Vanished (49 page)
According to a police source: ‘The investigation is hampered by the fact that each suspect denies all charges.’
‘We are unable to press charges before we have obtained a total picture of the operations.’
Russians take over
The reduction in the crime rate that could be observed directly following the raids is no longer in effect, according to the police.
‘Our conclusion is that the void left by the Yugoslavs has been filled sooner than we expected,’ the police inform us.
‘The Russian Mafia has simply moved in and taken over.’
So all those arrests turned out to be in vain?
‘You can’t see it in those terms. Every criminal brought to justice is a victory for society.’
(Cont. p 2)
Bundsförvanten
, Issue No. 9: 21 September
The Swedish Association of Local Authorities
House Publication
Page 13
New Faces:
Thomas Samuelsson, the project manager of the recently concluded investigation regarding the quality management of welfare payments, has joined the Delegation for Negotiations.
Prior to his employment here, Thomas Samuelsson worked for the City of Vaxholm for four years, in the capacity of Chief Accountant. He lives on Kungsholmen in Stockholm along with his fiancée and their newborn son.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This is a work of fiction. All the characters originated in the mind of the author, with one exception: Maria Eriksson. Mia exists: her story is described in the nonfiction book
Gömda.
Mia has read and approved the sections inspired by her in this novel.
Apart from this, any similarities to any real individuals are sheer coincidence. The newspaper
Kvällspressen
does not exist, and neither does the Paradise Foundation. They were inspired by a number of existing organizations, but the configuration they have in this book is a product of the author’s imagination.
The description of Serbian crime syndicates, both in what was formerly the Yugoslav Republic and in Sweden, is based on conclusions made by the author, and is her creation.
The information about other criminal groups and their sphere of operations is based on previously published facts, mainly from the Swedish newspaper
Aftonbladet.
On a number of occasions I have exercised my right as an author to tailor the details of locations and floor plans of actual places and buildings, as well as routes to and from them, to suit my purposes.
I would like to thank all the people who have been kind enough to answer my occasionally odd questions. They are:
Johanne Hildebrandt, a war correspondent, a TV producer and my close friend, for her extensive and thorough expertise with regard to the war and the situation in the Balkan states.
Shquiptar Oseku, the spokesperson for the Kosovo Information Office of Scandinavia, for insights and information about the way different groups operate in the Balkans.
Peter Rönnerfalk, physician and medical adviser, for expert help in a medical capacity.
Ann-Sofie Mårtensson, the Chief of Information at the Stockholm Harbour, for information and a tour of the free port and its facilities, buildings, history, offices and procedures.
Rolf Holmgren, a Customs officer with the Coastal Defence Unit in Stockholm, for information on freight-transportation procedures, as well as for expert help and a demonstration of the ingenuity of cigarette smugglers and how they are discovered.
Hasse Ek, a bank manager, and Petra Nordin, a banker, for their time and knowledge.
Jonas Gummesson, the head of the National Affairs Department for Sweden’s Channel TV4 news team, for assistance with facts concerning Social Democratic policy.
Lotta Snickare, the Head of Development at Föreningssparbanken, for information about banking and the management procedures of the local authorities.
Thomas Snickare, project manager at Telia, for his insights into the inner workings of a social-welfare board.
Pär Westin, Regional Manager of the Cemetery Management Administration of Stockholm, and his staff, for details of funeral ceremonies and interments.
Birgitta Elvås, for her advice on matters concerning the management and administration of local authorities.
Catarina Nitz, a reporter at
Katrineholms-Kuriren
, for details about the province of Sörmland.
Linus Feldt of Bajoum Interaktiv AB, a brilliant prize-winning computer programmer, who always seems to be saving me from digital meltdowns.
Jan Guillou, an author and a journalist, who has helped me with details concerning weapons and ammunition, and their effects on the human body.
Kaj and Maria Hällstrm for more details about the province of Sörmland.
Ann-Marie Skarp, Jessica Örner and Elisabeth Bredberg, my friends and colleagues over at my Swedish publishing company, Pirat.
Karin Kihlberg, who makes everything work.
Sigge Sigfridsson, my phenomenal publisher who made it all possible.
And, last but foremost, my brilliant editor: the dramatist Tove Alsterdal.
Thank you one and all.
And, finally, any errors in this book are mine exclusively.
Table of Contents
Praise for Liza Marklund’s previous Annika Bengtzon thrillers, The Bomber and Studio 69