head.”
Norlander drew a diagonal line through each square, indicating the path of the shots from the sofa positioned directly opposite the doorway.
“The similarity may have two functions. Either it indicates a ritual, meaning that we’re dealing with a highly specific method of execution, and the intention could be for someone to recognize this method and feel threatened by it. Or else it’s a trick, directed at us, to make us anticipate the same pattern the next time; if the symmetry is broken, we might then think that the crime isn’t part of the series. But I think someone should do some checking on this M.O. with Interpol and the rest of the international contact network, to see if this is a recurring execution method used by any existing terror groups or mafia organizations.
“But right now our most important job is to predict who the next victim will be. It’s not going to be easy. As I’m sure you can imagine, there are scores of connections between Kuno Daggfeldt in Danderyd and Bernhard Strand-Julén in Östermalm. We can divide them up into five parts: common enemies, common circles of friends, common leisure activities, common business interests, and common board memberships. These areas will probably overlap somewhat, so they should just be taken as general guidelines.”
Norlander went back to his place at the table and sat down. Hultin nodded and took the floor.
“Okay, if we assume that this pattern also applies to time, then nothing is going to happen tonight. The first murder took place in the very early morning hours of March thirtieth; the second sometime after midnight on April first, today. I think Commissioner Mörner stated it quite clearly. If the pattern holds, though I grant you it’s based on premises that are still much too vague, then murder number three will take place tomorrow night.
“It’s unreasonable to think that before then we’ll be able to close in on a suspect and put him under surveillance. But it would be good to at least narrow the field of possible targets so that we can then call on the willing assistance of the Stockholm police force and watch maybe five or six of the most likely candidates. Keep in mind the home-alone and arriving-home-late element.
“I suggest the following work assignments: Viggo will handle Interpol and the M.O. angle; Nyberg will try to track down any common enemies, with particular attention to the distant past, the Stockholm School of Economics, and their paths to prominence. Holm will call people in their circles of friends and find out if there are any secret lovers or the like. Hjelm will focus on their leisure activities: sailing, golf, fraternal orders, and anything else that can be discovered. Söderstedt will tackle their business interests. And be sure to get all the help you need from the National Economic Crimes Bureau; that’s probably going to be the toughest area to deal with. And Chavez will check up on the various board memberships that both victims have held, both now and in the past.
“I’ll be in charge of the overall picture, the assignments, decision making, and so on. This damned whiteboard is going to fill up with flow charts. It’s almost four o’clock now. I suggest weput in a few hours so we can set up an effective work plan for tomorrow.”
Hultin paused to think. Then he nodded slightly, as if to indicate that he’d said all he wanted to say. Just as he was about to stand up, Arto Söderstedt cleared his throat, and Hultin sank back into his chair.
“What’s the work schedule going to be?” asked Söderstedt.
“Well, as I said, we’re all going to be putting in a lot of hours until this thing is solved. You can forget about any union contracts and legal work hours for the time being. In principle, the entire group is on call twenty-four–seven. You can choose to see it from the bright side—special loopholes have been created so that we can make use of the maximum allowable overtime. If this
Norlander drew a diagonal line through each square, indicating the path of the shots from the sofa positioned directly opposite the doorway.
“The similarity may have two functions. Either it indicates a ritual, meaning that we’re dealing with a highly specific method of execution, and the intention could be for someone to recognize this method and feel threatened by it. Or else it’s a trick, directed at us, to make us anticipate the same pattern the next time; if the symmetry is broken, we might then think that the crime isn’t part of the series. But I think someone should do some checking on this M.O. with Interpol and the rest of the international contact network, to see if this is a recurring execution method used by any existing terror groups or mafia organizations.
“But right now our most important job is to predict who the next victim will be. It’s not going to be easy. As I’m sure you can imagine, there are scores of connections between Kuno Daggfeldt in Danderyd and Bernhard Strand-Julén in Östermalm. We can divide them up into five parts: common enemies, common circles of friends, common leisure activities, common business interests, and common board memberships. These areas will probably overlap somewhat, so they should just be taken as general guidelines.”
Norlander went back to his place at the table and sat down. Hultin nodded and took the floor.
“Okay, if we assume that this pattern also applies to time, then nothing is going to happen tonight. The first murder took place in the very early morning hours of March thirtieth; the second sometime after midnight on April first, today. I think Commissioner Mörner stated it quite clearly. If the pattern holds, though I grant you it’s based on premises that are still much too vague, then murder number three will take place tomorrow night.
“It’s unreasonable to think that before then we’ll be able to close in on a suspect and put him under surveillance. But it would be good to at least narrow the field of possible targets so that we can then call on the willing assistance of the Stockholm police force and watch maybe five or six of the most likely candidates. Keep in mind the home-alone and arriving-home-late element.
“I suggest the following work assignments: Viggo will handle Interpol and the M.O. angle; Nyberg will try to track down any common enemies, with particular attention to the distant past, the Stockholm School of Economics, and their paths to prominence. Holm will call people in their circles of friends and find out if there are any secret lovers or the like. Hjelm will focus on their leisure activities: sailing, golf, fraternal orders, and anything else that can be discovered. Söderstedt will tackle their business interests. And be sure to get all the help you need from the National Economic Crimes Bureau; that’s probably going to be the toughest area to deal with. And Chavez will check up on the various board memberships that both victims have held, both now and in the past.
“I’ll be in charge of the overall picture, the assignments, decision making, and so on. This damned whiteboard is going to fill up with flow charts. It’s almost four o’clock now. I suggest weput in a few hours so we can set up an effective work plan for tomorrow.”
Hultin paused to think. Then he nodded slightly, as if to indicate that he’d said all he wanted to say. Just as he was about to stand up, Arto Söderstedt cleared his throat, and Hultin sank back into his chair.
“What’s the work schedule going to be?” asked Söderstedt.
“Well, as I said, we’re all going to be putting in a lot of hours until this thing is solved. You can forget about any union contracts and legal work hours for the time being. In principle, the entire group is on call twenty-four–seven. You can choose to see it from the bright side—special loopholes have been created so that we can make use of the maximum allowable overtime. If this
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