Blue Blue Eyes: Crime Novel (4 page)

Wednesday June 5th

It was still unusually hot to be the beginning of June. The sun was beating high up on the clear blue sky and a lot of people stayed inside in their air-conditioned houses or found some shade outside. The chief of Police, Carlos García Rodríguez, quickly swallowed the last piece of creamy chocolate croissant before entering the outdated police station in Coral Bay. He burped loudly at the same time as tucking the tight, light blue uniform shirt inside his trousers. With his thumbs inside the waistband he continued on to the cramped kitchen and greeted his co-workers gathered in front of the coffee machine.

”Katerina, could you get some nice coffee and cakes for us in the conference room. We’ll start the morning’s meeting in a few minutes.” Carlos twisted his bushy moustache between his thumb and index finger at the same time holding out his cup for Katerina to fill it with coffee.

Katerina, the office’s factotum, was annoyed as usual and went to her desk by the entrance to get her purple, plastic handbag. Carlos watched her as she walked across the street on her way to the local family-owned bakery and noticed how unsteadily she wobbled on her high heels. Before opening the door to his locked office he turned around and shouted:

”Sam and Daphne, meeting in the conference room in two minutes’.”

He pulled out the last drawer in the worn-out dark stained desk, lifted the package with chocolate croissants and picked up the brown, exclusive leather wallet which he had taken from the murder victim. He left the bank cards but put the six 50-euro notes in his own money clip. The chief frowned and studied the picture on the pink driver’s license.

”Let’s see if we can capture your murderer, Sten Arvidsson. Sorry for taking your money but you don’t need it now that you’re dead, do you?” Carlos left some euro in the coin compartment just for the sake of it, took off his plastic gloves and went with short, loud steps to the conference room where Daphne and Sam were waiting. With a superior attitude Carlos started updating them both:

”As you know, yesterday morning a hunter found a man’s body in the nature reserve of Akamas. I am still waiting for the autopsy report and the report from the Technical department. I did go back to the location, though, yesterday before it got dark and you probably were at home with your families. I found this.” Carlos showed them the brown wallet which he had put in an evidence bag and continued:

”We now know who the dead person is.” Carlos smiled triumphantly. ”He is Swedish, his name is Sten Arvidsson and he’s 63 years old. According to a conversation with the Swedish Embassy in Nicosia yesterday I found out that he’s from Gothenburg, Sweden. Before I went home yesterday I faxed a copy of his driver’s license to the police in Gothenburg and told them that we’d found him dead on this island.” Carlos stretched proudly. He waited for applauds but of course there were none. The silence in the room was complete and Daphne and Sam were looking at their boss incredulously.

”That’s strange”, Sam, breaking the silence, finally said. ”Daphne and I also went back to the site yesterday around dusk since I also needed to see it. To make it all clear we stayed there for a few hours, and where exactly were you?”

Carlos made a face and felt his cheeks getting hot. His face red he turned for his mug. The white photo mug was a birthday present from the rest in the station. They had had a dozen mugs made with a picture of the station cat, The Panther. The funny thing with the gift was that the print was only visible when the mug was filled with something hot. In addition, everybody had had their name engraved, which had solved the eternal question about the washing up.

Carlos sank into the chair, coffee mug in his hand, like a child just getting caught with his fingers in the cookie jar. The silence spread in the room and Sam and Daphne were waiting for their boss to get through the embarrassing situation. The next minute Carlos remembered what he could complain about.

”I need the report from the Technical Department. Could you call your cousin and ask what she’s actually doing? Maria has had the whole bloody night to complete it.”

Daphne knew better than answering back. Ignoring the chief hit harder than confronting him so she just sat there wiggling on the chair looking calm. On the other hand she noted Sam’s bad mood and wondered what was bothering him. Daphne liked Sam who was her age and the station’s biker, a cool guy with a long black pony-tail. Among them all he was the only one who had tattoos and she thought that the skull on his left, muscular upper arm was the coolest. Strangers thought that Sam Dendias looked dangerous with his bulging muscles and 194 centimetres but looks were deceiving, he was sweet like a teddy bear.

”Daphne?” Carlos gave her a long look and was just getting started with a new attack when he was interrupted by Katerina’s squeaky voice.

”The preliminary autopsy report has arrived.”

Katerina wobbled on her stiletto heels and gave the sealed envelope to the chief.

”OK, get out now. Can’t you see we are working”.

The tension was rising and a collective silence spread in the room while Carlos got lost in the report. He noticed that the report had been written in a clinical and concise style-with a lack of any emotions.

”OK”, the chief said smugly, as if he had written the autopsy report himself. ”Sten Arvidsson died from suffocation but we could almost guess that from seeing his body filled with concrete. He had also been seriously abused, his right hand was missing the little finger and the other four fingers were broken. His toe nails were pulled out, but the worst thing probably was that Sten Arvidsson was alive when his eyes were removed as well as when the perpetrator made him swallow the concrete. The body is full of a number of burns, probably caused by a cigarette looking object. Neo writes that the victim was murdered four days ago, which would mean Saturday, it being June 1st.

”Poor bastard.” Sam made a face when he studied the different photographs of the dead person and then passed them on to Daphne.

”Yes, it makes you wonder what he has done to warrant this sadistic treatment. Sten has been tortured apart from being filled with concrete, and the question is why? Who would do this to him? It’s bloody barbaric. The perp must have been really upset with him, otherwise he wouldn’t have looked like this.” Daphne studied the photographs carefully and felt slightly nauseous. How could somebody be this evil? She put the pictures on the conference table and poured a drink from the thermos. The photo of The Panther appeared on her mug at the same time as she heard a loud meow in the corridor.

”I completely agree with you, this is no common murder. It looks like the Mafia might be part of it or a really disturbed person; we have to find the murderer as soon as possible.” Sam brushed his hair back and helped himself to one of the cakes that Katerina had put on the table.

”Yes,I agree that will be our task.” Daphne bit hard on the pen before continuing. ”Oh yes, I met Maria this morning and got the forensic report. My mother was going to look after her little one since she was a bit under the weather…”

”What the hell! You’ve been holding this information all this time without sharing it with me?” Carlos swore a long tirade, gesturing wildly.

”Calm down, there is no harm done. The report is here, it has not been stolen. Listen to what Daphne has to say instead.” Sam was not so pleased with Carlos continuous attacks on all female colleagues and always tried to keep an eye on them, especially Daphne whom the chief had chosen as his primary scapegoat.

As usual Daphne ignored Carlos and smiled triumphantly as she was taking out the transparent plastic file she’d been keeping.

”Well, let’s see what Maria and Stavros have found.” Daphne leafed through the papers and summarized the report: ”Sten Arvidsson was not murdered at the discovery location. In other words he had been brought there after death. The positive thing is that Forensics have found fingerprints on the victim, his clothes as well as on the black plastic sacks. It’s also a good thing they’ve found shoe prints, several of them as a matter of facts. The negative thing is that most of the fingerprints and shoe prints belong to one of our own.”

”Damn it, who could be so bloody stupid?” Carlos exclaimed and choked on the coffee. He coughed madly and for a while Daphne thought his lungs would collapse.

”According to Maria the fingerprints match your own, Carlos.” Daphne was smiling inside but showed a poker face toward her surprised boss.

Carlos and Sam were looking wide-eyed at Daphne.

”There must be some kind of misunderstanding” Carlos was shifting the blame.

”My fingerprints?”

”I know they are your prints, Carlos. It’s even clearly written here in the report. Are you so stupid you think that Maria and the rest made it all up? Besides I saw you tearing at the plastic bag and dragging the corpse when I was going down to the car to question the witness. I saw you stealing the wallet.”

”Are you accusing me of destroying the investigation? No, now it’s bloody enough.” Carlos slammed the coffee mug on the conference table, the dark liquid pouring over the rim, colouring the documents brown.

”What the hell, calm down”, Sam said annoyed. ”We’ll never find any perp like this. You know as well as us that you once again have crossed the boundaries. Forensics are not wrong, full stop. Daphne, continue.” Daphne gave Sam a grateful look. ”They have found skin under the victim’s nails and have sent it for analysis to the CSCP lab together with several strands of hair and fibres.”

”We’ll have to push CSCP in Nicosia”, Sam said and had a big bite of the cake.

”Forensics have analyzed the blood stains they found as well but unfortunately they don’t match anybody in our DNA-index. So we can’t decide now if the spots of blood belong to the victim or the perp but if I could guess I would say they belong to Sten Arvidsson. On the other hand they have found shoe prints size 43, which could be interesting to keep in mind. They also found a key with the letters LXCVP. I’ve got it here”, Daphne said showing the plastic bag. ”It was in the front pocket of Sten Arvidsson’s shorts.”

”Give it to me”, Carlos said annoyed. He turned and twisted the gold coloured key but couldn’t remember seeing anything similar before. ”Continue.”

”They’ve also managed to get some prints of tyre marks seemingly belonging to a four-wheel-drive.” Daphne put down the plastic file on the desk and tried to get a clear picture of it all while spreading out Forensics’ photographs.

Carlos snatched the report, quickly glanced through it while drumming his fingers against the chipped table top.

”Sam, you’ll check on the tyre tracks and you Daphne have to try to find out where the key comes from. I will call CSCP to check if they can hurry up with the DNA-analysis. Then I’ll contact Gothenburg to update them about the case.”

Thursday June 6th

Patrik felt the sweat dripping along his spine while fumbling with the wrinkled up letter which he probably had read hundreds of times. With shaking fingers he dialled the phone number on his mobile but hesitated for quite some time before pressing the call button. The knot in his stomach grew and the anxiety spread like a prairie fire when the signals got through.

”Vingresor, Anna Fransson.”

As soon as he heard the voice he regretted it, cancelled the call and anxiously bit his lip. Was it really my daughter answering with that sweet soft voice? Damn it, what a coward you are, he was thinking and looked at his hands shaking. How the hell will I deal with this? Patrik left the questions un-answered but knew that time was short. Soon he’d be in Gothenburg again and if he wanted to see Anna in real life he just had to grab the bull by its horns while he was here. The shaking increased and suddenly he realized that he hadn’t taken his medication as he should. With a deep sigh he tried to open his briefcase but his trembling fingers made it all more difficult. He had to take the medicine before the shaking escalated. When the lock finally opened with the well-known click the tension subsided and Patrik could start breathing again. He tried to remember when he’d taken the tablets last time but couldn’t remember the exact time. How the hell could he forget this? He cursed to himself while trying to open the lid of the white container. His fingers were buzzing, they were beginning to grow numb. Fumbling he put the tablets in his mouth, swallowed them with the saliva he had been keeping the last few minutes. For a while Patrik had felt the panic taking hold of his body but now he could start relaxing a bit. He didn’t’ have any energy left to call Anna again. But tomorrow, tomorrow I’ll try again, he thought and let his head rest against the neck support. Patrik was wondering how on earth he would manage to continue keeping the sickness secret. Eleven months ago he had gone to the doctor since he had been feeling strange and shaky for quite some time. The verdict of having Parkinson’s had dropped as a bomb and until the very last he had refused to accept it. Nobody knew about it and that’s how it should remain, he had decided.

Patrik felt an emptiness even though he knew he shouldn’t. He was betraying his wife and knew that he was behaving like a real pig. He himself used to despise unfaithful bastards and suddenly, without knowing how, he himself belonged to this group. Was it to pay her back with her own medicine? Patrik admired Nikki for ending their love story. He was well aware of it not lasting in the long run. Damn it, Nikki and Linn were soul mates and this past year they had really drawn apart. And it was his fault. His thoughts drifted back to the day when Linn in shame had admitted she’d had an affair with a younger guy a few years ago. Patrik generously thought he had forgiven her because in a marriage you stuck together, in good times and in bad. They had turned themselves inside out and realized that they both loved each-other, but they needed more grown-up time together since the years of raising children had taken most of their energies. Now Patrik had yet another secret, the possible daughter. What would happen if that turned out true? While closing his eyes he felt the medicine start working and he put away all his secrets in their hidden place for the moment.

An hour later Patrik parallel parked the convertible Mercedes, top down, in the shade outside the hotel’s grand entrance and went into the lobby. The meeting with the accountant was usually held in Petros Christous’ office or at different hotels in Pafos, but this very day his accountant had another matter to tend to in Ayia Napa. They had made an appointment in the five-star hotel situated by one of Cyprus best beaches, Nissi Beach. While Patrik corrected his shirt collar he looked around in the half full foyer. Petros happily waved when he saw him. Patrik smiled and nodded and went up to the dark rattan group on the terrace under a large white umbrella.

”Long time”, Patrik said stretching out his hand.

Petros greeted him politely. His handshake was firm and the hand dry despite the oppressive heat. Patrik dried his forehead, sat down and quickly looked around. Children crying and shouts were heard from the gigantic pool and the queue was long to the ice-cream stand. On the beach people were lying under colourful umbrellas and the sea was full of people bathing.

”Great seeing you again.” Petros smiled while correcting his toupee. ”How was the flight?” he asked and motioned to the waiter.

”We had a quiet flight. Not like last time when there was thunder and turbulence half of the time.” Patrik studied Petros and notice that he looked worn out. The lines were deeper than he remembered and the hair was now all grey. He must have changed toupee or there was something else that had changed about him but Patrik couldn’t quite figure out what.

”We?” Petros asked, curious. ”So you finally managed to bring Linn? How nice for her with some sun and beach, I assume the season hasn’t started yet in Sweden. By the way, how is your pretty wife?” Patrik didn’t know if he should lie or not but chose to let Petros think that Linn was with him on the trip. He had to try and avoid any potential dinner if the topic came up. Sweating he took off the thin summer jacket, hung it on the armchair and corrected his tie before answering:

”Linn is just fine, and so are the kids even if they had to stay at home with grandma and grandpa this time.” He ordered a double espresso and a Coke while Petros was satisfied with a cup of black tea.

”How is Sophie, has she got a boyfriend yet?”

”Ah, you know how teenage girls are, they can never make up their minds. It’s not like when I was young. I met Daniela when I was 17 years old and two weeks later I had proposed. I just knew that she was the love of my life. Unfortunately I didn’t get to keep her since God had other plans but she’s always in my heart.”

Patrik could see the pain in Petros’ face even though more than a year had passed since the horrible car accident. He poured the Coke in the glass and drank it in one go. The heat was tangible and he wasn’t dressed for it. After a short exchange about their respective families and how they were doing, Petros took out different plastic files filled with notes from his dark-brown briefcase, as well as documents.

”There are a number of papers you need to sign since it’s been a while since we met. A lot happens during a year.” Petros put up a perfect pile of papers and a pen. ”The AGMs and final accounts have to be signed for each company and there are two copies each.”

Patrik signed the documents and put them back in a neat pile. They went through a few things about each company and while Petros explained about new laws which had come into force at the start of the year, Patrik’s thoughts went to Anna. He wondered what she was doing and how she looked until he was interrupted by the waiter asking if they wanted something else to drink. Patrik ordered another espresso and a Coke.

”By the way, I’d like to move one of the companies to Malta instead”, Patrik tentatively said and took a mouthful of black coffee. ”One of my business acquaintances gave me a tip when he moved his companies there. I thought of starting with the smallest, then if I’m satisfied I may transfer the remaining nine.”

”Why do you want to do that? I thought you knew your companies are locked here in Cyprus?” Petros’ eyes had gone a shade darker and he was staring straight into Patrik’s surprised face.

”The tax laws are better in Malta and what are you talking about? I’ve never heard you say that my companies are locked in Cyprus, that’s the most stupid thing I’ve ever heard.”

”If you’re using our accounting firm the companies can only be kept in Cyprus.” Petros was touching his grey moustache while continuing to study his client.

With a growing sense of concern Patrik took out his plastic files and got the folder out marked Ixus Ltd. He decisively handed over the papers. ”This company will be transferred to Malta, can you help me or not?”

”No, it can’t be done”, Petros calmly answered.

Patrik thought he hadn’t heard it right. What was wrong with the old man he wondered and emptied the bottle’s dark contents into the new glass. ”I don’t quite understand what you mean. You’ve always said you’d help me with a company in Malta, when finally I ask you it’s turned down. You’ve bloody suggested it yourself several times to benefit from the tax-effect.” Patrik started losing his patience and was raising his voice. He quickly took back the plastic folder from Petros and banged it on the glass table. ”Explain to me why?” Some stubborn drops of sweat were pouring down his cheek but Patrik didn’t notice them, he was too upset.

”The companies you have in Cyprus must stay here on the island. Everything is clearly written in the Articles of Association”, Petros confidently answered with a twisted smile.

”Damn it, the Articles of Association are in Greek and no I haven’t read them and you know that damn well. It was you who so kindly told me that I didn’t need to have them translated. I bloody trusted you…”

”I’m sorry, but I can’t help you. If I were you I’d be very careful not to try moving the companies with the help of another accountant.” Petros gave Patrik an ice-cold look, took some money from his pocket, put it on the table while getting up, and put the signed documents in his brief-case. ”Good-bye, I’ll be in touch.”

”You can’t bloody walk away without explaining it. I have to know the rules, please explain!” Patrik was shouting at the accountant but realized he was yelling at deaf ears. His hands started shaking again. Trembling he repeated the procedure with the bag, washed down another two tablets and hoped the shaking would stop soon.