Free Anger Mode by Stefan Tegenfalk Page B

falling uncontrollably backwards while desperately reaching for the handrail. A dull thud sounded when her head met the rock-hard edge of the step.
    It was suddenly quiet in the stairwell. The echoes quickly died away.
    The dog stopped barking behind the door.
    A weak gasp escaped from the girl. Her body twitched a few times before lying completely still.
    WALTER WAS JUST leaving for the evening when David Lilja came into the office. He sat down in Walter’s shabby visitor’s chair and placed his hands behind his neck. Walter looked at Lilja with some surprise, as he normally never stayed after five o’clock. Lilja was probably the person in the police station who was most eager to go home and who strictly adhered to office hours. On the other hand, he had no objections when Walter worked until midnight.
    “I heard that it went well with the pimp’s alibi,” Lilja began, “and that the rookie from RSU also handled herself well.”
    “Yes, she’s at home getting her beauty sleep so that she can come and play tomorrow as well.”
    “Do you two get along? From what I’ve seen, she’s quite determined and very forward. That’s not exactly the perfect match for you.”
    “She has perhaps a little too much confidence for her own good. But a few cold showers should bring her feet back down to earth,” Walter said.
    “And naturally you will see that it happens,” said Lilja. “The first thing a person loses in your company is self-confidence.”
    Walter smiled a crooked grin.
    “I don’t want to get any complaints from Hildebrandt at RSU,” Lilja clarified. “We’ll have a lot of use for RSU in the future.”
    “Why would you get complaints?” asked Walter.
    Lilja looked at Walter in disbelief. “In any case, it seems as if you two managed to run circles around the girlfriend. The prosecutor is very satisfied with your work.”
    “There’ll be no problems there,” answered Walter. “She was just as brainless as one would expect of an addict with that habit – no more, no less. If the court accepts her as a credible witness, then we might as well scrap the entire justice system.”
    Lilja nodded approvingly and watched Walter as he stood up from his chair.
    “Anything else?” Walter asked as he reached for his jacket.
    “What do you mean?” asked Lilja.
    “Well, you didn’t come here just to ask about the alibi and to gossip about the rookie. It’s almost eleven,” said Walter, checking the clock above the office door.
    Lilja’s face hardened. “We have a fifteen-year-old girl who has been in an accident,” he began and then paused for effect.
    “I see,” said Walter, disinterested, as he put on his jacket.
    “It’s the same situation as always,” sighed Lilja. “Lack of resources, lack of manpower, lack of everything.” He shrugged.
    “Well, that sounds familiar,” conceded Walter. “Are we talking overtime now?”
    “As you know, Cederberg and Jonsson are assisting our colleagues from the Skåne district for a few weeks,” Lilja continued, pretending not to hear Walter’s last question. “It’s a terrible mess down there in Landskrona. Many believe that it’s becoming a lawless region. They’re taking part in a murder investigation with connections to Stockholm, but the investigation is being led by officers on the scene. Forensics is not formally involved yet, but may be. If that happens, I’ll pull Cederberg and Jonsson back home immediately.”
    “Let them stay down there permanently,” Walter suggested and went towards the door. “You could never have made me go down to that Skåne dung heap. Not even if you asked me nicely.”
    Lilja remained sitting in the chair.
    “Forensics is already en route to the scene of the accident,” he said, switching back to the original subject. “You can call Swedberg and get the address from him. The duty shift is already busy with other tasks, so I would appreciate it if you could see your way to at least start the crime scene