Missing- A BBC Wallander Fanfiction

Chapter 2

My stomach rumbled and I glanced at the clock. I started and blinked several times, wondering if I had read it correctly. The clock said it was 4:00 p.m. I had been sitting at the computer all day? I hadn't found a trace of evidence. Not one lick. And I hadn't seen Magnus. I stood up and my vertebrae made a distinctive crunch. I ignored my stiff muscles and made my way to the chief of police's office. I knocked on the door and poked my head in. Lisa Holgersson looked up from her paperwork at the sound. I licked my dry lips.

"Did Detective Martinsson call in sick today?" I asked, wincing internally at how bad my voice sounded. Chief Holgersson gave me a concerned frown.

"No, he didn't, why?" she asked.

"He um...," I swallowed and shook my head, "He didn't show up for work this morning, and I haven't seen him all day. Considering what happened to Ann-Britt...if Magnus is missing..." Holgersson held up a hand.

"Don't jump to conclusions, Olivia," she told me.

"Kurt said the same thing to me, but it just seems too coincidental. Magnus doesn't show up to work two days after Ann-Britt goes missing? I don't like it. Someone could be targeting the team," I said firmly, my voice rising several octaves.

"You're right, you're right," she conceded. I fumbled in the pocket of my leather jacket for my mobile with stiff fingers. I dialed Magnus's number, put it on speakerphone, and held my breath.

Brrrrr...Brrrrr....Brrrrrrrr....Brrr

"You have reached Detective Magnus Martinsson's mobile. I will get back to you as soon as possible,". The prerecorded message then switched to an automated voice. "At the tone, please record your message." I hung up growling in frustration, but worry, not anger, churned my stomach.

"You and Kurt go over to his place," Holgersson ordered. I gave her a sharp nod and exited the room in a rush.

*******

The car ride there was silent, filled with nervous tension so thick you could cut it with a katana from my sword and knife collection. Kurt was driving, and when we pulled into Magnus's driveway, I immediately knew something was not right. The house gave off an unshakeable eerie feeling.The front door was half open and it looked as if the door handle had been forcibly removed. I shared a look with Wallander and gulped. I pulled the handgun I had out of my waistband and popped the passenger door open. Not saying a word, we crept onto the porch.

Wallander nodded at me and I slowly, tediously pushed the door open. It gave a creak of protest and I couldn't stop myself from thinking that it was such a horror movie cliche. Wallander inhaled sharply and I was about to ask why when I saw what he was looking at. There was a smear of drying blood on the wall. I clenched my jaw and we stepped into the house, beginning to search for signs of life.

My eyes darted around, my gun sweeping from side to side as I searched. My eyes scanned the kitchen table and what I saw made me freeze. I tucked the gun back into the waistband of my pants and snapped on a pair of blue nitrile gloves. I picked up the piece of paper resting on the table and what I saw written there made my breath hitch.

Wallander yelled something along the lines of, "All clear!", but I barely heard him as the room started to spin.

"Olivia?" Kurt asked, "What is it?" His voice sounded far away. I looked at him with wide eyes and held up the piece of paper I was holding.

The note read: They say Detective Sjöberg is next.

And it was written in Martinsson's handwriting.