Free Unseen by Mari Jungstedt Page A

scratches had been made by Helena, and the ME had found bruises on Helena’s cheek and behind her ear, indicating that she had been struck before she died. On the other hand, they knew that there had been a fight. The fact that Bergdal had not immediately admitted as much might be understandable. Now they needed to find something new, and quickly.
    Knutas turned halfway around in his chair and looked out the window. It was a dreary gray day. This early summer season hadn’t been worth much so far. Yesterday’s sunshine had been a welcome change, but now the clouds were back.
    Karin Jacobsson and Thomas Wittberg were now in place in Stockholm. Jacobsson had called him earlier in the day. They were very busy interviewing people who knew Helena Hillerström, and they would most likely have to stay a few more days. Knutas missed Karin whenever she wasn’t at the station. Of course, he was on good terms with the others in the group, but there was something special between him and Karin. They had found it easy to talk to each other from her very first day with the Visby police, after she had spent several years as a trainee in Stockholm. It wasn’t long before he had the utmost confidence in her. In the beginning, when they were getting to know each other, Knutas thought for a short time that he was in love with Karin, but it was just then that he met his future wife and fell instantly in love with her.
    Karin Jacobsson did not have a boyfriend, as far as Knutas knew. Even though they worked so closely together, she rarely talked about her personal life.
    It was three o’clock in the afternoon by the time Johan and Peter finished editing and sent off the interview with Emma Winarve. It took ten minutes for Grenfors to call. He praised them for the story, which was going to be shown on all the news programs that evening. Even so, Grenfors, who was never completely satisfied, wanted them to talk to the neighbors in the area as well. The murder had occurred right in their own backyard, after all, he said.
    “But we’ve already been out there and talked to the old lady in Fröjel,” Johan objected. His voice crackled with displeasure.
    Peter was sitting in an armchair, watching him.
    “Channel Four had the neighbors on their noon broadcast,” the editor pointed out.
    “And so we have to include them, too?” said Johan, annoyed.
    “You have to admit that it’s good to talk to anyone who happens to live in the neighborhood of a murder scene.”
    “Sure, but I don’t know if we can make it in time for the evening news.”
    “Try,” Grenfors urged him. “If nothing else, we can use it for later programs.”
    “Sure thing.”
    They left immediately, driving down toward Klintehamn once again, and then in the direction of Fröjel. It was still only two days since the murder. Johan thought it felt like a lot more time had passed. It’s actually incredible how much a person can get done , he thought.
    They stopped at the first farm after the turnoff to Gustavs, a red house and a barn with a chicken coop. The hens were scratching the dirt inside a pen, cackling merrily. A dog came running up to them, wagging its tail. Obviously not much of a watchdog.
    They rang the bell. A woman opened the door at once. She had curly blonde hair and an alert expression on her face.
    “Yes?” She gave them an inquisitive look.
    A long-haired cat rubbed affectionately against their legs. They could hear children’s voices inside the house.
    Johan introduced Peter and himself. “We’re out talking to people who live around here. Because of the murder, you know. Did you know the woman who was killed?”
    “No, I can’t say that I did. Of course we knew who the family was, but we didn’t spend any time with them.”
    “What do you think about what happened?”
    “It’s terrible that something like that could happen here. I certainly hope they catch the person who did it as quickly as possible. It’s so upsetting. I can’t stop