It was not until an hour later that Eriksson knocked on Berger's door.
"Hello there."
"Yes?" said Berger.
"The staff would like to have a word."
"What is it?"
"Out here."
Berger got up and went to the door. They had set a table with cake and Friday afternoon coffee.
"We think we should have a party and give you a real send-off in due course," Malm said. "But for now, coffee and cake will have to do."
Berger smiled, for the first time in a long time.
CHAPTER 3
FRIDAY, 8.IV - SATURDAY, 9.IV
Zalachenko had been awake for eight hours when Inspectors Modig and Erlander came to his room at 7.00 in the evening. He had undergone a rather extensive operation in which a significant section of his jaw was realigned and fixed with titanium screws. His head was wrapped in so many bandages that you could see only his left eye and a narrow slit of mouth. A doctor had explained that the axe blow had crushed his cheekbone and damaged his forehead, peeling off a large part of the flesh on the right side of his face and tugging at his eye socket. His injuries were causing him immense pain. He had been given large doses of painkillers, yet was relatively lucid and able to talk. But the officers were warned not to tire him.
"Good evening, Herr Zalachenko," Modig said. She introduced herself and her colleague.
"My name is Karl Axel Bodin," Zalachenko said laboriously through clenched teeth. His voice was steady.
"I know exactly who you are. I've read your file from Sapo."
This, of course, was not true.
"That was a long time ago," Zalachenko said. "I'm Karl Axel Bodin now."
"How are you doing? Are you able to have a conversation?"
"I want to report a serious crime. I have been the victim of attempted murder by my daughter."
"We know. That matter will be taken up at the appropriate time," Erlander said. "But we have more urgent issues to talk about."
"What could be more urgent than attempted murder?"
"Right now we need information from you about three murders in Stockholm, at least three murders in Nykvarn, and a kidnapping."
"I don't know anything about that. Who was murdered?"
"Herr Bodin, we have good reason to believe that your associate, 35-year-old Ronald Niedermann, is guilty of these crimes," Erlander said. "Last night he also murdered a police officer from Trollhattan."
Modig was surprised that Erlander had acquiesced to Zalachenko's wish to be called Bodin. Zalachenko turned his head a little so that he could see Erlander. His voice softened slightly.
"That is... unfortunate to hear. I know nothing about Niedermann's affairs. I have not killed any policeman. I was the victim of attempted murder myself last night."
"There's a manhunt under way for Ronald Niedermann even as we speak. Do you have any idea where he might hide?"
"I am not aware of the circles he moves in. I..." Zalachenko hesitated a few seconds. His voice took on a confidential tone. "I must admit... just between us... that sometimes I worry about Niedermann."
Erlander bent towards him.
"What do you mean?"
"I have discovered that he can be a violent person... I am actually afraid of him."
"You mean you felt threatened by Niedermann?" Erlander said.
"Precisely. I'm old and handicapped. I cannot defend myself."
"Could you explain your relationship to Niedermann?"
"I'm disabled." Zalachenko gestured towards his feet. "This is the second time my daughter has tried to kill me. I hired Niedermann as an assistant a number of years ago. I thought he could protect me... but he has actually taken over my life. He comes and goes as he pleases... I have nothing more to say about it."
"What does he help you with?" Modig broke in. "Doing things that you can't do yourself?"
Zalachenko gave Modig a long look with his only visible eye.
"I understand that your daughter threw a Molotov cocktail into your car in the early '90s," Modig said. "Can you explain what prompted her to do that?"
"You would have to ask my daughter. She is mentally ill." His tone was again hostile.
"You mean that you can't think of any reason why Lisbeth Salander attacked you in 1991?"
"My daughter is mentally ill. There is substantial documentation."
Modig cocked her head to one side. Zalachenko's answers were much more aggressive and hostile when she asked the questions. She saw that Erlander had noticed the same thing. O.K... Good cop, bad cop. Modig raised her voice.
"You don't think that her actions could have anything to do with the fact that you had beaten her mother so badly that she suffered