At Police Headquarters she ran into Arne Pedersen, who was happy to see her. And surprised.
“What are you doing here?”
“I was going to use some data.”
“Then you could have called. You knew I was here.”
“Hmm, it’s… Well, it’s somewhat personal. It’s for a girlfriend.”
“You’re well aware that it will cost you your job if you’re caught doing that sort of thing? It’s actually illegal, and logs are kept.”
She shrugged, unconcerned.
“Malte showed me how to get around the log months ago.”
“That doesn’t make it legal, but of course that doesn’t concern me.”
“You’re right, it doesn’t concern you.”
She smiled and had a desire to kiss him. Instead she tossed her hair back and laughed without really knowing why.
“Has anything happened?”
“No, unfortunately. I have people who are busy with Elizabeth Juutilainen alias Liz Suenson, but we won’t find her right away, not to mention link her to Andreas Falkenborg. Yes, and I’ve talked with Simon, he told me about your work in Hundested, but you know that yourself. That was a good result, by the way.”
“Thanks. Was that all?”
“Hello, you haven’t been gone more than three hours. What did you really expect?”
“Nothing, but one can always hope.”
“Oh, by the way, we have received a long official report from the Americans. It’s a bang-up piece of work they’ve done, and it must have cost a bundle, but there’s nothing sensational. We can now definitely connect Falkenborg to that helicopter trip. On the other hand it turns out that unfortunately DYE-5 was in possession of two snowmobiles, which expands the inhabitants’ action radius considerably.”
“The helicopter and the distance between DYE-5 and Maryann Nygaard’s body were otherwise the only thing that really damaged him.”
“Yes, but that part is weakened by those snowmobiles, although it’s hard to imagine that you can transport two people on such a machine.”
“We don’t have much.”
“Almost nothing. The fact is, we need a miracle, if we’re going to hold him.”
“And the fact is also that we’re not getting anywhere, isn’t that right, Arne?”
“Yes, it is. Are you coming in tomorrow?”
“Unfortunately not until Monday, I have a hair appointment in the morning and a family gathering the rest of the weekend. Simon gave me time off, unless something earthshaking happens.”
“We’ll cross our fingers for that. How did Jeanette Hvidt take it?”
“Reasonably. She cried a little, but she’s a strong girl. And then she said something that I keep thinking about: Someone has to stop him.”
Pedersen sounded almost desperate when he answered.
“Well, that’s what we’re working on.”
She gave him an affectionate farewell hug, thinking that life was full of compromises.
CHAPTER 41
In police circles Asger Graa was a frequent topic of conversation. There were many stories about him in circulation among his fellow officers, each more amazing and absurd than the other, most of which were pure invention. But it was an established fact that more than anything he wanted to be a detective in the Homicide Division and for that reason regularly made enquiries to Konrad Simonsen, who did not want to make use of his talents. It was likewise fair to say that Asger Graa was not always an easy person to associate with, primarily due to his know-it-all attitude and awkward manner, which among officers who didn’t know him was wildly exaggerated. Before she came to the Homicide Division, Pauline Berg had worked with him sporadically on a vice case and found him to be a good deal more accommodating than his reputation. When she called him, he remembered her right away and agreed to her plan without many questions.
They met as agreed on Saturday evening at Polititorvet outside Police Headquarters. He was waiting for her, but looking in the wrong direction, so she had plenty of time to observe him. The man was in uniform and it suited him. He was big, which would be an advantage if Andreas Falkenborg ran amok as expected. He was almost a stereotype; he looked like a born police constable and virtually radiated authority. Berg, on the other hand, did not look like herself. Earlier that day she had had her hair cut to resemble a rough drawing she had done. It was dyed black too. From an optician she had purchased a pair of brown contact lenses that proved to be easy and straightforward to put in.
Pauline Berg responded to Asger Graa’s formal handshake, and instructed her new partner on how the conversation with Andreas Falkenborg should proceed. She graciously allowed Graa to thank her profusely for his big chance. He did not comment on her changed appearance.
She asked, “Did you bring the Dictaphone?”
“Yes, and it’s working, I’ve checked it several times.”
“When you start it, I want you to skip the introductory format. You know, where you give the time, place and our names.”
“Yes, ma’am, but that’s highly irregular.”
“I don’t want him to know my name.”
“Can I say my own and omit yours?”
“No, and now stop discussing this with me. In the Homicide Division we know what we’re doing.”
“Yes, of course. That’s not what I meant.”
“Good, so we’re in agreement on that. Besides, you’re not going to say anything at all, Only I will speak with him. He may get scared when he sees me, but just ignore that. You should do something if he attacks me, and in that case just hold him back so we can get out. Under no circumstances must he be harmed, do you understand that?”
“Yes, every word. So I’m mainly along to protect you?”
“You could put it like that, but bear in mind that I’m more than capable of protecting myself. Of course he’s a man, but I’m half his age and in excellent shape. And I wouldn’t say it’s probable that he will attack me.”
“I’ll get between you in a flash. That is, without injuring him.”
“Just what I had in mind. You’re easy to work with. I’ll tell Simon that.”
“Simon? Do you mean Chief Inspector Konrad Simonsen?”
“Yes, but we call him Simon.”
She said that to impress him and had not counted on his reaction.
“He doesn’t know about this, does he?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, Chief Inspector Simonsen has no idea that in a little while we’ll be questioning Andreas Falkenborg. Isn’t that right?”
Pauline Berg realised she had underestimated the man. She answered carefully, “It’s easier to get forgiveness than permission.”
“And your new look, is that to pressurise the murderer? You resemble his victims.”
This was something between a question and a statement.
“If the interview goes well, then you’ll have something to tell your grandchildren, and if it doesn’t, we’ll leave. No harm done, as they say.”
“What about the prisoner’s lawyer, does he know we’re coming?”
“It’s a woman, and no, she doesn’t. But she knows, and we know, and everyone knows, that he has killed four young women, and that early tomorrow morning he will be released, unless someone does something.”
The argument made an impression, and she continued quickly along the same lines.
“It’s not like we’re going to beat him to a pulp or anything. We’re just going to talk to him, and the whole thing will barely take more than ten minutes, but maybe we’ll save a young girl’s life, who knows?”
Asger Graa considered this.
“What do you want him to confess?”