Firewall - By Henning Mankell & Ebba Segerberg Page 0,42

and sit there, but I'm not sure if it was when they changed seats or not."

Wallander realised he was holding his breath. "Can you describe him? Did you know him?"

"I had never seen him before, but he's easy to describe."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, he was Chinese. Or at least he looked Asian."

Wallander was close to something important.

"Did he stay on after the girls left in the taxi?"

"Yes, an hour at least."

"Did they seem to make contact?"

István shook his head. "I don't know. I didn't notice anything, but it's possible."

"Do you remember how the man paid his bill?"

"I think it was by credit card, but I'm not sure."

"Good," Wallander said. "I want you to find that charge slip."

"I will have sent it in. American Express, if I remember rightly."

"Then we'll find your copy," Wallander said.

He felt a sense of urgency. Sonja Hökberg saw someone walking down the street, he thought. She changed places in order to see him. He was Asian.

"What is it you're looking for?" István said.

"I'm just trying to understand what must have happened," Wallander said. "I haven't got any further than that."

He said goodbye to István and left the restaurant. A man of Asian descent, he thought. A powerful wave of anxiety overtook him. He began to walk faster.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Wallander was out of breath by the time he arrived at the station. He had walked rapidly because he knew that Höglund was interrogating Persson. He had to tell her what he had learned at István's restaurant so she could ask questions that now needed answers. Irene handed him a little pile of messages that he stuffed unread into a pocket. He called Höglund in the room where the interrogation was taking place.

"I'm almost finished here," she said.

"Hold on," Wallander said. "I have a few more questions for you. Take a break. I'll be outside."

Wallander was waiting impatiently for her in the corridor when she emerged. He told her at once about the seat changes and the man who had been sitting at the only table of which Hökberg had a clear view. He could see that she was not convinced.

"An Asian man?"

"Yes."

"Do you really think this is important?"

"Hökberg changed seats because she wanted to have eye contact with someone. That has to mean something."

She shrugged. "I'll ask Persson. But what is it exactly that you want an answer to?"

"Why they changed places, and when. Watch to see if she's lying. And did she notice the man who sat behind her?"

"It's hard to tell anything about what's going on inside her."

"Is she sticking to her new story?"

"Hökberg both hit and stabbed Lundberg. Persson knew nothing in advance."

"How did she react when you told her that Hökberg was dead?"

"She acted sad, but she didn't do a very good job. I think she was in fact quite shocked."

"So you don't think she already knew?"

"No. The mother has hired a lawyer, Klas Harrysson. He's filed charges against you."

Wallander didn't recognise the name.

"He's a young, ambitious lawyer from Malmö. Seems very sure of himself."

Wallander was smitten by a wave of tiredness. Then the anger came back, as well as the sense of being unfairly treated.

"Did you get anything new?"

"Honestly, I think Persson is a little stupid but she's sticking to her story – the later version. She sounds like a recording."

"There's something more than meets the eye with Lundberg's murder," Wallander said. "I'm convinced of it."

Höglund went back to questioning Persson, and Wallander went back to his room. He tried, without success, to find Martinsson. Hansson wasn't in either. Then he leafed through the messages Irene had handed him. Most of the callers were reporters, but there was also a message from Tynnes Falk's ex-wife. Wallander put the message aside, called Irene and told her to hold all incoming calls for a while. He called information and was given the phone number for the American Express office. He started to explain what he wanted and was transferred to someone called Anita. She asked to return his call as a security check. Wallander put down the phone and waited. After a few minutes he remembered that he had asked Irene to hold his calls. He swore and dialled the American Express number. This time they managed to arrange the security callback and Wallander was able to ask for the information he needed.

"It will take us some time," the girl said.

"So long as you understand how important it is."

"We'll do what we can."

Wallander called the garage. Eventually, the man he had spoken to earlier came