Faceless Killers (1991) by Henning Mankell

Author:Henning Mankell
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Tags: Henning Mankell
ISBN: 9780099445227
Publisher: Random House
Published: 1991-12-11T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

The last thing Wallander felt like was a laughing policeman as he stepped into the Svea Hotel in Simrishamn at 7 a.m. on Friday morning. Almost impenetrable sleet was falling over Skane, and water had seeped into his shoes on his way from the car to the hotel.

Also he had a headache. He asked the waitress for a couple of aspirin. She came back with a glass of water fizzing with white powder. As he drank his coffee, he noticed that his hand was shaking.

He reckoned it was as much from fear as from relief. A few hours earlier, when Noren had ordered him out of his car on the highway road between Svaneholm and Slimminge, he had thought that it was all over. He wouldn't be a policeman any more. The charge of driving under the influence would mean immediate suspension. And even if someday he were allowed to return to active duty on the force, having served a jail sentence, he would never be able to look his former colleagues in the eye.

He had explored the possibility that he might become head of security for some company. Or he might slip through the background check of some less choosy guard service. But his 20-year career with the police would be over. And he was a policeman to the core.

He didn't even consider trying to bribe Peters and Noren. He knew that was impossible. The only thing he could do was plead. Appeal to their team spirit, to their camaraderie, to a friendship which didn't really exist.

But he didn't have to do that.

"Go with Peters, and I'll drive your car home," Noren had said.

Wallander recalled his feeling of relief, but also the unmistakable hint of contempt in Noren's voice. Without a word he got into the back seat of the patrol car. Peters said not a word the whole way to Mariagatan in Ystad.

Noren had followed close behind; he parked the car and handed the keys to Wallander.

"Did anyone see you?" asked Noren.

"Nobody but you."

"You were damned lucky."

Peters nodded. And then Wallander realised that nothing was going to happen. Noren and Peters were committing a serious breach of duty for his sake. He had no idea why.

"Thank you," he said.

"That's all right," Noren replied. And then they had driven off.

Wallander went into his flat and polished off the dregs of a bottle of whisky. Then he fell asleep for several hours, lying on top of his bed. Without thinking, without dreaming. At 6.15 a.m. he got into his car again, after giving himself a cursory shave.

He knew, of course, that he was still intoxicated. But now there was no danger of running into Peters and Noren. They went off duty at 6 a.m.

He tried to concentrate on what was in store for him. He was going to meet Goran Boman, and together they would go seek a missing link to the investigation of the murders at Lunnarp.

Wallander pushed all other thoughts aside. He would let them come back when he had the energy to deal with them.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.