Grendel's Game (31 page)

“Good,” Ekman said, and looked at Gerdi. “Why don't you go along with Enar? It will make the trip less boring,” he added with a smile. “Don't worry about the surveillance. We've got Rystrom's people covering that.”

Looking at each other, they couldn't help smiling. Ekman was being kind.

“Thanks, Chief,” they both said.

At the morning meeting, the others were transfixed as Rystrom played yesterday's conversations in Lindfors's apartment. There was dead silence for a moment after he turned off the machine.

Rosengren couldn't help commenting, “I knew it, when I first saw her. She's hot.”

“You can say that again,” said Bergfalk. “Screwing three guys at the same time.”

Ekman glared at them. “Let's keep this professional. We're investigating a series of murders. This is not the place for those kinds of comments. Keep them to yourselves.”

Bergfalk and Rosengren looked down at the table without saying anything. Ekman sounded offended. He wasn't a prude, but demanded respect for the victims and the seriousness of the investigation.

Ekman laid out for them the current theory of the case he and Rystrom had agreed on. “This may change as we get new evidence, but so far, it seems to fit what we know.”

Rapp said, “You may want to adjust that theory again, Chief. The computer techs have come up with something.”

All eyes focused on him.

“We asked them to search the hard drives on the computers of the three missing men, looking for anything connected with online chess. There were six computers, but they worked fast and got hits on two of them. These were Gustaffson's and Henriksson's personal computers, rather than ones from their offices. They both played chess on the same site, a special one, with password protected access, set up for higher-level players. You were right, Chief. This was the connection. And it gets better.”

He paused for effect.

“Players posted some personal information, including photos of themselves. The two men played with several opponents, but only one was the same for both. It was Stina Lindfors. She'd posted a photo. They not only played chess with her; they sent her personal messages. They flirted by e-mail, and she flirted back. They both asked to meet her, and she said she'd call if she was interested. They gave her their mobile numbers. What do you think of that, Chief?”

Ekman was quiet, thinking over this unexpected information. The link among the other two missing men and Lindfors, and through her, Stillen, was now firmly established. And Lindfors had met Rodger Westberg, the third chess player, through his father, putting Lindfors at the center of all three disappearances.

“What this seems to indicate,” he finally said, “is that Stillen may not have acted alone in killing the men as we thought. Lindfors may have not only known he's a killer, she may have been a willing partner. There have been a number of two-person teams of murderers in the past. It looks like we could be dealing with that here. And there's the motive in Westberg's case of money.”

“I agree,” said Rystrom. “But this is the first time we've had a serial killer duo in Sweden.”

“What we need to do now,” Ekman said, “is gather more evidence against them. First, we have to find the computer Lindfors used to play chess with the two victims. I'll ask Edvardsson for warrants for Lindfors's home and office computers, her car, and also her phones and Stillen's, in case they were used to contact the men. Now seems like the right time to bring in Lindfors and Stillen for questioning and see if either will crack. While we're doing that, Alrik and Mats will execute the warrants.”

Turning to Rystrom, he said, “We'll need your techs to reconfirm the computer evidence tying her to the two men. Then they'll need to check all the calls to the two men's mobiles against Lindfors's and Stillen's phones.”

“You're right. Those are the next steps,” Rystrom said.

“Also, we need to maintain surveillance of Lindfors and Stillen, physically, and through the listening devices,” Ekman said. Rystrom nodded agreement.

Alenius had been silent throughout the meeting. Ekman asked him if he had anything to add from taking calls from the public.

“Nothing new, Chief. I think it's tapped out. That's why I came to the meeting. I turned on the answering machine, just in case.”

“Okay. I want you and Rosengren to join the surveillance team. That makes six, so there'll be enough people to share the watching without anyone becoming exhausted.

“Enar and Gerdi are heading to Norrköping today to get a DNA sample from Henriksson's mother. Is there anything else?” No one spoke.

“We're closing in. This is no time for us to let up. So plan on working through the weekend. On the bright side, everyone is still authorized overtime pay,” Ekman said, getting to his feet.

Ekman phoned Edvardsson.

“Malin, it's Walther. Planting the listening devices paid off,” he said, telling her the gist of what had been heard. “So, yes, she was well aware that Rodger had left his money to her. She and Stillen, her first husband, have apparently been planning to get their hands on the Westberg money, one way or another, all along.

“We can't be certain yet that Stillen is Grendel, but it looks more like it with every new piece of evidence. And computers from the two missing men prove Lindfors was connected to them, as well. What we need now are warrants for Lindfors's home and office computers, her car, and both her phone and Stillen's, to confirm the link. Yes, I'm sending over a transcript of the intercepts along with the warrant applications. You'll have them in the next hour.”

54

Duo Killers

E
kman had just finished giving the papers for Edvardsson to a police courier, when Rystrom came in.

“When did you want to leave for that meeting with Karlsson?” Rystrom asked.

Looking at the clock, Ekman saw they'd just be able to get there on time.

In Karlsson's study, the three of them sipped coffee and sampled the cake his wife had prepared yesterday when she learned Ekman would be visiting. She and Karlsson had greeted them at the door, and then she'd left them alone.

Jarl said, “Our friend Grendel has become quite a sensation.”

“Just as you and I thought he would, sooner or later,” said Ekman, and he sketched out what they'd discovered since he last spoke with Karlsson.

“So you suspect Lindfors and Stillen may be serial killers working together?” Karlsson asked.

“It's becoming more likely.”

Stillen could be a good candidate for Grendel, Karlsson suggested. With his poor childhood, all the foster homes, and his uncontrollable temper, it all fit.

Karlsson conjectured that Lindfors could have been a victim of sexual abuse, which could have led to her promiscuity. He ticked off the sudden death of her second husband, her link to the two other missing men, and her long relationship with Stillen, along with her plan to hang on to Westberg's money.

“Taken together,” he said, “she could be participating in these murders.”

“But there's nothing conclusive?” Rystrom asked.

“That's right. And I'm going out on a limb without further evidence. I don't think we should push these conjectures too far.”

“Yet nothing we've told you would exclude her from being an active participant?” asked Ekman.

“Again, you're right. I'd say on balance, with what you know now, it's more likely than not.”

“We know the motive for Westberg's murder, but what about the other two?” asked Rystrom.

“That's difficult to say, but something about these men led to their being killed.”

“Should we warn all the chess clubs then?” Rystrom laughed.

“I don't think chess players are at risk,” Karlsson replied with a slight smile. “The online chess club seems to have been just a convenient way to select victims and draw them in. There's got to be something else.”

“The other links we have are similar age, appearance, and marital status,” said Ekman. “Gustaffson and Henriksson were in their thirties, single, average height and weight, not bad looking, with brown hair and eyes.”

“What about Rodger Westberg? Did he look like them?”

“Yes, he did.”

“Then that's it,” said Karlsson.

“But there are hundreds of thousands of men in Sweden who fit that description,” objected Rystrom.

“The others were lucky. These men weren't,” Karlsson replied in a somber voice.

“But why were men who fit this description selected in the first place?” Ekman asked.

“I think it has nothing to do with these men, of course. It's something from the past, probably something in Stillen's or Lindfors's backgrounds. Perhaps Stillen, Lindfors, or both of them, were abused as children by someone who looked similar, and all that pent-up rage and hatred has been transferred to these other men. The real motive for these two, apparently pointless, killings could be in their distorted minds,” Karlsson said, looking at the ceiling and then back at his guests.

“Remember when we first talked about this, Walther, I said there would be a reason for Grendel's behavior. There would be a rationale behind the madness that would explain, and would, at least for him, justify his actions?”

“Yes, I haven't forgotten. So, simply stated, what we have here is a twisted, misplaced revenge motive, plus in Westberg's case, his money. Do you agree, Garth?”

“It's the only explanation that begins to make any sense of these killings.”

“Nothing I've told you would exclude them from being duo serial killers?” Ekman asked.

“No, not at all. What you've told me is very suggestive of other serial duos—particularly, Lindfors's sexual relationship with Stillen and at least one of the victims, Westberg.”

“Right now, we can connect her to the other missing men,” said Rystrom.

“What about the focus on me personally that we spoke about, Jarl?” Ekman asked.

“It could be a way first of getting your attention, since Grendel needed that for his game, and then later, a means of distracting your investigation—a dueler's feints. And for some reason we don't yet understand, it could also be that Grendel has grouped you with the other victims. Although your coloring is the same, your size doesn't quite fit the victim profile we've developed,” Karlsson said with a glint of amusement in his eyes.

“Well, I'll try and take some comfort from that,” said Ekman, getting up.

“Thanks for your help, Jarl. As always, you've made things clearer.”

I
n the car, Ekman said to Rystrom, “What do you think about Karlsson's analysis?”

“It seems on target to me. But it wasn't unequivocal. He painted a vivid picture of Stillen, but he wouldn't commit himself on Lindfors.”

“He's cautious. That seems appropriate. After we question them, we should be able to be more definite.”

“If they're the psychopaths we suspect, that may not be easy. They're very convincing.”

“We'll soon find out. I doubt they'll be able to trick both of us,” Ekman said with a wink.

55

Interrogation — Lindfors

B
ack at headquarters, the warrants had arrived. Ekman called in Rosengren and Alenius.

“First, bring in Stillen for questioning. Don't tell him why. When you have him, take his phone. After he's in an interview room, let him just sit there. Then pick up Lindfors at her office. Tell her we need her help with the Westberg case. She's not to use her phone. Take it from her and get her fingerprints and Stillen's from their phones. Put her in a different room. They mustn't know the other one is here. Okay?”

“Got it, Chief,” said Rosengren. Alenius just nodded.

“Stillen was convicted of extreme violence. He could be armed. Have two surveillance team people with you, just to be safe. Lindfors shouldn't be a problem. And you can tell the others watching her they can take a break while she's here.”