The Double Silence (Andas Knutas 7)

was here, along with the killer.’
    She looked out at the sea. Where on earth was Stina Ek?

ON THE SURFACE everything looked the same as usual in the residential area of Terra Nova. But inside Håkan Ek’s home, everything had changed. His parents were looking after his daughters for a few days, while he went around like a zombie, unable to sleep or eat. Beata and John refused to leave him for long; at the moment they were sitting on the terrace. Andrea was there too. It was as if they were seeking solace from each other. Håkan had poured strong mojitos for all of them. The alcohol helped – at least for the first few drinks.
    ‘The police came over to our place today. I’ve stopped counting how many times they’ve come to see us,’ sighed Beata. ‘I don’t know what they’re looking for any more. They ask the same questions, over and over.’
    ‘Well, what else can they do?’ said John. ‘If this was the United States, we’d all be sitting in jail.’
    ‘There are probably some people who think that’s where we belong,’ said Andrea tonelessly.
    ‘What do you mean?’ asked Beata.
    Andrea shrugged. She took a big gulp of her drink and lit a cigarette.
    ‘I don’t know. But I bet some people think one of us is the murderer.’
    ‘You mean because people have been avoiding us? They probably just don’t know what to say,’ replied Håkan. ‘I feel that way myself.’
    ‘I think the majority opinion is the exact opposite,’ said Beata. ‘People have been talking to me, at any rate, but I suppose it’s not as sensitive an issue with me. I ran into Eva-Britt and Göran today. They hinted thatthere are rumours going around that Stina was the one who pushed Sam. And that’s why she’s staying away.’
    ‘Are they crazy?’ raged Håkan. ‘They think Stina would …? How can they possibly accuse her of something like that?’
    Beata gave Håkan a searching look.
    ‘You shouldn’t think that everybody regards Stina as the sweetheart you think she is. Stina can actually be quite snobbish. And a lot of people think she’s been acting strangely lately. She has really retreated, not wanting to go for walks any more and turning down invitations to have dinner with the girls. She usually goes grocery shopping with Andrea, but she has stopped doing that too. Right?’ She turned to Andrea for support.
    ‘Yes, but there might be some other reason for that,’ said Andrea wearily. She was leaning back in her chair. Now she rubbed her forehead and closed her eyes. ‘Actually, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you, Håkan,’ she said suddenly.
    ‘What’s that?’ Håkan’s tone was aggressive, and he kept taking sips of his drink.
    ‘I’ve also noticed that Stina has changed. Quite drastically, as a matter of fact. How have things been between the two of you?’
    ‘What do you mean?’
    Andrea opened her eyes and looked at him.
    ‘You always used to be so affectionate with each other. Really paying attention to each other. Holding hands and hugging. But I don’t recall you doing that sort of thing lately.’
    ‘In the past, Stina was always sitting on your lap,’ Beata added. ‘I haven’t seen her do that for at least a year.’
    Håkan spat out his words. ‘There’s nothing wrong in our marriage. Things are great between Stina and me. Of course we have our ups and downs, just like everybody else. That’s how it goes when you’ve been together for a long time – you both know that as well as I do. And Stina and I have been faithful to each other, not sleeping with anyone else – unlike certain other people!’
    The last remark was clearly aimed at Beata and John. It was well known that they had an open relationship when it came to sex.
    ‘Calm down, damn it,’ snapped John, joining the conversation for the first time. ‘Everyone makes their own choices about how to live. It’s none of your business.’
    ‘That’s OK as long as you stick to people outside of the immediate circle. And if you’re
discreet
about it. But that’s certainly not something I could ever accuse you of being. I’ve seen how you’ve tried to make a play for Stina. You’ve always been hot for her. We all know that. And I’m not even going to talk about you,’ Håkan screamed at Beata. ‘You’ll open your legs for anybody who’s got balls. It’s disgusting!’ He stood up furiously, downed his drink in one gulp, and stomped off into the house.
    The others sat there as if turned to