Wallander thought for a moment.

“In other words, at the moment Louise is the only one who knows where the house is,” he said.

Robert Akerblom nodded.

“When would the lady who called get in touch again?” Wallander went on.

“Some time today,” said Robert Akerblom. “That’s why Louise wanted to try and see the house on Friday.”

“It’s important that you’re here when she calls,” said Wallander. “Say that your wife has taken a look at the house, but unfortunately she’s sick today. Ask for a description of how to get there again, and take her telephone number. As soon as she’s been in touch, give me a call.”

Robert Akerblom nodded to show he’d understood. Then he sat down to write out the details Wallander wanted.

Wallander opened the desk drawers one at a time. He found nothing that seemed significant. None of the drawers appeared to be recently emptied. He lifted the green blotting pad, and found a recipe for hamburgers, torn from a magazine. Then he contemplated the photo of the two daughters.

He got up and went out into the kitchen. Hanging on one of the walls was a calendar and a sampler with a quotation from the Bible. A small jar of coffee was on one of the shelves, unopened. On another were several kinds of tea. He opened the refrigerator. A liter of milk and some margarine.

He thought about her voice, and what she’d said on the telephone. He was sure the car had been stationary when she made the call. Her voice was steady. It would not have been if she had been concentrating on driving at the same time. Later, when they amplified the sound at the station, he was proven right. Besides, Louise Akerblom was sure to be a careful, law-abiding citizen who would not risk her life nor anybody else’s by using the car phone while driving.