SHARDS

Chapter 1 - Mike Ståhl

The sunny summer day i oppressively hot, sticky and stuffy. The rest of Sweden has more or less had rain all summer, but the relief of rain hasn't reached the area of Roslagen, yet. It's the first week of August, still the summer holidays, so the nearest available Police patrol is sent as first response to the alarm instead of the regular emergency services from Täby. The mandatory ambulance has just announced that it is delayed by twenty minutes.

A confused teenage girl has called for help, claiming that she has been beaten up.

Local Police officer Mike Ståhl is driving at high speed with all his focus on the road ahead. Like a robot, he scans the surroundings. He loves these seconds of speed and excitement before they arrive at the specified address. Any Police officer who says otherwise is just trying to appear more mature.

Next to him is his colleague Fredrik Flink, who is monitoring the chatter on the radio linked to the communications centre.

"We did good, managing to finish our food, typical getting an alarm during lunch!"

Mike isn't listening to Fredrik, but nods automatically as he turns off the 276 on to the smaller road that leads to the village of Kvisslingby. The gps-map to the address is visible on the computer screen, but Mike already knows where they are going. After living and working in the area for years, he finds his way everywhere without it.

In one of the narrow, blind curves they suddenly meet a Post Office van, head on. It has strayed over to their side of the road. Mike beeps angrily at the driver who glares back.

"Idiot, hope the camera got that", he mutters, still retaining full control of the Police car.

"Absolutely, it's saved on the server", Fredrik answers quietly.

"Okay, we're almost there."

After passing the entrance to Hagalund Farm Road, their destination is the next entrance on the right. The gravel road leading to the property is dry and dusty.

"Is the name of the dirt road really Grandpa's Road, or is it something the residents have made up?" Fredrik asks.

"No idea, that sign has always been there."

To the right of the narrow road there is dense forest that stretches into the distance. To the left it is the exact opposite, a wide open landscape with horses grazing in the pastures.

The picturesque surroundings are perfect.

The sirens make the horses lift their heads disinterestedly, but nothing more.

The address is a large, red painted house. As they approach Mike slows down in order to observe the surroundings more closely. Fredrik suddenly grasps hold of his arm.

"I see surveillance cameras!"

"Cameras...where?"

"Two so far...strange."

Mike notices how Fredrik's demeanor shifts and becomes tense. They can see no reason why an ordinary house would have cameras posted at the property entrance, definitely not the norm. He slows down even more. The back of the house is mostly patio windows. He has just finished renovating his own house and it's always interesting to see what others have done with theirs, even though this is completely the wrong situation.

The road winds around the house and given the surveillance cameras he expects the yard to be fenced in, or at least hidden behind high shrubs, but it's fully open to the surrounding land. However, the decking nearest to the road is shielded by a thick trellis. Colourful plastic toys are scattered all over the lawn and there is a trampoline with a safety net in one corner of the garden.