasselqvist revved the engine.
Brother … she groaned.
What?
Hes my older brother, you idiot … !
Jeff had almost managed to get the heavy door open. His back and neck muscles were straining against his t-shirt, threatening to split it.
The van suddenly leaped forward.
Her brother …
He grabbed hold of the headrest of the nearest seat, then hung out of the door.
JEEEFFF! he roared.
The mountain of muscle spun round and met his gaze. The vans wheels were spinning on the dirt-covered concrete floor, trying to get a grip …
HP reached out as far as he could, holding out his hand. Jeff took a couple of quick strides.
The collapse was spreading across the roof, section after section of tiles was giving way and sending showers of razor-sharp fragments clattering against the body of the van. One piece, big as a hand, flew past HPs nose but he hardly noticed.
Jeff leaped forward …
The tyres suddenly got a grip and the van shot out of the barn like an arrow. A moment later the entire roof fell in.
The dark car was waiting outside her building when she got home. As she approached the chauffeur opened the door and got out. But it wasnt the same man as before, this one was considerably younger, and it took her a few seconds before she could place him.
Hello Rebecca, my names Edler, Im Colonel Pellass adjutant …
He held out his hand.
We met very briefly in the flat in Maria Trappgränd …
Hello, she mumbled, shaking his hand.
He opened the door to the back seat.
Good evening, my dear Rebecca, Tage Sammer said. Im sorry to arrive unannounced like this, but I have good news …
She hesitated and glanced at Edler.
Sammer seemed to have read her thoughts.
We can talk freely, I have no secrets from Edler …
Good …
Then, after thinking for a couple of seconds, she added:
Perhaps we should go up to the flat instead? A bit more pleasant than sitting in the car …
Thanks for the invitation, he smiled. Id like that, on another occasion, but today I would prefer the car. Inside flats one never knows who might be listening …
He patted the seat beside him and Rebecca had no choice but to climb in.
Edler got in behind the wheel, started the car and pulled away slowly towards Rålambsvägen.
Have you found Henke? she asked before he had time to open his mouth.
Not yet, but we think we know where both he and Sandström are. Were expecting them to be picked up shortly.
Okay, good. Well, good is probably the wrong word …
I know what you mean, Rebecca. All this is for Henriks own good, and were very grateful that youre helping us. We have to get hold of him before he does anything really silly. You see, this isnt just about the revolver …
He glanced towards Edler.
We have information about a bomb …
What? Then you have to postpone the royal wedding …
No, no, thats out of the question. The Palace is quite clear on that point.
But the risk?
He took a deep breath and then shrugged his shoulders.
The risk is considered to be acceptable under the circumstances.
Acceptable, seriously? A bomb …
The information is as yet unconfirmed. We have too few details to be in a position to suggest anything so drastic as postponing the wedding. Bomb threats are a regular occurrence, and my employers …
He sighed.
Theres a lot at stake, Rebecca, much more than you can imagine. Popular support for the royal family has halved during the past fifteen years, parliament is full of republicans who are simply biding their time, and if the figures continue to decline at the same rate …
He paused and shrugged once more.
Of course, factors of that sort cant be taken into account when youre evaluating the level of threat, but you know how that works as well as I do. All large organizations are the same. Somewhere theres always someone whos worried about losing his job, and who therefore hesitates to take unpalatable but sometimes necessary decisions.
He held his hands out.
Theres hardly anything that increases support for the royal family like a wedding, my employers taught me that a few years ago. Unfortunately all the articles in the papers, however wrong they might be, have wiped out almost all of the upturn.
What about the christening? That wasnt long ago.
He shook his head.
A christening is far too low key, it doesnt give the same warm glow. Nowadays Im afraid there are only two things that raise support for the royal family – weddings and national crises. In other words, it would take a very great deal indeed for anyone to decide to rein in the festivities, let along postpone them. Anyway, as far as this potential bombing is concerned, we have very few details so far.
So what do you know, can you tell me?
Not really, Rebecca … He paused for a few seconds, exchanged a quick glance with Edler in the rear-view mirror, before going on.
A few hours ago we received a tipoff about a flat. We got a warrant and searched it, and found certain indications that a bomb could have been constructed there …
And how is this connected to Henke?
Sammer took a deep breath.
The flat was in Maria Trappgränd, right next door to Henriks …
Her heart began to beat faster, but she did her best to hide her agitation.
Hang on, youre not suggesting that Henke … ? Well, you can drop that idea. He can hardly put together a Billy bookcase, let alone a bomb …
I agree with you entirely, my dear Rebecca.
He gently patted one of her knees.
We dont believe that Henrik constructed the bomb on his own either. But, on the other hand, it can hardly be a coincidence that the workshop was located in the flat next door to his. And weve also found a couple of his fingerprints in there …
Rebecca shook her head reluctantly.
As I said before, Henrik is in dangerous company at the moment. Extremely dangerous company. The people he has surrounded himself with are experts at manipulating other people, theyve done it many times before. And sadly Henrik is, as you know, rather …
Gullible …
Precisely.
The car stopped at a red light on the roundabout at Lindhagensplan, and they sat in silence for a moment.
They were only a couple of hundred metres from the place where the car she and Kruse were in had crashed after Henke dropped a rock through the windscreen from the motorway bridge above. Admittedly, Henke hadnt known she was in the car, but that was fairly irrelevant. Someone had manipulated him into doing it, getting him to completely ignore the inevitable conclusion that other people would be hurt as a consequence of his actions. Could that really happen again?