Juli Denissen thought deeply and came up with the wrong answer.
“I guarantee that the car was red. You have to believe me. The rest has no significance.”
Simonsen swore to himself and considered whether he should take the time to talk sense into her. He decided it was not worth wasting the energy. He tried the silent treatment for a short time, until he firmly shook his head. Then he called for Poul Troulsen and felt miserable about it. She deserved better.
After Juli was picked up, he had a hard time getting her out of his mind, and he was very relieved when a good hour later Troulsen returned and hustled her back to her former place, while he explained.
“She was picked up by her lover at Grimstrup Station, and together they drove to his summer house in Asserbo. He has a wife and children and according to Juli keeps his affairs as far away from the rest of his life as possible. For example, he didn’t want to meet her in Hillerød for fear that someone would recognise him. Both of them saw Falkenborg’s car, he however only fleetingly, but he hasn’t contacted us, although he maintains the opposite with respect to his… with respect to Juli.”
He referred to the woman, who sat with bowed head looking sad.
“When the announcements in the media kept referring to a white commercial vehicle, she stepped in herself, and… well, the rest you know. Her acquaintance, by the way, is one of us. That is, still according to Juli.”
Simonsen felt anger bubbling up and made no attempt to subdue it. His voice resounded in the office.
“I hope for his sake that he’s not. Who are we talking about?”
Troulsen said the man’s name. Simonsen knew who he meant; a middle-aged, competent man he had worked with numerous times. He asked, perplexed, “The police constable?”
“Yes, if we’re to believe Juli. He denies any acquaintance with her whatsoever. I just spoke to him, and he was quite definite about it. He says he has never met her, she has never been in his summer house, he has never picked her up at any station, and so on and so forth. Never to everything I said. I’ve ordered phone information on them both. Unauthorised, but we don’t have time for anything else. It will take about an hour before we have them, and-”
Juli Denissen interrupted him then.
“Did he say that he doesn’t know me?”
The question was directed at Simonsen.
“Yes, and now I really am having doubts about your story. You are going to remain here a while longer, until I find out which of you is lying.”
A film of moisture passed over her eyes, which she quickly blinked away before it formed tears. She tightened her jaw for a couple of seconds and regained control. Then she fished her cell phone out of her bag and started working the keys while she said, “I have some pictures. Just a moment… my phone isn’t working, it has a mind of its own, but I can’t afford to buy a new one.”
The two men waited until her phone worked properly. It took time, but she was successful at last. She explained, “The first ones are from the summer house, the others were taken at my place.”
Neither of the officers said anything for a while. Then Simonsen whistled.
“Bring that creep in here, Poul. Tell him on the way that the Ministry of Justice must have his resignation by the end of the day. And if he makes the slightest bit of trouble… Well, I hardly need to tell you. But first of all get him to confirm the colour of Falkenborg’s car, and if he does, call and change the search description. Make sure that our own cars and all taxis get the message right away.”
Troulsen answered tiredly, “It actually tallies with the five calls we’ve already received from witnesses who have seen Falkenborg in a red car. But it has been yellow too of course, and… ”
The woman said sadly, “Do you have to punish him? He’s having a hard time. And yesterday I told him that I didn’t want to see him any more.”
She sounded as if the break-up was punishment enough. A few tears rolled down alongside her nose. Troulsen ignored her and left. Simonsen felt sorry for her. She was obviously under the illusion that the world was good, and would probably have to pay dearly on a regular basis for her positive view of life. He placed his hand on her shoulder, and she seized it quickly.
“There are hundreds of police officers who will be ready to break every bone in his body when they hear this, so his continued employment with us is impossible.”
“You don’t need to tell anyone.”
She let out a little sniffle, which he did not respond to, and then another.
“Now I’ll make sure you get a ride home.”
He stroked her hair gently a couple of times and thought that some people you meet too late. Then he sent her away.
CHAPTER 54
The sharp light came on without warning and totally blinded the two women, so that the first they knew of Andreas Falkenborg’s presence was the cry of lament he let out as soon as he entered the room. As little by little they regained their sight, they saw him jumping around on the floor in front of them, waving his arms and legs like a child out of control. Occasionally he shouted furious reproaches at Pauline Berg for the calamity she had inflicted on herself.
“You shouldn’t have done that, you don’t understand anything, you stupid goose!”
His mask hung crookedly, and he made no attempt to straighten it. Pauline said nothing to start with. She had been jolted from a troubled sleep, and the pain in her scalp struck her again full force. She had bitten her lips bloody besides.
“You’re going to get a shock that will make you lose the rest of your hair, that’s what you deserve!”
Jeanette Hvidt twitched nervously when he heard him mention the electric prod, and stammered, “She did it herself. I told her not to, but she begged me, and I couldn’t do anything about it. But I’ll do what he says.”
Falkenborg straightened his mask and stood quietly for a moment while he observed Jeanette, who continued to protest her innocence. He commanded curtly, “She will be quiet.”
Jeanette fell silent immediately. Pauline said in a controlled voice, “You can torture me as much as you want, with your cowardly electric stick, but that won’t make my hair grow, Andreas. Maybe it would be a good idea to think about getting as far away as possible while you have the chance. Here in the Copenhagen area thousands of people are searching for you, and it’s only a matter of time before they find you. And in that connection there is a little unwritten rule within the police force that you probably aren’t aware of, but you soon will be in a very unpleasant way.”
To start with he ignored her bait. Soon however he asked, “What rule is that?”
“That anyone who tortures a police officer gets the exact same medicine from their colleagues when he is caught. And, believe me, you’re going to be caught.”
“You’re lying.”
“All right then. By all means keep on living in your dream world, I don’t care. Go and get your silly prod, if you want. I’m not half as scared of it as you will be when they use it on you. By the way, that couldn’t possibly be a substitute for your dick, little Andreas, could it? You know, I think it is. You’re impotent, aren’t you? Even there you can’t live up to your father, you miserable little creep.”
“Shut your damn’ mouth.”
“Certainly not. Aren’t you going out to get the prod? Just admit you can’t manage without it.”