Free The Dead of Summer by Mari Jungstedt Page B

Jacobsson.
    ‘Why would he be tired after only a few kilometres?’ objected Wittberg. ‘He’d been going out to run every day for years. Maybe he stopped to talk to the perp before he was shot to death.’
    ‘That sounds to me like a more plausible explanation,’ interjected Kihlgård. ‘The victim and the perp might have known each other.’
    ‘Another possibility is that he happened upon an armed madman who was bent on killing somebody,’ Jacobsson went on. ‘Any random victim.’
    ‘The question we need to ask,’ said Kihlgård, ‘is why would a carpenter and the father of two young children from Slite be shot in cold blood at a campsite while out for his usual morning jog? It sounds completely unbelievable when put into words. Especially since it all takes place on peaceful little Fårö.’
    ‘Don’t say that,’ Wittberg protested. ‘Keep in mind that we had the manhunt of the century on Fårö just a few years ago. You remember Emma Winarve, don’t you? You were really taken by her.’
    ‘Oh, that’s right,’ said Kihlgård, his face lighting up. ‘By the way, is she still together with that pesky TV reporter?’
    ‘I have no idea.’ Wittberg threw out his hands. ‘They had a baby together and everything but apparently things kind of fell apart for them.’
    ‘All right then,’ Jacobsson interrupted her colleagues. ‘Let’s keep on topic. You can do all the gossiping you want later on.’
    She gave them a stern look.
    ‘According to Peter Bovide’s partner, the victim had recently felt that he was being watched. Johnny Ekwall couldn’t say exactly what was going on, but Peter had mentioned several times that he thought somebody was tailing him. He had also received anonymous phone calls at the office. Apparently there was nobody on the line, but from what I understand, the calls gave Bovide the jitters.’
    ‘When did all this start?’ asked Kihlgård.
    ‘Several weeks ago.’
    ‘And he’d never received any threats before?’
    ‘Not as far as I know.’
    ‘If the phone calls and the feeling that he was being shadowed began at the same time, there must be something to it,’ Kihlgård went on. ‘And of course it reinforces the theory that the perpetrator had specifically targeted Bovide. We need to find out if anybody else can confirm this information. I’d be happy to follow up on the lead.’
    ‘Fine,’ said Jacobsson. ‘The strange thing is that his wife denies knowing anything about it, and yet they seem to have had a good relationship.’
    ‘Maybe he didn’t want to worry her,’ Wittberg interjected. ‘Maybe he was mixed up in something shady and wanted to keep her out of it.’
    ‘That’s possible, of course,’ said Jacobsson. ‘Or maybe we should be focusing our efforts on the wife. She works in a casino in Stockholm. And in the gambling business there are plenty of sleazy characters, as you well know.’
    ‘So you think it could be some sort of revenge directed against her?’ said Kihlgård.
    ‘Maybe, maybe not. Or the wife could be the next victim. How do I know? We need to ask Stockholm to help us by interviewing Vendela’s co-workers at the casino.’
    ‘Wasn’t Peter Bovide found guilty of assault and battery?’ Wittberg tossed out. ‘Of course it was a long time ago and it happened only once, but you never know. I’ll check up on it.’
    Jacobsson nodded pensively and scribbled a note on her pad of paper.
    ‘How long had he been at the campsite? A few days?’ Wittberg went on. ‘And he went out at approximately the same time every morning to run practically the same route?’
    ‘Yes,’ said Jacobsson. ‘His wife confirmed that when I interviewed her earlier today.’
    ‘So it seems very likely that the perp was keeping an eye on him and took note of his usual routines. That would also confirm what his partner said about Bovide feeling he was being watched. The murderer then chose the most advantageous time and place to kill him, meaning down