This just was not to be borne. He paced his office thoroughly disgusted, angry and filled with adrenaline. He knew logically that she was safe now and she had never really been at any risk because of the measures that had been taken but that actually didn't help how he felt about it all. The absolute helplessness that he had felt for that 20 minutes had been crippling and he wished never to feel that way again. He vowed that he would not be helpless next time. He would be ready. He looked at his watch 0600. No point in going to bed then. His face became even grimmer as Benny's words echoed round his head again and again "she's been yours for 50 years" He rubbed his face in frustration as he finally admitted that in his heart it was true, she had always been there. Even when she wouldn't talk to him or see him, he had known she was there at Ekero with Linda, safe behind her walls. She was there in everything he had written, everything he had done and everything he had sacrificed. He knew that no one would see it like that, he knew he had been selfish over the years and perhaps taken the easier way out. His pride and arrogance had cost them both dear. He tutted impatiently. He couldn't think about it anymore at the moment, he needed to DO something.
The house was deathly quiet so he came out of his office, made some coffee and left it to perk while he took all the stuff that he had sorted out to the car. He didn't want questions. He removed any paperwork that he did not want Lena to see, he had suspicions that for many months at least Lena had been getting into his office and snooping. He was not as stupid as she called him and had got rid of or moved some stuff but today he would finish the job and take it either to Mono or Vallentuna. He went upstairs to take a shower and change his clothes.
He went to go to the bedroom without thinking and was stopped in his tracks by the sound of Lena snoring heavily, he rolled his eyes. The last thing he wanted to do was wake her up. He used the shower in the main bathroom. He did not linger for long. He had plans today. By the time he was done showering and had picked clothes out in the dressing room the coffee was done.
He went back downstairs and took a cup of coffee into the garden. He looked around as he sipped and of all the stupid thoughts to come into his mind, he suddenly realised how much he disliked this garden. It was too 'designed' too 'stark' he grimaced as he finished his first coffee. Going back in for another one he made himself some breakfast. He didn't feel hungry but he knew he had a long day planned and had no idea when he would be able to eat. It was a simple breakfast of bread and meat.
Finishing it and despite everything that was going on in his mind he washed up and put everything away still his particular, neat self. A thought crossed his mind and he went back to his office frowning. He had nearly forgotten. He unlocked the top drawer of his desk and collected the spare key fob and keys for Vallentuna for Benny . He locked the drawer back up and as he was leaving spied his guitar. He picked that up too, no point at all in it staying here.
He heard movement upstairs so quickened his step to get his guitar out of the house and he succeeded, managing to get it into the car and himself back to the house before Lena got down the stairs. He was sat at the breakfast bar with a glass of apple juice when she came into the kitchen.
He sighed inwardly as he could see by her face she was spoiling for a fight. "Morning Lena" he said. She glared at him "You've had coffee" she accused. "I have" agreed Bjorn placidly. "Now I'm having an apple juice, then I'm going to work" "I've told you not to have coffee" she scowled. "I know but I like coffee, therefore I will have it" Lena slammed around the kitchen "What are you doing today?" she asked "I have a meeting at Mono with Benny about the Abbatars and then a meeting at Slottsholmen. All of this statement was true. "I don't want you to do the Abbatars!" Lena said tightly. "You don't need it, we have enough money" Bjorn sat back on his stool and folded his arms interested to see where Lena was going with this. "It isn't about the money Lena, it's a new challenge, a final farewell for ABBA" he told her."Benny and I always agreed that we would only do something with ABBA if something came up that was special. This is." Lena rolled her eyes. "Abba is dead, I don't want you doing it Bjorn. You're my husband. I don't want you seeing her and letting her children drag you back into their lives" Bjorn narrowed his eyes. "Lena, why must we always argue about my children? We've been arguing about them since we married. Linda and Christian are as much my children and are as loved by me as Emma and Anna are, I love them all equally" "They are her children, they are as crazy as she is! You have moved on" Lena snapped. Bjorn got off the stool and rinsed his glass under the tap. He turned around and leaned on the sink unit and faced her. " My children are NOT crazy. Neither is their mother, is that what you tell Emma and Anna hmm? Have I been so blind all of these years?" Bjorn shook his head in disbelief. Lena said haughtily "you are my husband and I have the right to say what I like and to whom I like." "You're right on all counts Lena and I've been your husband for 36 years, you also have to accept the consequences of the things you say. "Let's start at the beginning Lena. Let's start with why when I first met you you loved Linda and Christian and as soon as I put that ring on your finger you never wanted them anywhere near us. Shall we start with that?" Lena began to look uncomfortable, she said "that's not true" "yes, yes it is. You made my children unwelcome in our home" "This is Linda twisting your mind, I told you not to see her" she spat "she's as crazy as her mother" Bjorn burned underneath his implacable facade but was determined to remain nice and calm just to see how far Lena would go. "I had plans for my own children, Agnetha wanted hers. I needed my own and I had them, there was no room for her children taking your attention. You didn't need them. You belong to me and my children should be your only concern" she said in a nasty tone. "Emma and Anna are our children Lena, not just yours" Bjorn pointed out quietly. Lena did not respond to that, what she said was "I don't want you seeing Linda again on your own, she fills your head with too many ideas" Bjorn did not answer that, he would digest what he had heard and then chip away at Lena slowly. He would get to the truth. "You have plans for the day?" he asked politely. "I'm having a spa day today. I need to relax, I'm very stressed" she named the most expensive hotel in Stockholm" Bjorn fought hard not to roll his eyes and said "have a good day then, I don't know when I'll be home, Benny and I have some stuff to sort regarding the restaurants" "You and Benny don't need to spend all this time together Bjorn, you've just had three days with him!" "Lena, he is my best friend and has been for 50 years. Don't mess with that on top of everything else you've done" with that Bjorn left for the day and it was still only 0745.
He drove straight to Vallentuna, he felt the need to relax. He stopped at a small shop to buy the paper and some fresh milk. He text Benny while he was sat in the car and asked him if he had time to come to Vallentuna. He continued the drive and when he arrived he let himself in with a huge sense of relief.
He made another pot of coffee and opened the veranda doors, his phone beeped at him and he smiled to read that Benny was on his way right now. He spent that time unloading his car and trekking backwards and forwards and piling it all in the living room for sorting later. He was just locking his car when he heard a car pull up outside the gates. At that moment a text came through, Benny was here. Bjorn opened the gates and Benny pulled in. Bjorn waited by the house to see if he needed any help with his things.
Benny got out and Bjorn thought that he looked dreadful. "You look as bad as I feel what's up?" "Bad morning with Mona" he replied tiredly. Bjorn tutted sympathetically and patted him on the shoulder." If it makes you feel any better my morning was terrible with Lena too. She said some awful things" he confided. "Sorry to say it does make me feel better. Thanks" "Need some help?" asked Bjorn "I don't have much but yeah please" Benny was exhausted.
They got all of Benny's stuff in and they sat and had a coffee before they started sorting everything out. "Bjorn, I'm in trouble" said Benny quietly " Bjorn sighed with sympathy. "I think we both are mate" Benny half smiled but said "Bjorn, I'm serious it's 0830 in the morning and I'm sweating for a drink. I need it and I shouldn't need it. You're right. We do have another battle on our hands"
Bjorn, all credit to him did not bat an eyelid. " Ok, it's ok Benny. It's totally understandable. It's not surprising after what you've been through this last few years, something had to give. What do you want to do about it?" Benny could have sat and cried there and then in gratitude for his friend who did not judge him for his weakness. "I want to stop. I need to stop. But I don't want to go away." he said panicking. "No one is going to send you away. I won't let them, we've done this before" Bjorn reassured him. " We will help you, you need to work, you need something else to focus on, to make you feel your life is worthwhile. You need Frida, you need ABBA, you need us" Bjorn opined. "Remember what you were like that day with Frida and the day after, you did not need it? You didn't want it? We need to keep that momentum going which means you and I need to work and we need those girls on board pronto" Benny hadn't thought of that but he realised that Bjorn was absolutely right. "Every time Mona gets in your head mate, it drives you to drink." Bjorn told him carefully. "We all have our issues Benny, why do you think I work every hour god sends? You and I both know I don't need the money. I do it because it stops me thinking about what I've done to my life. I don't want to go home. I don't want to have to deal with Lena. The girls are gone so I work" Bjorn said sadly.
" I feel like I haven't had a home for decades, here is the closest I get" They sat in a companionable silence for a while just watching the garden and thinking their own thoughts. "Let's sort our stuff out" Bjorn said after a while. I'm sure that we will both feel better once everything is in its place and we look settled. Besides it needs to be shipshape for next week does it not?" Bjorn laughed outright at Benny's blush. "I'm pleased for you Benny. Enjoy every moment, you deserve it, Frida wants you as much as you want her." "Not possible" said Benny "but I'll settle if she wants me even a little bit"
On that note they went indoors and started putting things in their rightful places and for both of them, as the house started coming together a sense of peace descended.
Benny came out of his room pleased and his desperation for alcohol had receded a bit. He went to find Bjorn and eventually found him in the little study setting up his laptop.
"Bjorn? What will you do about Anna?" he asked gently. Bjorn looked up and sighed " I'm starting on that project today, I know she won't want anything to do with me really and it's no less than I deserve but I can't face another morning like this morning when I'm absolutely powerless to do anything for her. I need to protect her" "What's your plan?" asked Benny. "I'm going to try and meet with Christian today and I want to see all the threats and demands whatever they may be" he shot a look at Benny remembering their earlier conversation. "After this morning, I can handle them whatever they are. Do you know that dirty bastard was masturbating on her back porch. Christian says it happens every time and she even KNOWS that's what happens" he sounded anguished. He told me earlier he doesn't shield her from any of the threats. She insists on reading them all. He says she copes admirably so if she can then I bloody will. She's hinted that there are potential issues for Emma and Anna and I need to know what they consist of." He admitted grudgingly to Benny " She says that the ways she deals with the threats, all of them has kept us all safe, she said nothing has happened in all the time she's been doing it. I can't deny that it's clearly the case but I need to know what she's up against. What do I owe her? My life? All of my children's lives? Lena's? Wouldn't that be bloody ironic if she's kept Lena safe when she should hate the woman. I'm haunted that she may well have given up her life for us" Benny did know one thing for sure and he shared it "Bjorn, if she has given up her life as you call it, she's done it gladly and with love. She's doing the only thing she's ever known how to do and that's to love and protect her family and you. She did it before ABBA, during ABBA and she's carried on. The minute she married you her path was set. Has it ever occured to you that she protects the rest of us? Frida? Me? The attention is all on her "The Crazy Garbo" "I WISH you wouldn't use that term" Bjorn snapped irritably. "She isn't crazy!!! I don't know why everyone keeps saying that!"
"I KNOW that. I'm saying she deflects the heat away from ABBA as well" That thought had not occured to Bjorn but he could see that it was true. What a bloody mess, he reflected bitterly.
Benny and Bjorn discussed the plans for the rest of the day and decided to leave one car at Vallentuna, it seemed pointless to take both if they were spending the day together. They took Benny's car as it was the last one on the drive and they made their way to Polar. From the car Bjorn rang Christian and asked if he was free for a few hours and explained what he wanted. Christian had protested but Bjorn stood firm and eventually Christian acquiesced when Bjorn went into detail of why he needed to do this. Christian began to think that Linda may have been right and while he wouldn't meddle, he would stand back and not throw any more objections into the ring. What will be will be he thought.
"Papa, you'll have to come to Ekero, I can't possibly transport it all. Mama keeps it all in the cellar." he said. "You better ask Mama if we can come then" said Bjorn."she must be tired" "she isn't here Papa, I dropped her and Frida off at their spa day at 0830. She didn't go to bed" Christian frowned at the lies he was forced to tell. "Good God" said Bjorn alarmed. "What?" asked Christian "Lena is at a spa day as well, I hope not the same one!!" he named the hotel and Christian hastened to reassure him that they were nowhere close.
"Where are you now? asked Christian "Just pulled into Mono, we have stuff to drop off then we will be free" "Have you still got studio cars?"queried Christian. "Yes, several" answered Bjorn confused. "I suggest you leave Benny's car there and bring a pool car then, Mama will hit the roof of she thinks I've exposed either of you to unnecessary risk. This way no one will have your numberplate of your own car. Each time you come you can swap out pool cars and then no one will get a handle on you." "When did you get so smart?" teased Bjorn."That's a sound idea, I'll fill Benny in, we'll drop the stuff off quickly and we'll be on our way. See you in a bit son" He turned his phone off and got out of the car. As they were unloading the car Bjorn filled him in on the plan. Benny saw the sense in it and while Bjorn was making his paperwork and office secure he went off to sign out a suitable car. When he was done Bjorn clattered down the stairs and out into the car park to see that Benny had picked out a 4x4 with tinted windows. He was just putting a couple of water bottles in when Bjorn jogged up to him. "Nice choice" he complemented. "You want to drive?" "No, I don't" said Benny, that's why I picked this one if we have to boot that guy out of the way it's big enough" he scowled."You'll be the only one brave enough to get him out of the way, I'd probably chicken out" Bjorn's eyes narrowed as he digested Benny's words. He was right. Bjorn wouldn't hesitate. Nothing would stop him getting to Anna.
Even though he knew Anna wouldn't be there he enjoyed the drive to Ekero, he was looking forward to seeing Christian and looking over the security arrangements and he just knew he would be peaceful surrounded by her things. When they got within sight of her estate both he and Benny tensed. Bjorn called Christian to say they were nearly there and gave the registration number. "Watching for you Papa. Don't forget to block the gate until it closes. " I won't" agreed Bjorn. There are 6 outside the gates at the moment. Watch for the bigger one in the army cap. He's the one who challenges the cars and he's quick. Don't lose your nerve" "I'm insulted Christian" Bjorn said. "I've had you as a son for your whole life, I've developed nerves of steel!!" There was a shocked silence and then they both burst into laughter. "That's true Papa! I'll leave you to your own devices then, see you in a bit"
They pulled in front of the gates and they did indeed count six, Bjorn saw the one in the army cap making his way over rapidly and with menace he thought. The gates were opening rapidly and Bjorn went to move forward but the guy got in front of the truck. Bjorn rolled his eyes and just kept moving. "See, I couldn't do this" said Benny, "this is horrendous". Bjorn got impatient and revved the truck and went at him faster. Bjorn's nerves did not even flinch and he would not have hesitated to take him out. Perhaps that man saw in Bjorn's face that he was different and he was not going to back down, he fairly jumped out of the way. Bjorn did as he remembered Christian doing and inched the truck forward as the gates closed so there was no chance of anyone getting in. Both he and Benny breathed a sigh of relief when the gates had closed. They continued the drive down to the house and swung behind the house as they had before. They hopped out of the truck and were surprised to see building work going on at Linda's. Christian came jogging across the yard. "Christ he looks like you did at that age" commented Benny. "I was watching you Papa. You have more balls than me. Nice work" He wrapped his father up in a bear hug and lifted him clear off his feet. "Christian!! Put me down for christ's sake" yelled Bjorn "you're going to break my bloody ribs" "Poor old Papa, nerves of steel but can't take the pace anymore" teased Christian delighted beyond words to see his father. Bjorn's eyes narrowed at the challenge and Benny rolled his and leaned back on the truck. He knew exactly what was going to happen now. He grinned in anticipation. Christian would never learn. He watched Bjorn bring his arms up under Christian's and because of the awkward hold was able to use the space to break Christian's grip. Christian had no choice but to let go and as Bjorn's boots hit the floor he got his balance and pushed at Christian, grabbing an arm and twisting it behind his back but not enough to hurt. He used his body weight to take Christian down. He got on top of Christian and Christian held up his hands in surrender" I submit Papa" he was laughing. Bjorn got off him and flopped on the dirt fighting to get his breath back. Christian hadn't given him an easy run at all. Bjorn started laughing. "It won't be long son, it won't be long before you take me" he sat up and looked at himself, covered in dust and dirt, he looked at Christian equally filthy and with twigs in his hair and was so happy in that moment. The laughter just bubbled out of him. He got to his feet and held out a hand to his son and he pulled him up, they hugged. "Love you Papa" Christian whispered in his ear. Bjorn's eyes stung. "Love you too son" Bjorn hugged him properly.
"Right, if you two are quite finished horsing around and messing about do you think we could get on?" came the amused voice of Benny."look at the state of you two, both old enough to know better" Benny roared with laughter at their guilty faces, "so alike."
"What's going on at Linda's?"asked Bjorn as he attempted rather unsuccessfully to make himself a bit more presentable. "Identical shutters on her house as Mama's are going in. She doesn't want a panic room but has agreed to me putting shutters up" answered Christian. "Why now? Why not do it the same time as Mama's?" "You want the honest answer to that Papa?" Bjorn looked his son in the eye. "Yes!!" "If you let on to Mama I told you I really will take you down Papa." "I won't, I promise" Bjorn said truthfully. "All of this has taken millions, to build, to maintain, to upgrade. We grade things in importance. Benny sighed as he understood what Christian was trying to say. Bjorn did not and Christian was finding it difficult to say the words. Bjorn was getting impatient. Benny interjected "What he's trying to say mate, while keeping his mother's dignity is she doesn't earn as much as we do. This set up is expensive and she has to save. She doesn't have the money to do everything right away." Christian shot a grateful look at Benny. "That's it exactly Uncle Benny thank you" Bjorn was horrified. "She should have plenty of money. I would never have allowed her to not have enough. She's worked damn hard for her money!" He paused, trying to remember. When we divorced I gave her everything I could but she stopped it when I went to England. "She didn't stop it Papa. Lena did. You'll have to ask her how it happened we were too young to know." Bjorn was spinning. What the HELL was going on?? He'd tried to talk to her about taking the money several times since but she had refused to discuss it and in the end she wouldn't talk at all. He had kept paying it into a separate account though and he had given it directly to Christian and Linda when they had started out in life 20 odd years ago. He wasn't sure if they had ever told Anna that he'd given them money. "For christ's sake!!" he exploded. "How much more don't I know?? Why was it necessary to keep all of this from me?? This is absolutely INSANE" He was seething and Benny felt for him, he remembered Bjorn's total despair when Anna refused his support and then refused to talk to him.
"We didn't tell you because we were too young to understand Papa and by the time you came back it was water under the bridge. Mama was ok, she had gone back to work a few times 85 and 87. That gave us plenty of money" "She shouldn't of HAD to work, she was a millionaire. "I don't know what to tell you Papa, I was so young. You'll have to ask Linda when she gets home" Seizing on the change of subject gratefully because he was concerned for Bjorn's state of mind Benny said "Is she having a good holiday? " Christian was relieved also and was enthusiastic with his answer "she's loving it, they are all loving it, she asked me if Mama was doing good and I said yes, she's going to talk with Mama tonight and see if she can stay touring for the extra week that the kids are off. Mama will be fine with it, she's been pushing Linda for 18 months or more to have a break but Linda wouldn't leave her. Aunty Frida coming was a godsend" Bjorn opened his mouth to say something else. "Bjorn give the boy a break, he doesn't know!! We've got a lot to do here. Your answers will only come from either Lena or Anna when you've regained her trust. Bjorn subsided recognising that Benny was right. "Give us the tour then Christian come on" Bjorn flung an arm around his shoulders and they headed into Anna's house. Christian showed them the control panels for the whole system and Bjorn grasped how to use it pretty quickly. Without being rude, he was really proud of Anna for learning how to use this because he knew that she hated technology. He said this to Christian and he agreed but said that Anna had done so well that she could work it alone and better than Linda.
They went downstairs into the cellar because Christian knew that Bjorn needed to see it, he needed to know how good the panic room really was. He keyed in the code and explained the engineering of it to Bjorn and Benny, although it did rather go over Benny's head. He zoned out while they talked about air supplies, water supplies and how much time she could stay in there. Bjorn was impressed and felt more relaxed about her safety but also felt appalled that this level was required. This was stuff you only saw in the movies! He shook his head in disbelief but said to Christian" I feel better now" he saw the screens that she had been sat at the last time he talked to her and marvelled again that she could work it all.
They left the panic room and secured it then Christian took them through another door. He said "Welcome to the archive, you might need a drink"
Bjorn and Benny walked into the room, not at all expecting what they would find. Bjorn had thought perhaps a filing cabinet, maybe two but as he slowly turned in a circle he counted no less than 27 filing cabinets, there were several boxes labelled CCTV and dated.
"Surely Mama keeps her normal paperwork here too?" he enquired sharply. Christian was gentle. "Papa, I know this is a shock but I'm afraid she doesn't. All of her other paperwork is upstairs in her study. I'm sorry" Christian and Benny genuinely felt bad for Bjorn as they watched him struggle to come to terms with the enormity of what was facing him and what it all meant. Bjorn had to lean against the wall, he felt like the bottom had just fallen out of his world.
"Papa? Are you ok?" Christian was genuinely concerned. "I have no idea" Bjorn answered faintly "I never expected anything like this! Never!" He slid down the wall until he was sat on the floor. "I knew she had issues but may god forgive me I thought she must be exaggerating a bit. I thought she was tired of the world and wanted to get off for a while. I'm not saying I didn't believe her. I did, I just...." he didn't even know how to finish. "Papa, it's ok please, please don't beat yourself up. She deliberately let you think that. Surely you must realise that by now?" "But I've wronged her" he was beside himself and Christian didn't know how to comfort him. "I know her, I should have known. She can't lie to me. She never could. Of course it's why she wouldn't see me or talk to me. How could I NOT have realised? She could never have looked me in the eye and lied, she bloody KNEW I would see straight through her!" Christian looked at Benny helplessly silently begging for help. Benny sat down on the floor next to Bjorn and said "Bjorn, you have to stop. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and it's easy to put the dots together now. It all makes sense, but when you're living it, it's hard to separate what is a lie and what is reality. It was easier to believe the press, you said so yourself. You weren't even here for some of it. You had Lena on your back 24/7. That counts for something Bjorn. You had two young children that you were utterly desperate not to make the same mistakes with." "I have FOUR children!" Bjorn said acidly. "I seemed to forget that back then. She needed me and I let her down" "Papa? Mama never, ever let us think bad things of you. Never. We did give her a terrible time but not because of you. She always said going to England was something you needed to do and that you loved us and would come back one day. She told us that until then we were the luckiest children in the world to get to go to London 6 times a year. Papa, you didn't let Linda and I down ever. We loved you then and we love you now and we totally understand as adults why you did what you did even if we didn't then" Christian was trying desperately to comfort his Papa. Benny said "if this is the case Bjorn I'm at more fault than you. I was here for all that time, I know her nearly as well as you. I've even done a few events with her. I've spoken to her on the phone. She spoke to me when she wouldn't speak to you. I even visited her before Mamma Mia here" he sighed. "I knew about Gert, I knew she had the odd crazy but she never let on at any point that it was this bad. She never even hinted. Should I have known? Yes! I feel awful too but she did the greatest job at hiding it. I'm pretty sure Frida doesn't know the full extent either" he added "because she's been in Switzerland for so long"
"Uncle Benny's right Papa please. You know what Mama is like when she sets her mind!!"Christian pleaded.
Bjorn took a deep breath and lifted himself to his feet "Ok, for now I'll leave it alone. I can't process it all to be fair. It's hard to admit that the last 35 years of your life seems to have been based on lies and half truths" he held up a hand to stop Christian's protest. "I accept that Mama has done everything out of love for all of us and I accept that she is stubborn. Hell I know that better than all of you. I can even accept that you and Linda protect her, what I can't accept yet is how deep this all goes. I cannot accept that she has suffered for so long, that she has carried this weight alone and I didn't know. That I will never forgive myself for. That's all I can say for now" he looked at his watch and held out a hand to hoist Benny up off the floor which he took gladly.
"Ok Christian, take us through it, do you do the filing?" "Me?? God no. Its mostly Mama, she says if anything happens to her she wants it all easily accessible. Sometimes she'll let Linda help her but it whiles away the nights that she cannot sleep. Bjorn ignored that. It felt like his brain had finally short circuited. "When does the filing start from?" he asked in a monotone. Christian walked to the filing cabinet immediately on the left. He looked like he'd rather be anywhere else. "August 1979 was the first incident. Then a couple of times a month through until June 1980. "That's not possible" argued Bjorn. We were all together then. We were on a world tour." "Frida and I knew about that" said Benny "she wanted to tell you then and Stig persuaded her not to because he wanted ABBA to be at its best. He didn't want any confrontations between you and her given that you had asked Lena to come on tour with us. She slept in our room most of the time. He followed her to nearly every gig and was at all of them in Japan. Frida fought him off in the toilets in Tokyo. He was arrested for harassment and charged for that and attempted assault" "I didn't know" said Bjorn miserably."To be fair Lena monopolised your time and you weren't adverse back then. Stig refused Anna time and time again to tell you and he forbade us to. Christian cleared his throat "there were a lot of threats and intimidation after your divorce and then it picked up speed during the recording of The Visitors. Someone actually broke in here the day you married Lena. That day there was no one here but her, we were both at your wedding. They broke in and wrote whore on all the mirrors while she was sleeping. I only found about that one a couple of years ago myself. Then there was several incidents per year until 1984, none of them were immense incidents. Late 84 they ramped up in severity and speed and that's when she started upgrading the security. Benny stroked his beard in thought. "Written threats or?" "Both" said Christian. "She hid it from us kids so well it never affected us, we just thought it was because she was in ABBA. It felt no different. We didn't realise what was going on behind the scenes and we didn't consider at that age that she WASN'T in ABBA anymore if you see what I mean." Both men nodded. "We used to have body guards for her but she had to stop that and rely on the security that she could create. They sold stuff to the press, pictures of her and us, stories that weren't true. The Crazy Garbo moniker was first coined around then and she's never been able to shake it since. They tied it in also to the fact you weren't in the country. Let me go and get some coffee for us. Mama has cake. She's got a terrible sweet tooth at the moment" he grinned fondly. He bounded upstairs and Bjorn looked at Benny. "I'm broken Benny, I've no idea where to even start with all of this. Why didn't you tell me when we were on tour?" "Honestly? You were being an arsehole. You made Anna's life a living hell on that tour and trooper that she was she carried on she sang her heart out. I'm sorry Bjorn but you were. In the end when Stig knocked her back so many times she gave up and one night when we were in bed she just said to Frida that she wasn't going to tell you, that Stig was right and if she told you you would just blame it on her anyway so she might as well get on with it" Bjorn couldn't deny that it was so. He HAD invited Lena on the tour and he had been arrogant enough to think that it was up to him who he had with him and everyone would just have to deal with it. "Was she bad on the tour Benny?" he whispered. "Who?" "Lena" Benny sighed. "Yeah Bjorn, she was. Very entitled, very bossy, rude to the staff and absolutely horrendous to Anna. She got away with it because she was yours but then you were pretty awful too."
Bjorn was stung and opened his mouth to say something and caught Benny's raised eyebrow. He subsided quietly. "You're asking these questions 40 years too late my friend" Benny said gently. Bjorn nodded in agreement. He started with the first draw from 80' onwards. What he found was low grade threats against Anna, ABBA and him for divorcing her, he skipped to 81' when he and Lena had got married there were several threats to him in there if she didn't comply. What did that mean he wondered. In 82 when Emma was born there was several threats to Emma and Lena if Anna pulled out of some interview. There were a myriad of threats to her and the kids but not too bad. 82 also contained specific physical threats to her if ABBA ended. He frowned as uncomfortable memories came back of him yelling at her because she wasn't concentrating or wasn't up to speed in the studio. He'd accused her of being distracted by her new lover or was it three. Benny was right. He had been an arsehole but even back then Anna had belonged to him and the press reports had made him burn. Now he finds out it was because she had a fucking psycho on her tail.
He moved forward to 84 after he left, these threats were much more sexual, some threatened her parents and her sister. He couldn't read them all. It made him sick to his stomach. He skipped to 86 when little Anna was born and there were several direct threats to his little family. He noted demands for money. He looked at Benny who was digging through 98' by now. "Why are you right up there?" He asked curiously. "Because we were supposed to do an event together and she pulled out at the last minute. Here. A direct threat to my life if she attended with me. Bjorn I was annoyed with her and she thought she was saving my life" Benny looked crushed. "Benny, it's ok, it seems she was right. I can't read them yet but there are threats to Lena, Emma, Anna. There are demands for money. There are sexual threats. He skipped to 90' when he came home and there was absolutely tons. Then they stopped and he couldn't find anymore until 93' when it seemed they were intense and quite brutal in nature. More demands for money. Police reports by the box load. Threats to Linda and Christian had been a recurring theme throughout the years. Emma and Anna had not escaped unscathed but whatever Anna had done, they had remained safe and well. Personal threats against Anna and what would be done to her were graphic and extreme from 79 onwards. When the grandchildren started coming the threats included them. Bjorn knew that was when she had built the house for Linda within the compound, this was clearly the reason. Benny meanwhile had got to 2004, he was picking big events in the life of ABBA. He was looking around the time of their 30th anniversary and he found very distinct threats to him, Bjorn and Frida if she attended the Eurovision, he found police reports and read them carefully. The police advised her not to go and she didn't he remembered. She did the video for them though..he smiled. She had filmed it at Ekero. She had bought out an album that year and he found reports of stalking and harassment. Two or three guys were arrested. She was advised not to work publicity for My Colouring Book. He had wondered about that at the time because it was a great album. It deserved far more recognition than it had got. She had sounded sublime on it. He had spoken to her on the phone and she had just told him she didn't feel like it and it would have to stand alone. He smiled in admiration as he realised she had used the Crazy Garbo label to her advantage over the years to hide the real reason. He skipped to 2008 around Mamma Mia and found reams of paperwork regarding the shooting out of her tyres and the bullet through her windscreen. He read the threat to her life if she attended. No mention was made of the rest of them. He found no threats to anyone else and so she had come he reflected. Damn she was brave. Christian looked over his shoulder. "Yeah, in case you were wondering? That's why she tried to stand apart from you all. She thought if she got shot it would only be her that went down. She so wanted to go. She wanted desperately to be part of it" "Who got shot??" shouted Bjorn who hadn't heard the whole conversation. "No one Papa" Christian reassured him."She was a total, absolute wreck by the time she got home though because Frida and Meryl wouldn't let her go and they were dancing. Mama was horrified but she loved it. She cried for a day straight that she had put everyone at risk and she vowed never to do it again."
Bjorn came up to them to collect a coffee and a slice of cherry cake. "I'll tell you later" Benny reassured him.
"Your girl makes great cake" Benny moaned in appreciation. "Stop calling her that Benny, she isn't mine" grumbled Bjorn. Christian and Benny shared a look as Bjorn turned away. "Christian why is there a gap from the end of 1990 to 1993?" he asked. "Because of Tomas" came the answer. "You really have to talk to Mama. Neither Linda or I know much. She won't divulge anything about that time. They were only married 6 months. I know Mama paid him off hugely to get rid of him." He shuddered."whatever happened must have been awful for Mama. It changed her but I'm sure we'll never know" "she paid him off??" asked Bjorn. "Do you know how much she's paid out over the years? To keep everyone safe?" Benny frowned. "I've found several references to what amounts to payoffs in response to threats. Going back years, involving all of us. "I don't Papa, she never talks of it, she deals with that side of it. She's clever Papa, she's not incapable. I tell her what she needs and how much it costs. She tells me when I can get it. Simple" Bjorn was stuck on the idea that she was short of money and had no idea how to find out. He frowned. He walked over to the filing cabinet marked 2010 and rummaged through until he got to their Denmark trip. He had been absolutely shocked and delighted when she had agreed to accompany him. He would remember that night for the rest of his life. She had sparkled like his very own sunshine. Knowing what he knew now he wondered how she had managed it. He looked through the whole of that year and found several low grade threats and a few more serious ones prior to the engagement and nothing concerning him. He remembered that she had gone to Copenhagen long before he had and met him there. They'd had an amazing night and as far as he remembered she was relaxed and happy. She had held his arm for the whole world to see. He smiled at the memory. He looked after the date and saw how much the threats and intimidation had increased. She had paid dearly for that appearance he considered."Christian? Are there plans for you to build here like Linda?" asked Bjorn. "We've discussed it we want to, Mama isn't against it but she wants us to live a life while we can. This is why I fly right under the radar, I'm never seen and people forget about me. Linda is the face that gets seen and she is safe here. We have permission to build and it's likely we'll start that next year. Bjorn nodded, satisfied. He flicked through the rest of the years, more of the same, so much it was crazy. He hit 2013 and the start was peaceful and he could see the massive escalation prior to the release of 'A' and a further upswing afterwards and yet she still went out and did publicity. He remembered doing a documentary for her with Benny. God Lena had been horrific over that but he and Benny had wanted to be supportive. "Why did she go out and do publicity for "A" Christian? These threats here are no less than they were for My Colouring Book, in fact they are worse. She has a warning from the police here not to work it" Christian grinned. "She was firing on all cylinders Papa, she was fit and well, looking fabulous and she was proud of that album. Basically none of the threats were for any of us including your crew, they were only for her so she said "Fuck it, I'm going out and it's for the last time so I'll enjoy it. She ignored all advice so in the end she did it. She'd been cooped up here so long Linda and I hadn't the heart to stop her" Benny grinned "I said she was like a lion"
Bjorn snorted and skipped to 2016 for his and Benny's anniversary. Some of those were dreadful and the aftermath was insane. He was burning with rage and guilt. The price she had paid was astronomical in more ways than one.
He and Benny were both looking through this years and the threats were all the more real because they were now. He found the latest one and it was chilling, she had marked it in red pen
"Should I tell him Agnetha my darling that you belong to me? Your beloved Bjorn? How much should I make you pay so that he lives? How much should you suffer when I come for you in the night?
I should tell him that you are half the woman you were, that you are old and disgusting? Should I show him that you are mine?
He would never love you when he knows how hideous you are now. I am the only one who will love your disgusting body. Wait for me Agnetha. I will come." Clipped to it was a grainy photo of Anna walking into what looked like a clinic.
And right there was the end of his endurance.
Bjorn was finally undone.
