Bartram was tapping away at the computer. It was clicking and swishing. He could see a manual hanging on the notice board and smiled. Some people never learned. Some used to come to him, because he was best. Especially this last year when there was panic as the millennium approached. All the files not properly tucked away, the back ups, security, copies everywhere out there in the electronic night.

He didn’t want to show how good he really was. That could cause problems. He would have to answer all the idiotic questions.

If only he’d been in the crime unit, or the new city squad. But he’d never been asked. Never.

Bartram was a hacker. It wasn’t difficult for anybody who knew what he was doing. He liked the word. Hacker. Hack into wherever you like, then withdraw, discreetly, with knowledge.

Morelius emerged from the toilet. Pale. Perhaps he was having stomach problems again. The kid should be doing something else. Maybe that’s what he was planning.

Bartram continued tapping away.

He changed files and then he was inside his home computer. It was still interesting suddenly to find yourself in your own computer while you were still at work, gliding around all the software.

The lists with the forty film extras flickered on his screen, borrowed from the internal network. Disappeared the moment he saw anybody in the corner of his eye. He’d take a closer look at them tonight. Detective Inspector Greger Bartram. Or Detective Chief Inspector, like Winter, who thought he was somebody. Or his registrar. Greger Bartram was a better registrar. Just wait and see.

Halders stopped at the late-night supermarket.

“This is where I had my car stolen,” he said to Djanali in the passenger seat. “I just popped in for a couple of seconds and he got my car.”

“I know, Fredrik.”

Halders got out.

“I must get some chewing tobacco. Guard the car.”

Djanali rolled down the window and breathed in the smell of exhaust fumes and dry, late winter, or early spring. The sun glinted on the Tower of Babel, which was still standing after New Year’s Eve, at the north end of Heden, like a symbol of something she didn’t understand. Were they going to use it for some other occasion? It was only a hovel on a hill, after all. There probably wasn’t enough money to pull the pile of crap down. The hangover always kicks in afterward.

She could see Halders talking to the man at the counter. Halders turned to look at her, as if to make sure that she hadn’t let anybody steal the car.

“He was telling me about the problems they’ve been having with goddamn shoplifters,” Halders said as he sat behind the wheel and pulled out into Södra Vägen. “Somebody came in this morning and stole a bag of chips.”

“Maybe they shouldn’t stock chips,” Djanali said.

“Maybe they shouldn’t stock anything at all,” Halders said. “That’s the way things are going.”

“Toward empty late-night supermarkets, you mean?”

“Yes. The big void. All those damned minimarkets and so on are signs of the times, they reflect the approaching death of society,” Halders said, turning right again at Lorensberg. “Nothing but chips and tobacco and other shit, and videos.”

“I gather you’re their best customer,” Djanali said.

“I’m a victim. Take the films. People do their best to deaden their senses in front of the VCR.” They were in the Avenue now. “Harry Martinson was right. Films are temples for those who can’t cope with life.”

“Harry Martinson?” said Djanali, sounding confused.

“Swedish author. Unknown in Ouagadougou.”

“No, I don’t remember him from school,” she said.

“‘Ello, ’ello, ‘ello! I spy a police constable,” Halders said. “In civvies, but you can tell by the way he walks.”

“It’s Morelius.”

“Do you know him?”

“Not really, but don’t you know everybody in the force?”

“I’m afraid I probably do.”

Halders pulled up at the taxi rank outside the Park Hotel, as they had business to see to there. Morelius was on his own, staring down at the ground. He was wearing earphones. Halders got out just as Morelius came level with the car.

“Do you patrol here in your free time too?” said Halders. Morelius saw him, but couldn’t hear him. He removed the earphones and they could both hear the music.

“God that’s loud. Sounds terrible, whatever it is.”

Morelius took his Walkman from his pocket and switched off.

“Hello, Halders.”

“Don’t you get enough of the Avenue when you’re on duty?”

“I’m on an errand, unfortunately.”

“Same here.”

Djanali waved from the car window.

“I’m quitting,” Morelius said out of the blue.

“Eh?”

“I’m leaving the force.”

Angela could feel the weariness now. When she described the fate of her latest patient for the cassette recorder, exhaustion hit her like a lump of stone, a large block.

I’m quitting after today, she thought. It was fun as long as it lasted. Now my head can’t keep up anymore.

She stood up, went to the sink and splashed some water on her forehead. There was a knock at the door and Hildur peeped around it. The nurse looked worried.

“Another broken bone,” she said. “It seems-”

“I’m coming,” Angela said.

The new multistory car park was not pretty, but it served its purpose. She took the elevator up to the third floor and studied her pale features in the mirror. But now it was over.

Everybody was full of understanding. I wondered how long you would last, Hildur had said. Until now, she’d replied.

Tomorrow she could attend the parent group meeting as a full-time mom. In her thoughts everything was ready, prepared.

She used the remote control to unlock the car and noticed the uniform. A police officer was walking up the exit ramp, hesitantly, perhaps slightly embarrassed. Okay, she thought. I’ll be staying at home in future, without a guard. You can take time off, Constable.

The police officer had almost reached her. She waited, with the ignition key in her hand. A car from the level above was approaching and the officer stood on the other side as it drove past and then disappeared from view down the ramp.

He came up to her, still looking embarrassed. Only doing his duty. Surely she recognized him? He was somebody Erik knew.

“Mrs. Winter?”

She nodded, as it was the easy way out. She wasn’t Mrs., not yet at least.

“I’m supposed to make sure you get home safely.”

“I’m already on my way,” she said, gesturing toward the car. “This was my last day at work. But thanks anyway.”

“Let me drive,” he said. He wasn’t looking her in the eye. Another car drove past. There was an unpleasant smell. She didn’t want to stand inhaling these poisonous fumes any longer than necessary. She had responsibilities. “Let me drive you home, Mrs. Winter,” he said again, holding out his hand for the keys. She noticed his belt, the gleam from his breast pocket, his cap. Everything was gleaming. It was somehow reassuring. His face was familiar.

“It’s really not necessary,” she said.

“I know the way,” he said. “It’s my job to help you.”

She was dog-tired. She could feel it now, even more thanks to the foul, fume-filled air. She felt a movement in her stomach. Squeeze her way in behind the wheel? Squeeze their way in? No, thank you.

“All right,” she said, handing him the keys.