The Scent of Almonds: A Novella Page 11

  ‘Suicide?’ said Gustav. He didn’t understand. So Martin explained.

  ‘I suddenly remembered seeing this done in a Sherlock Holmes film. Matte fastened the gun to one end of an elastic band. The other end he attached to the inside of the chimney. Then he shot himself in the heart. As soon as he let go of the gun, the elastic band yanked it up inside the fireplace and out of sight. Abracadabra – the pistol was gone! And our first assumption was that he’d been murdered. It was the gun that made that mark on the mantelpiece,’ said Martin, pointing at the gash. ‘It rammed into it before it disappeared up inside.’

  ‘I had no idea he was so clever,’ said Bernard. He’d stopped laughing, but he still looked amused. ‘Well, now that you’ve worked this whole thing out, I suggest we make our way back to the mainland. The boat is waiting.’

  Even though Martin disliked his carefree tone, he knew that Bernard was right. There was nothing more to do here.

  Half an hour later the boat pulled away from the dock. Darkness had fallen, but the stars were out, and the boat lights illuminated the snow that was piled high on the ice on either side of the path that the icebreaker had cleared. Everyone now knew what had happened during that weekend on Valö. There was nothing more to say. Everyone sat in silence. Martin turned around so he was sitting with his back to the island that was slowly receding. Up ahead lay Fjällbacka, glittering in the darkness.

  On the deck of the boat lay the two dead men, covered with a tarp. It was five days until Christmas Eve.

  Try the latest spine-tingling thriller in Camilla Lackberg’s Fjallbacka series …

  TRAGEDY RUNS IN THE FAMILY

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  About the Author

  Camilla Lackberg is a worldwide bestseller renowned for her brilliant contemporary psychological thrillers. Her novels have sold over 12 million copies in 55 countries with translations into 37 languages.

  www.CamillaLackberg.com

  Also by Camilla Lackberg

  The Ice Princess

  The Preacher

  The Stonecutter

  The Stranger (previously titled The Gallows Bird)

  The Hidden Child

  The Drowning

  The Lost Boy

  Buried Angels

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