Читать книгу The Sandman - Ларс Кеплер - Страница 11

Anders Rönn spends the rest of the day concentrating on familiarising himself with the new routines, with a doctor’s round up on Ward 30, individual treatment plans and discharge tests, but his mind keeps going back to the letter in his pocket and what Jurek had said.

At ten past five Anders leaves the criminal psychology ward and emerges into the cool air. Beyond the illuminated hospital precinct the winter darkness has settled.

Anders warms his hands in his jacket pockets, and hurries across the pavement towards the large car park in front of the main entrance to the hospital.

It was full of cars when he arrived, but now it’s almost empty.

He screws up his eyes and realises that there’s someone standing behind his car.

‘Hello!’ Anders calls, walking faster.

The man turns round, rubs his hand over his mouth and moves away from the car. Senior Consultant Roland Brolin.

Anders slows down as he approaches the car and pulls his key from his pocket.

‘You’re expecting an apology,’ Brolin says with a forced smile.

‘I’d prefer not to have to speak to hospital management about what happened,’ Anders says.

Brolin looks him in the eye, then holds out his left hand, palm up.

‘Give me the letter,’ he says calmly.

‘What letter?’

‘The letter Jurek wanted you to find,’ he replies. ‘A note, a sheet of newspaper, a piece of cardboard.’

‘I found the knife that was supposed to be there.’

‘That was the bait,’ Brolin says. ‘You don’t think he’d put himself through all that pain for nothing?’

Anders looks at the Senior Consultant as he wipes sweat from his upper lip with one hand.

‘What do we do if the patient wants to see a lawyer?’ he asks.

‘Nothing,’ Brolin whispers.

‘Has he ever asked you that?’

‘I don’t know, I wouldn’t have heard, I always wear earplugs.’ Brolin smiles.

‘But I don’t understand why …’

‘You need this job,’ the Senior Consultant interrupts. ‘I’ve heard that you were bottom of your class, you’re in debt, you’ve got no experience and no references.’

‘Are you finished?’

‘You should give me the letter,’ Brolin replies, clenching his jaw.

‘I didn’t find a letter.’

Brolin looks him in the eye for a moment.

‘If you ever find a letter,’ he says, ‘you’re to give it to me without reading it.’

‘I understand,’ Anders says, unlocking the car door.

It seems to Anders as if the Senior Consultant looks slightly more relaxed as he gets in the car, shuts the door and starts the engine. When Brolin taps on the window he ignores him, puts the car in gear and pulls away. In the rear-view mirror Brolin stands and watches the car without smiling.