Free Vanished by Liza Marklund Page B

gaze. ‘Do you have any idea how many people died in Bosnia during the war?’
    ‘That’s not the issue here,’ Annika said. ‘We’re talking about the Stockholm Free Port.’
    ‘Do you think that makes a difference?’
    They stared at each other in silence. The woman’s feverish eyes had seen too much. Annika was the first to avert her gaze.
    ‘Maybe not,’ she said. ‘Why were they killed?’
    ‘How much do you know?’ Aida from Bijelina asked.
    ‘Not much more than what’s been in the papers. That the men were probably Serbs – they were wearing Serbian clothing. No ID, no fingerprints. Interpol has already contacted Belgrade. The police are looking for you.’
    ‘Am I wanted?’ The question shot out.
    Annika studied her carefully. ‘I don’t know,’ she said. ‘I think so. Why don’t you contact them and ask?’
    The woman regarded her through her feverish haze. ‘You don’t understand,’ she said. ‘You are aware of my situation. I can’t talk to the police, not at this time. What do you know about the killer?’
    ‘Organized crime, according to the police.’
    ‘And the motive?’
    ‘Someone settling a score, just like it said in the papers. What exactly do you know?’
    Aida from Bijelina closed her eyes and rested a while.
    ‘Don’t tell anyone you’ve talked to me.’
    ‘No problem,’ Annika said. ‘You’re a source, and by rights protected. The authorities aren’t allowed to try and find out from me who you are – it’s against Swedish law.’
    ‘You don’t get it, you might be in danger. You can’t write about what I’ve told you – if you do, then they’ll know that you know.’
    Annika studied the woman, hesitated, didn’t reply, didn’t want to make any promises. Aida propped herself up against the pillows again.
    ‘Have you been there? Have you seen the trucks out by the sea?’
    Annika nodded.
    ‘One of those trucks is missing,’ said Aida from Bijelina. ‘A truck loaded with cigarettes, not just hidden under the floor: the entire cargo, fifty million cigarettes, fifty million kronor.’
    Annika gasped.
    ‘More people will die. The man who owns that shipment isn’t going to let the thieves get away.’
    ‘Is that the guy who’s after you?’
    The woman nodded.
    ‘What for?’
    Aida closed her eyes. ‘Because I know everything,’ she said.
    They sat in silence for a while, until they heard the knock on the door. Aida blanched. More knocking was heard. A silky voice spoke, deep and masculine, almost a whisper.
    ‘Aida?’
    ‘That’s him,’ the woman whispered. ‘He’ll shoot us both.’ She looked like she was going to pass out at any minute.
    Annika suddenly felt intensely dizzy. She got up and the room started spinning. She stumbled.
    Another knock. ‘Aida?’
    ‘We’re going to die,’ the woman said in a resigned voice. Annika saw how she bowed her head in prayer.
    No , Annika thought. Not here, not now.
    ‘Come,’ she whispered, pulling the woman out of bed and dragging her over to the bathroom. She tossed Aida’s clothes in after her, took off her own top and held it to her chest as she walked over to open the door.
    ‘Hello . . .?’ she asked in a surprised voice.
    The man on the other side was big and good-looking, dressed in black and holding one hand inside his jacket.
    ‘Where’s Aida?’ he asked with a slight accent.
    ‘Who?’ Annika asked in puzzled tones, her mouth parched, her temples throbbing.
    ‘Aida Begovic. I know she’s in here.’
    Annika swallowed, blinked up at the lamp overhead and pushed her sweater up under her chin. ‘You must have the wrong room,’ Annika said in a breathless voice. ‘This is my room. And if you’ll excuse me, I don’t feel very well. I’ve already . . . turned in, you see.’
    The man took a step forward, placing his left hand on the door in an attempt to push it open. Annika automatically put her foot against the other side of the door to block any movement. At that very moment,