Coffee and Familiar Faces.
What do you suggest?
To start an First, I'll question the Grofo and figure out what he saw. Then I'll start unraveling the thread of events.
If you've already decided what to do, then why come to me, Valdis?
Sverr sat down on a small wooden stool that looked extremely fragile, but didn't collapse- neither morally nor physically- and valiantly held his modest weight, creaking just a little. In his hand, as usual, was his trusty mug filled with cheap instant coffee, which for some reason he preferred over all other non - alcoholic drinks. He offered some to his guest, but she was far too wrapped up in recent events to notice.
And no wonder! For the first time in her entire career- an actual case!
This wasn't about breaking up drunken brawls or delivering groceries to the sick and elderly. This had the scent of a real detective story, and her nostrils flared at the faint whiff of mystery. So she spoke with great excitement, though a plan had already formed clearly in her mind. She answered like she had rehearsed it:
The thing is, I need complete There must be no panic in the settlement, and you, of all people, should understand that. You have both authority and influence here- so shut down any rumors and tell people nothing happened. If they find out a maniac is operating nearby, panic will spread, people will leave, production will halt, and we'll become just another ghost town like so many scattered around the world.
The mayor responded to her perfectly reasonable explanation with his usual blank stare and silence. This withdrawn demeanor had become his calling card lately. His former friendliness and cheer (with a decent helping of arrogance) now felt like myths from a bygone era.
Valdis didn't understand what had changed in him. Once, ignoring politeness and remembering her duty to stay alert as a professional, she'd asked directly what was going on with him. The mayor had replied:
I'm not exactly an interesting person worth focusing There are much more curious characters around here. So do me a favor and forget about me. I'd be grateful.
And so, she had let it go. After all, he was entitled to his privacy. But now, the matter concerned the safety of the entire settlement, and the sheriff took the initiative, her badge practically gleaming in her mind.
I'll take your silence as agreement. The next thing that concerns me is my own very good memory. Back when I first started working here- right after we met, actually- you said something rather vague. I didn't fully understand it at the time. Let me quote it for you:
'You're new here and not yet familiar with our ways. There's a lake near the settlement. Not this one, not Stora Le that you can admire from here, but a much more... peculiar one. Strange things happen around it. And if anything ever does, come to me. I'll help you unravel the folklore surrounding it.' -
Sverr's mug didn't so much as tremble in his hand, though Valdis had carefully led him toward that quote, expecting some kind of reaction. Everything had been delivered methodically. But the village leader chose to remain inside his shell.
What can you do? The sheriff sighed and pushed harder:
Well, something awful did happen near Övrekjäla. And now I want to know what exactly you meant back then.
Silence again. The same unreadable expression.
Look, I can dig deeper and suspect you of withholding information. But for now, I'm just asking nicely- just one thing: What exactly is so mysterious about that lake?
As she said it, Valdis mentally flinched. Something strange- and deeply disturbing- had just happened. The mayor's lips peeled away from his favorite mug and curled into a kind of mechanical smile. But his eyes remained the same: if not outright dead, then at least clinically lifeless. His mouth moved, and he said softly:
Go check it out You'll have fun, I'm sure. Uh - huh… So you're trying to get yourself on my list of suspects? Or did you just have a rough day and ended up bickering with those guys from the film crew?
No answer, unsurprisingly. Valdis gave him a short, dry nod and left, slamming the door behind her.
She'd deal with him later. Right now, the priority was interrogating Grofo and squeezing out everything he knew. And with those unhinged twins hanging around him… All she could do was hope Kristina could handle such a peculiar bunch.
There was no one left near the mayor's house anymore- those bloggers had already scurried off somewhere. Valdis walked alone, proudly carrying a terrifying piece of evidence under her arm. The only person she passed was a familiar fisherman returning from the local bar.
Otherwise, the streets were unusually empty today, which actually worked in her favor- there was no time for chit - chat, sarcasm, or catching up on the latest gossip.
A ringing buzzed in her ears, and she marveled at her own impulsiveness- she had always seen herself as calm and rational. But nope!
After she was transferred to this backwater from Malmö due to conflicts with her superiors, she felt worse than a caged bird. Ironically, it looked like freedom was everywhere here- nature, space- but for someone active like her, this slow - paced routine felt downright suffocating.
Everyone wondered why she kept Kristina on the payroll and tolerated her endless list of imaginary ailments. But therein lay the answer- Kristina was the only one who disliked the local status quo.
Everyone else had become part of the scenery and were weirdly proud of it. Ugh. Just thinking about it made her feel sick.
Meanwhile, the dark, always mystical forest loomed closer, and the ranger - like outpost that guarded its entrance came into view. Spotting the familiar structure, Valdis quickened her pace and almost missed the brightly glowing moon. Not that she fancied herself an astronomer- far from it. She was far more into earthly things, especially the more monstrous kind. But the moon's light helped keep things under control.
It also made it harder for wrongdoers to hide in the shadows. And for pleasant acquaintances, too.
And right now, she hoped the wildly waving figure near the edge of the forest was one of the latter. The person jumped excitedly, arms flailing above their head, clearly trying to get the cop's attention.
Grofo? No, too Kristina? Doesn't look like it- too hyper for our administrator. Who the hell is loitering by the forest at this hour? -