paused, but before she could work out if she was expected to say something he went on:
‘One of the evening papers seems to have pictures already, which would explain why the third man wasn’t involved in the actual attack. Presumably he was busy taking pictures. The free market and the free press in beautiful harmony. The Minister sends her thanks and best wishes, by the way. I doubt the same could be said of the perpetrators,’ Runeberg said.
Rebecca gave a short nod in response.
‘According to eye-witnesses, the men escaped on foot, running across Gustav Adolfs torg and in through the back entrance to the Gallery shopping mall. Our uniformed colleagues in the regular force stopped the underground, but before they managed to get hold of someone in charge and the order was actually given, at least four different underground trains left Stockholm Central, and one from Kungsträdgården nearby, so if they were stupid enough not to just melt into the crowds around Sergels torg there were plenty of opportunities for them to get away on the tube.’
Runeberg shrugged in resignation.
‘One advantage of doing this sort of thing in broad daylight in the middle of the city is that it’s a lot easier than most people think to get away,’ he concluded.
‘While you were cleaning yourself up I had a quick chat with your driver, Mr Göransson. He claims that you told him to go ahead of you to the Foreign Ministry and wait there, which was why you had no escape route,’ Runeberg went on in a businesslike voice. Rebecca jerked in her chair.
Not only had Bengt disobeyed her orders and put her and her charge in danger, now the fat little bastard was lying to save his own skin. Trying to blame her for everything, what a fucking nerve! If he’d done his job and the car had been where it should have been, she would have been fine, she could have managed perfectly well without backup.
She opened her mouth to protest but her boss raised a hand to stop her.
‘Take it easy, Normén. You don’t have to say anything, I know the bastard’s lying. In the ten months that you’ve been with us, no-one’s been more by-the-book than you. You don’t do anything without considering it from every angle, and your colleagues have nothing but praise for your efforts. The other day one of them said you were one hundred and ten per cent professional, and I wouldn’t disagree with that assessment. You’re a pretty good bodyguard, Normén. For a rookie, anyway …’ he grinned. ‘Besides, Göransson is a hopeless liar. He was sweating like a pig and was almost in tears at the end of our little talk. So, since approximately an hour ago, his services have been at the disposal of the job market. I don’t give a shit what the union says. I threw him out of the back door myself,’ Runeberg concluded with a smile, nodding happily at Rebecca to confirm that he had done precisely what he said.
‘Little boys,’ she sighed inwardly before realizing that he had actually praised her work, so she opted to lower her eyes respectfully to underline her status as grateful subordinate. As usual in this sort of system, you had to make the best of things and not make a fuss.
The fact that the guard on the door had had to help still annoyed her, but Runeberg had just called her a good bodyguard, which wasn’t bad for a rookie with less than a year’s experience.
Not bad at all!
HP counted to ten in his head and glanced at the platform one last time before stepping up to the man in the coat. The man looked up at him in surprise from the newspaper he had just pulled out of his pocket.
‘Tell Manga he’s still a carpet-licking bastard!’ HP shouted into the man’s ear, as he snatched the umbrella from the paper bag and, just as the doors were beginning to close, he leapt out onto the platform. He landed so hard that he almost lost his balance and had to take a couple of lurching steps to stop himself falling flat on his face.
Fuck me! he thought as he sprinted towards the steps at the far end of the platform. It wasn’t quite the stylish exit he had planned, but what the hell. He had the umbrella, the task was accomplished and none of the nightmare scenarios he’d been imagining had come true. The umbrella had been no problem, no explosions, no cascade of water, and no grinning TV presenters telling him he’d just been caught on You’ve Been Framed, Candid Camera or some similarly classy programme.
Apart from the stumble as he left the train, everything had gone according to plan and he could relax and enjoy the adrenalin coursing through his body and driving out the last remnants of his hangover.
Not bad at all! And the bloke didn’t half look surprised when he’d told him to say hello to Manga.
Panting hard, he took the flight of steps in five long strides, and his momentum carried him through the station and out onto Rörstrandsgatan, and by the time he had jogged to St Eriksplan he was soaked in sweat, even if he wasn’t particularly out of breath.
He’d always been good at running, ever since school. He wasn’t much good at most other things, but he had a decent turn of speed.
The barriers at the underground station were unmanned, so he hopped over the turnstile to get in. He didn’t give it a second thought. He’d never paid for commuter trains or the underground, not even when he could afford to. It was a matter of principle. Power to the people!
It wasn’t until he was sitting down in the carriage that he realized he still had the phone attached to his belt. He pulled it off and looked at the screen.
Congratulations, HP!
You have successfully completed your trial task and your game account has been credited with 100 points.
The telephone is now unlocked and under the Game icon you will find more information about how to continue playing.
We recommend that you read the section
concerning the Rules of the Game, and think carefully about whether you want to continue playing.
If you would prefer not to, our paths will go separate ways and we ask you to leave the phone in the letterbox at Bellmansgatan 7.
Best wishes,
The Game Master
‘I was thinking about moving you up,’ Runeberg said.
‘Alpha needs new recruits before Sweden takes over the EU Presidency. You haven’t really been in the job long enough, but after today’s events Vahtola and I agree that you’re ready. You start on Monday, assuming that Dr Anderberg has no objections on mental health grounds. Any questions?’
She simply shook her head.
‘Well done, Normén, if you carry on like this you’ll do well here,’ he concluded, pushing his chair back from the desk.
‘Your debriefing with Anderberg is in ten minutes. Once that’s out of the way you can finish for the week. That’s all. Right, I’m off to the gym.’
He stood up to indicate that the conversation was over, and Rebecca followed suit. Her head was spinning and she couldn’t help letting slip an unprofessional smile.
The Alpha group, the reinforcement team, the elite of the personal protection squad. From Monday she would be one of them. No more beginners’ jobs, just serious, qualified bodyguards’ work.
Well done, Normén
