work was proceeding and long discussions about how the report should be done. The editor often made his own calls to individuals who had been booked for an interview, just to double-check that it was actually going to take place.
Of course, Grenfors had always had a tendency to meddle too much, but not to this extent. Johan wondered whether it had to do with the increased stress and shrinking profits at the editorial office. Cutbacks were frequent at the news divisions. Resources were constantly being reduced, while fewer and fewer people were being asked to do more stories, at the price of stressed-out colleagues and reduced quality.
That was one of the big advantages of working on Gotland—not having to take the brunt of the editor's constant anxiety. Right now Johan could at least keep it at a distance.
THURSDAY, JULY 1
Exactly as Knutas had expected, there was strong reaction to the news about the decapitated horse.
Ever since he had arrived at work at seven thirty that morning, the phone had been ringing off the hook. In the wake of the reports in the media came reactions from municipal politicians, horse lovers, animal rights activists, vegans, and the general public. Everyone wanted the police to hurry up and catch the scumbag who had committed such a crime.
As Knutas entered the room there was a rustling of morning newspapers from
everyone who had gathered for the next meeting of the investigative team.
Lars Norrby was back from his two-week vacation to the Canary Islands. He had arrived home late last night, and he was deeply engrossed in the morning paper. The police spokesman was tall and dark, and now he also had an attractive suntan. He had worked at Visby police headquarters just as long as Knutas had, and he served as the superintendent's deputy. Norrby was phlegmatic but scrupulous and reliable. He was not a man of surprises; Knutas always knew where he stood with him.
The meeting started off with a discussion of what the local media had publicized.
"I can't understand how the girls wound up on TV," said Jacobs-son. "We expressly told them not to give anyone an interview."
"That Johan Berg from Regional News is an asshole to manipulate children that way," raged Wittberg. "A damned idiot."
"We can't stop anyone, whether they're children or adults, from talking to the press if they want to," said Knutas. "At the same time, it may not be such a bad thing. The fact that the girls spoke out will hopefully lead to some sort of tip, and that's what we need. So far they've been few and far between. Even worse is the fact that everyone now knows that the horse's head is missing. That's going to stir up a lot of speculation."
Sohlman looked tired. He had probably worked late into the night.
"We've examined the tire tracks more closely and were able to distinguish sets from two different vehicles. One of them was easy to identify; it's from the farmer's car. We've compared the tread on the tires to the tracks, and they're a perfect match. As for the other set of tracks, it's more difficult. The tires have big tread and are worn almost bald. They're probably from a small truck, maybe a pickup, but they might also belong to a van."
"Any other evidence?" asked Jacobsson.
"We've picked up a lot of things: plastic bags, Popsicle sticks, cigarette butts, a few bottles. Nothing especially interesting."
"We should go visit other horse owners in the area and find out if they've seen anything fishy," she suggested. "Sometimes you have to ask people directly."
"Although I don't know how much energy we should invest in this matter," said Knutas. "It is just a horse, after all."
"What do you mean 'just'? It's a disgusting case of animal abuse," said Jacobsson indignantly. "Should we forget about the whole thing simply because no human being was harmed?"
"Anyone who could do that to an animal might definitely be a danger to people as well," added Wittberg.
"If nothing else, the TV news really managed to stir
Of course, Grenfors had always had a tendency to meddle too much, but not to this extent. Johan wondered whether it had to do with the increased stress and shrinking profits at the editorial office. Cutbacks were frequent at the news divisions. Resources were constantly being reduced, while fewer and fewer people were being asked to do more stories, at the price of stressed-out colleagues and reduced quality.
That was one of the big advantages of working on Gotland—not having to take the brunt of the editor's constant anxiety. Right now Johan could at least keep it at a distance.
THURSDAY, JULY 1
Exactly as Knutas had expected, there was strong reaction to the news about the decapitated horse.
Ever since he had arrived at work at seven thirty that morning, the phone had been ringing off the hook. In the wake of the reports in the media came reactions from municipal politicians, horse lovers, animal rights activists, vegans, and the general public. Everyone wanted the police to hurry up and catch the scumbag who had committed such a crime.
As Knutas entered the room there was a rustling of morning newspapers from
everyone who had gathered for the next meeting of the investigative team.
Lars Norrby was back from his two-week vacation to the Canary Islands. He had arrived home late last night, and he was deeply engrossed in the morning paper. The police spokesman was tall and dark, and now he also had an attractive suntan. He had worked at Visby police headquarters just as long as Knutas had, and he served as the superintendent's deputy. Norrby was phlegmatic but scrupulous and reliable. He was not a man of surprises; Knutas always knew where he stood with him.
The meeting started off with a discussion of what the local media had publicized.
"I can't understand how the girls wound up on TV," said Jacobs-son. "We expressly told them not to give anyone an interview."
"That Johan Berg from Regional News is an asshole to manipulate children that way," raged Wittberg. "A damned idiot."
"We can't stop anyone, whether they're children or adults, from talking to the press if they want to," said Knutas. "At the same time, it may not be such a bad thing. The fact that the girls spoke out will hopefully lead to some sort of tip, and that's what we need. So far they've been few and far between. Even worse is the fact that everyone now knows that the horse's head is missing. That's going to stir up a lot of speculation."
Sohlman looked tired. He had probably worked late into the night.
"We've examined the tire tracks more closely and were able to distinguish sets from two different vehicles. One of them was easy to identify; it's from the farmer's car. We've compared the tread on the tires to the tracks, and they're a perfect match. As for the other set of tracks, it's more difficult. The tires have big tread and are worn almost bald. They're probably from a small truck, maybe a pickup, but they might also belong to a van."
"Any other evidence?" asked Jacobsson.
"We've picked up a lot of things: plastic bags, Popsicle sticks, cigarette butts, a few bottles. Nothing especially interesting."
"We should go visit other horse owners in the area and find out if they've seen anything fishy," she suggested. "Sometimes you have to ask people directly."
"Although I don't know how much energy we should invest in this matter," said Knutas. "It is just a horse, after all."
"What do you mean 'just'? It's a disgusting case of animal abuse," said Jacobsson indignantly. "Should we forget about the whole thing simply because no human being was harmed?"
"Anyone who could do that to an animal might definitely be a danger to people as well," added Wittberg.
"If nothing else, the TV news really managed to stir
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