He laughed a little, but his face wasnt smiling.
Strange, how one-sided their friendship had been.
He kept inviting and Ewert allowed himself to be invited. Sven believed in sharing, thoughts, emotions, strength, while Ewert hid behind his right to privacy.
He got Ewerts home address from the police staff records. He lived on the fourth floor of quite a handsome block of flats in the middle of the city, on a busy stretch of Svea Road. Sven had been waiting outside for nearly two hours. He had tried to distract himself by scanning the rows of windows. Not that he got much out of it. From a distance they all looked identical, as if the same person inhabited all the flats.
Ewert arrived just after eight oclock, his big body rolling on his stiff leg. He opened the door without looking round, and disappeared into the building. Sven Sundkvist waited for another ten minutes, feeling nervous and lonelier than he could ever remember.
He took a deep breath before pressing the intercom button. No reply. A longer ring this time.
The loudspeaker crackled as a heavy hand picked up the receiver on the fourth floor.
Yes? An irritated voice.
Ewert?
Who is it?
Its me, Sven.
The silence was audible.
Hello, Ewert? Its me, Sven Sundkvist.
What are you doing here?
Id like to come up.
Come up here?
Yes.
Now?
Now.
Why?
We need to talk.
We can talk tomorrow. Come to my office.
It would be too late. We have to talk this evening. Open up, Ewert.
Silence again. Sven stared at the still live intercom. A long time passed or, at least, it felt like that. Then the lock clicked and Ewerts voice spoke, low and indistinct.
Fourth floor. Grens on the door.
The pain in his stomach was bad now, as bad as when hed watched that video. He had carried this pain for long enough. Time to hand it over, as it were.
He didnt need to ring the bell. The door was open. He peered into the long hall.
Hello?
Come in.
He couldnt see anyone, but Ewerts voice was calling from a room further in. He stopped on the doormat.
Second door to your left.
Sven Sundkvist wasnt quite sure what exactly he had expected, but whatever, it wasnt this.
It was the biggest flat he had ever seen.
He looked around as he walked slowly down a hall which never ended. Six rooms so far, possibly seven. High ceilings, elegant tiled stoves everywhere, plush rugs on perfect parquet floors.
Above all, it was empty.
He tiptoed, hardly breathed, feeling like an intruder even though nobody was about. He had never before been anywhere that felt so deserted. It was so large and clean and unimaginably lonely.
Ewert waited in something that might be called the library, one of the smaller rooms with bookshelves along two walls, from floor to ceiling. He was sitting on a worn black leather armchair in the light of a standard lamp.
Sven hardly noticed the rest of the room, because a few things caught his attention. On the wall by the door was a small embroidered wall hanging with MERRY CHRISTMAS in yellow letters on a red background. Next to it two black-and-white photographs, one of a man and the other of a woman, both in their twenties, both in police uniform.
A huge, never-ending place. But it was obvious. The two photos and the embroidered cloth were at its very heart.
Ewert looked at him, sighed, gestured to him to come in. He kicked a stool that he had been resting his feet on in the direction of his guest. Sven sat down.
Ewert had been reading when he rang the bell and interrupted. Sven tried to see what the book was, to find a way of starting the conversation, but it was lying to one side and he couldnt see the title. So instead he got up and pointed at the door.
Ewert, what is this?
What do you mean?
Have you always lived like this?
Yes.
Ive never seen anything like it.
I spend less and less time here.
Our little terraced house would fit into your hall.
Ewert nodded at him, wanted him to sit down. He closed his book, leaned forwards, red in the face. He was getting impatient with this meaningless chitchat.
Sven, its Sunday night, I believe.
Sven did not answer.
After eight oclock. Isnt that so?
It wasnt really a question.
I have a bloody right to be left alone. Dont I?
Silence.
Why this invasion of my privacy? Can you tell me that?
Sven tried to stay calm. He had encountered this anger before, but never the fear. He was certain of that. Ewert had never shown that before. But here, sitting in his own leather armchair, his aggression was masking his fear.
He looked at his older colleague.
The truth, Ewert you know how hard it is to face.
Sven ignored Ewerts obvious wish that he should stay put. He stood up and wandered over to the window, stopped to look down at the cars in the street as they hurried from one red light to the next, and then went to lean against a bookshelf.
Ewert, I spend more time with you, just about every day of my life, than with anyone else, more than with my wife and my son. I havent come to see you because it seemed like a nice idea. Im here because I have no choice.
Ewert Grens was leaning back, looking up at him.
What a lie, Ewert. What a fucking big lie!
The man in the armchair didnt move, only stared.
You have lied and I want to know why.
Ewert snorted.
Seems Im being visited by the inquisition.
I want you to reply to my questions, yes. Snort away. Call me names, by all means. Im used to it.
He went back to the window. There were fewer cars and they drove more slowly. He longed to get out there, once this was over.
Officially, Ive been on sick leave for two days.
You seem fine to me. Well enough to play the interrogator anyway.
I wasnt ill. I was in Lithuania. In Klaipeda. Ĺgestam asked me to go.
Sven Sundkvist had anticipated an outburst, of course. He knew that Ewert would stand up and shout.
That little prat! You went to Lithuania on his orders? Behind my back!
Sven waited until he had finished. All right. Sit down again, Ewert.
Fuck off!
Sit down.
Ewert looked briefly at Sven and sat down, putting his feet on the stool.
I met Alena Sljusareva in an aquarium, a Klaipeda tourist trap. I got the answers we needed, step by step, the whole story. How she delivered the gun and explosives to Grajauskas. Very instructive.
He waited. No reaction from Ewert.
I know that the two women communicated by mobile phone, several times. Before and during the hostage drama.
He watched the silent man in the armchair.
Say something!
React!
Dont just stare at me!
Before Sljusareva and I parted company outside a Chinese restaurant at the end of the evening, something odd happened. She wanted to know why I had asked all those questions, as she had already answered them. In an interview with another Swedish policeman.
He said nothing.
Has the cat got your tongue?
Nothing.
Say something!
Ewert Grens burst out laughing. He laughed until tears came to his eyes.
What do you want me to say? Whats the point? Youre fucking babes in the wood, you two! Havent got a clue!
He laughed even louder, wiping his eyes with his shirtsl
eeve.
As for Ĺgestam, it goes without saying. But you, Sven! Christ, little boy lost!
He stared at his uninvited guest, who had invaded his house and taken away his right to be alone.
He was still chuckling, though, and shaking his head.
The perpetrator, Grajauskas, is dead. The plaintiff, Nordwall, is dead. Who cares about the whys and wherefores? Who? Eh, Sven? Not the taxpayers who pay our wages, thats for sure.
Sven Sundkvist stayed by the window. He felt like shouting to drown all this out, but kept quiet. He knew what it was about, after all, this fear masquerading as anger.
Is that how you see it, Ewert?
Its how you should see it too.
I never will. You see, we talked for a long time, Alena Sljusareva and I. We went for a meal together. And when I asked, she told me about the three years she and Grajauskas spent in flats all over Scandinavia, being bought and sold as sex slaves. Made to perform twelve times a day. I thought that I was well informed, but she told me things about imprisonment and humiliation that I will never truly understand: about Rohypnol to endure it and vodka to deaden their senses, just to be able to live, to cope with the shame, in order to never let it get close.
Ewert got up and walked towards the door, waving at Sven to come with him.
Sven delayed a little, looking at the photos of the two young people. Full of hope. The mans eyes fascinated him especially, so alive and eager, different eyes which he hadnt seen before. They didnt fit in with this flat.
They had dreams, were full of life.
There was only emptiness here, as if life had ground to a halt.
He tore himself away from the eyes and the room, walked past two more rooms and into a third. It was a kitchen of the kind Anita dreamt about, large enough to cook in comfort and have space left for people to sit down together.
Hungry?
No thanks.
Coffee?
No.
Im having a cup. Sure?
The electric coil glowed bright neon red. Ewert filled a saucepan with water.
I dont want your bloody coffee, Ewert.
Sven, get off your high horse.
Sven Sundkvist searched inside himself for the strength to carry on. He had to keep going with this.
Alena also told me about how they came here. About the journey here on the ferry. Who arranged it and came with them. Ewert, I know that you know who it was.
The water boiled. Ewert made a mug of instant coffee. Turned the cooker off.
What are you suggesting?
Am I not right?
Grens took his mug and went to sit down at the kitchen table. It was round and there were six chairs to go with it. Ewerts face was still flushed. Sven wondered if he was still angry or if it was fear.
Are you listening to me, Ewert? Of course they couldnt shut out what was happening to them. Rohypnol and vodka werent enough. So they tried other ways of dealing with it. Lydia Grajauskas didnt have a body. She couldnt feel it when they penetrated her and abused her, it wasnt her body.
Ewert Grens scrutinised his mug of coffee, drank some, said nothing.
And Alena Sljusareva, she did the opposite. She was aware of her body, and how they exploited it. But she didnt register any faces. They didnt have any.
Sven took a step forwards and pulled the mug away from Ewert, forcing him to look up.
But you knew that, didnt you? Because they said it all in that video of theirs.
Grens said nothing, only looked at his mug in Svens hand.
You see, I knew something wasnt right. I went through the reports to chase up the videotape she had brought to the mortuary. The scene-of-crime photos showed it lying on the floor and I got on to Nils Krantz, who confirmed that he had given it to you.
Ewert Grens reached out for his mug, and finished his coffee. Once more he asked if Sven wanted one and once more Sven said no. They stayed in the kitchen, facing each other across a large island unit set out with cooking kit and a full set of kitchen knives.
Where is your TV?
TV? Why?
Sven went into the hall to fetch his case.
Where did you say it was?
In there.
Ewert pointed at the room across from the kitchen. Sven crossed the hall and asked Ewert to follow.
Were going to watch a video.
I havent got a VCR.
Thought not, which is why Ive brought a portable one.
He unpacked it and connected it to Ewerts TV.
Right. Now were going to watch this together.
They settled in opposite corners of the sofa. Sven had the remote control. He used it to start the video he had just loaded.
Blackish image, lots of white flicker. The War of the Ants.
Sven turned to Ewert.
This one appears to be empty.
No answer.
And its probably supposed to be, because it isnt the tape you were given by Krantz. Is it?
The tape was crackling, an irritating noise, letting his thoughts turn over and over in his head.
I know it isnt, because Krantz confirmed that the tape found in the mortuary was used, rather dusty and with two sets of female fingerprints. None of which fits this cassette. There will be prints all right, but only yours and mine.
Ewert turned away. He couldnt bear to look at the man whose boss he was.
Ewert, Im curious. What was on the original tape?
He flicked the remote at the TV, shutting off the invasive noise.
OK, let me put it another way. What was on the original tape that made it worth risking thirty-three years of service in the force?
Sven bent down to get something out of his case.
Another videotape. He took out the first one and loaded the second.
Two women. They are out of focus. The cameraman moves the camera about and twists the lens. The women look nervous as they wait for the signal to start.
One of them, a blonde with frightened eyes, speaks slowly in Russian, two sentences at a time. Then she turns to the dark woman, who translates into Swedish.
Their faces are serious and their voices strained. They havent done anything like this before.
They speak for more than twenty minutes. Thats how long it takes, their story of the past three years.
Sven stubbornly stared straight ahead, waiting for Ewerts reaction.
There was none, not until the women had reached the end of their account.
Then he burst into tears.
He covered his face with his hands and wept, letting thirty years of grief flow out of him as he had never dared before in case he drained away and disappeared.
Sven couldnt bear to watch. Please, not this. He cringed with embarrassment at first, and then anger surged through his body. He got up, stopped the tape and put it on the table in front of them.
You see, you only replaced one of the copies.
Sven prodded it lightly and began pushing it towards Ewert.
I reread the statements made by the hostages. Ejder mentioned that Grajauskas talked about two tapes. And a locker at the Central Station.
Ewert took a deep breath, looked at Sven, but couldnt talk, still crying.
I found it there.
Sven pushed the tape past a vase with flowers until it was in front of Ewert. His anger, it had to be released.
How dare you take away that right? They had every fucking right in the world to tell their story. And what was your reason? To keep the truth about your best friend from getting out!
Ewert looked at the video in front of him, picked it up, but still said nothing.
Not only that. You actually committed a criminal offence. You withheld and later destroyed evidence. You kept a self-confessed criminal out of court by sending her home, because you were
scared of what she had to say. How much further were you prepared to go? How much is this lie worth to you, Ewert?
Grens fingered the hard plastic case.
This?
Yes.
Do you think I did it for my own sake?
Yes, I do.
What?
For your own sake.
So it wasnt enough that she lost her husband? Why should she have to face this as well? The bastard had lied to her! He threw the cassette back on the table. Her empty life is more than enough! Lena doesnt need this crap! She doesnt ever need to know!
Sven Sundkvist couldnt take any more.
He had confronted his friend, seen him weep and now knew about the grief that had filled most of his adult life. He just had to get away. This day had been too much, he didnt want another minute of today.
Alena Sljusareva.
He turned towards Grens.
You see, she spoke about her shame. The shame she had tried to wash down the drain, twelve times daily. But this . . .
Sven slapped the TV screen, hit out against what they had just watched.
This was because you couldnt face it, Ewert. You cant cope with the guilt you feel when you remember what youve done to other people, and the shame you feel when you think of what youve done to yourself. You can live with guilt. But shame is unendurable.
Ewert sat there, his eyes fixed on the person, who kept talking.
You felt guilty because it was your decision to send Bengt into the mortuary, to his death. Thats understandable. Theres always an explanation for guilt.
Svens voice grew louder, as often happens when you dont want to show how close you are to a breakdown.
Shame, now, thats different. Much harder to understand! You were ashamed because Bengt had managed to trick you so completely. And you felt ashamed that you would have to tell Lena who Bengt actually was.
Sven became louder still.
Ewert, you werent trying to protect Lena. You were protecting yourself. From your own shame.
It was strangely cold outside.
June is meant to be midsummer and warm.
He waited at the crossing outside the building where Ewert Grens lived. The lights turned red eventually.
Now he had finally shed the burden of the lies he had been carrying.
The story of two young people, erased to protect a man from the truth.
Bengt Nordwall was a swine, the kind that even Sven Sundkvist could hate. Until the end, he had behaved exactly like the swine he was, unable to change even when facing a gun, naked, in that tiled place of death. He had refused to acknowledge the shame she felt, even then. And Ewert had carried on refusing, reducing her shame to a mere flicker, a War of the Ants.
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