The Dead of Summer by Mari Jungstedt Page B

out as much as possible about Peter. Could you start by telling me how you think he was doing?’
    ‘How he was doing?’ repeated Katarina Bovide tonelessly.
    ‘I mean in general terms, both in his work and in his marriage.’
    ‘Hmm, I don’t really know,’ Katarina said hesitantly. ‘I suppose he was doing fine. He and Vendela had their problems, just like everybody else, but no worse than other parents of young children. What do you think?’
    She turned to her husband. He didn’t answer, just nodded.
    ‘They had their hands full with William and Mikaela, of course, but we helped out as much as we could. Right now the children are staying with Peter’s sister in Othem. We thought it was best at the moment, since she and her family live out in the country and keep animals. And the children will be able to play with their cousins, so that will give them something else to think about. But we go out every day to help out. Until Vendela is feeling better.’
    ‘So you think Peter was happy?’
    ‘I don’t know if “happy” is the right word,’ said Stig Bovide. ‘He had his epilepsy to contend with, and that could be very difficult.’
    Knutas frowned. ‘You mean he suffered from epileptic fits?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘How often?’
    ‘Not very often, maybe a few times a year. It was worse if he was under stress or feeling depressed.’
    ‘Depressed? Was that common for him?’
    Both parents fidgeted uneasily.
    ‘Occasionally he felt a bit down,’ said Katarina reluctantly. ‘Whenever that happened, it was hard to talk to him. He would withdraw into himself.’
    ‘He felt a great need to have time alone,’ her husband added. ‘I think that’s why he loved running so much. He could be gone for hours. I know Vendela wasn’t always very happy about that.’
    ‘She thought he spent too much time away from her and the children,’ explained Katarina. ‘And that’s not so strange, since he worked so much,’ she said with a sigh.
    ‘How often did he get depressed?’
    ‘Maybe a couple of times a year.’
    ‘Was he seeing a psychologist? Or was he on any kind of medication?’
    ‘Yes, he took anti-depressants,’ said Katarina.
    Her husband looked at her in surprise.
    ‘He did?’
    ‘Yes, dear.’ She put her hand on his arm. ‘I didn’t want to worry you. I’m sorry.’
    Stig Bovide kept his eyes fixed on his wife. He pressed his lips together but didn’t say a word. Knutas changed the subject.
    ‘We know that recently Peter felt as if he was being watched. Do you know anything about that?’
    ‘No, we’ve really never heard anything about that.’ Stig Bovide’s voice had taken on a belligerent tone. ‘Why did he think he was being watched? And who actually told you that?’
    ‘I’m afraid I can’t discuss that at the moment. Are you sure that Peter never mentioned anything about this?’
    Stig Bovide leaped from his chair. ‘Can’t discuss it?’ he shouted. ‘What on earth do you mean by that? This is our son we’re talking about. Our son who was murdered! We’re his parents. Don’t you understand that?’ He pointed first at himself and then at his wife. ‘We demand that you tell us everything about the investigation. And I mean everything!’
    This sudden outburst caught Knutas off guard. Stig Bovide was now leaning over him, his face contorted with anger.
    ‘You come barging into our home two days after our son was found murdered, asking a lot of questions that you demand we answer. And then you refuse to tell us what our boy was mixed up in. Are you out of your mind? Get out of here! Get out!’
    He grabbed hold of Knutas’s shirt collar.
    ‘Calm down!’ cried Katarina. ‘What do you think you’re doing?’
    She managed to pull her husband away from Knutas, who quickly got to his feet.
    ‘I think we should continue this interview at some other time,’ muttered Knutas. ‘I’m sorry if I’ve upset you, but we’re not at liberty to discuss the investigation. Not even