CHECKING THE DENTAL RECORD

Santina leans forward.

"I'm sorry, Mayor Valir. It just seemed the best thing to do at the time. I'm sure you've heard by now of the—"

"The Payatas killings, yes. When you called again this evening, I thought I had better get some answers fast. Anton told me you were both involved in the investigation. And that you might have been following a lead when you came to ask me about the food deliveries."

Mikael nods.

"We wanted to know if there was a link between the food suppliers and the suspect the Bureau arrested."

"That Allan guy? The one they had to release anyway?"

Mayor Valir snorts.

"Did you have something to do with that arrest?"

"No."

Mayor Valir's wife, a pleasant, matronly woman in her mid- forties, comes into the living room, asks him if he wants her to prepare anything for the guests.

He asks for coffee despite the protests, and she bustles off into the kitchen.