Firewall - By Henning Mankell & Ebba Segerberg Page 0,30

Holgersson, however, who also could not have slept many hours, seemed undimmed. She called the meeting to order.

"We need to be perfectly clear about the fact that last night's power cut was one of the most serious ever to have hit Skåne. That displays the extent of our vulnerability. What happened should have been impossible, but happened anyway. Now the authorities, power companies and law enforcement will have to discuss how security can be stepped up. This is just by way of introduction."

She nodded to Wallander to carry on. He gave a brief summary of the events.

"In other words, we don't know what happened," he said finally. "We don't know if it was an accident, suicide or murder, although we can reasonably rule out an accident. Either she was alone or she had someone with her who had broken through the outside gates. After that they apparently had access to keys. The whole thing is bizarre to say the least."

He looked round at the others gathered around the table. Martinsson reported that several police cars had on different occasions driven along the road to the power substation while they were looking for Hökberg.

"Then we know this much," Wallander said. "Someone drove her there. Were there any car tracks found?"

He directed that question to Nyberg who sat at the other end of the table with bloodshot eyes and wild hair. Wallander knew how much he was looking forward to his retirement.

"Apart from our own cars and that of Andersson, we found tracks belonging to two other vehicles. But there was a hell of a rainstorm last night and the impressions weren't too clear."

"But two other cars had been there?"

"Andersson seemed to think one of them could have belonged to his colleague, Moberg. We're still checking that."

"That leaves one set of tracks unaccounted for?"

"Yes."

Ann-Britt Höglund, who hadn't said anything up to this point, now raised her hand.

"Could it really be anything other than murder?" she said. "Like all of you, I don't see Hökberg committing suicide. And even if she had decided to end her life, I can't imagine she would have chosen to burn herself to death."

Wallander was reminded of an incident that occurred a few years earlier. A young woman from somewhere in Central America had burned to death by pouring petrol all over herself in the middle of a linseed field. It was one of his most horrific memories. He had been there, he had seen the girl set light to herself, and he had not been able to do anything about it.

"Women take pills," Höglund was saying. "Women rarely shoot themselves. And I don't think they would throw themselves on a power line."

"I think you're right," Wallander said. "But we have to wait for the pathologist's report. None of us who were out there last night was able to determine what happened."

There were no other questions.

"The keys," Wallander said. "We need to make sure none of the keys were stolen. That's the first thing we need to establish."

Martinsson volunteered to check on the keys. They ended the meeting and Wallander went to his office, collecting a cup of coffee on his way there. The telephone was ringing. It was Irene from reception.

"There's someone here to see you," she said.

"Who is it?"

"His name is Enander and he's a doctor."

Wallander searched his mind without being able to come up with a face. "Send him to someone else."

"I've tried that, but he insists on speaking to you. And he says it's urgent."

Wallander sighed. "I'll be right out," he said and put the phone down.

The man in reception was middle-aged, he had cropped hair and was dressed in a tracksuit. Wallander noted his firm handshake. He said his name was David Enander.

"I'm very busy," Wallander said. "The power cut last night has created a good deal of chaos. I can only spare a few minutes. What is it you wanted to see me about?"

"I'd like to clear up a misunderstanding."

Wallander waited for him to continue, but he didn't. They walked to his office. The armrest came off the chair that Enander sat down in.

"Don't worry about it," Wallander said. "It was broken already."

Enander got right to the point. "I'm here about Tynnes Falk."

"That case is closed as far as we're concerned. He died of natural causes."

"That's the misunderstanding I wanted to raise with you," Enander said, stroking his cropped hair with one hand.

Wallander saw he was anxious about something. "I'm listening."

Enander took his time. He chose his words carefully. "I've been Falk's