In the Shadow of Power (Sandhamn Murders) by Viveca Sten

Author:Viveca Sten [Sten, Viveca]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-10-21T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 47

When Carsten got back from his morning jog, the red quad bike was already parked behind the house. Mats Eklund had arrived. Good.

Today he’d run much farther than usual, pushed himself until all he could hear was the pounding of his heart. Even the taste of blood in his mouth hadn’t slowed him down. His head was thumping, and his eyelids felt heavy.

He’d had less than three hours of sleep during the night; he’d lain awake most of the time, his rage growing by the minute.

He couldn’t allow it to take over, he had to stay in control.

He found Eklund by the tool shed, his cap pulled far down. In spite of the heat, he was wearing grubby denim dungarees and a long-sleeved T-shirt. Carsten nodded a greeting and wiped his face with a towel he’d grabbed on the way.

Eklund returned the nod. “I’ve seen the lodge. You were right, it’s totally destroyed.”

Carsten was still sweating; he wiped his forehead again.

“You’d better get started on clearing the site,” he said. “I want the lodge rebuilt exactly as it was.”

“You mean you’d like us to start today?”

“Of course.”

Eklund frowned.

“Do you have a problem with that?”

“Well, it’s still cordoned off. I don’t think we’re allowed to touch anything yet—not until we have permission from the police.”

Carsten screwed up the towel in his fist. Why did he have to explain everything in detail to these idiots?

“The quicker the lodge is rebuilt, the better. I need to show everyone on this island that I’m not going anywhere. Whatever happens. Otherwise we’ll never be accepted here.”

Eklund pulled off his cap and scratched his head. A few flakes of dandruff drifted down and settled on his shoulders, creating white specks against the blue fabric.

“I think we should wait, speak to the police first. They can get pretty mad if you mess up a crime scene. I don’t want any problems with work permits, that kind of thing. I had to bring in extra men to finish the job.”

Carsten wanted to leave him to it, go shower away both the sweat and the rage.

“The police will be here soon—I’ll talk to them. Nothing for you to worry about.”

Eklund seemed relieved, but didn’t move.

“Was there something else?” Carsten asked.

“I don’t know if this is important, but one of the guys didn’t turn up to catch the boat from Stavsnäs this morning.”

“Oh?”

“It’s Marek, my foreman.”

Marek? Wasn’t he the one Celia had seen talking to Agaton?

“So what’s wrong with him?”

“I can’t get ahold of him. I’ve tried his cell, but there’s no answer.”

Suddenly everything was perfectly clear. How could Eklund be so dumb?

“Do you remember what I asked you yesterday evening? I asked you if you trusted your team.”

Carsten took a step forward, pushed his face close to Mats Eklund’s.

“I do,” Eklund stated firmly.

“Well, you shouldn’t. It was obviously Marek who started the fire!”

“What are you talking about? Marek would never do something like that!”

“And yet he’s clearly taken off!”

“It’s impossible.”

Eklund stepped back. The blotches on his face turned bright red.

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