Harry Hole Oslo Sequence 10 - Police

once. He didn’t look at her, he stared straight ahead, stared into the Oslo morning with half-closed eyes, as though still in the dream he hadn’t wanted to wake up from.
    ‘Have you searched him?’ she asked.
    ‘Close encounter of the third kind,’ the plain-clothes man grinned. ‘No, he didn’t have a weapon on him.’
    ‘I mean, have you searched him for drugs? Checked his pockets?’
    ‘Well, no. Why would we?’
    ‘Because this is Chris Reddy, also known as Adidas, several convictions for selling speed. He tried to run, so you can bet your life he’s got something on him. So strip him.’
    Beate Lønn straightened up and went back to the Amazon.
    ‘I thought she did fingerprints,’ she heard the plain-clothes man say to Bjørn Holm, who had come to join them. ‘Not that she recognised junkies.’
    ‘She recognises anyone who’s ever been in Oslo Police archives,’ Bjørn said. ‘Look a bit closer next time, OK?’
    When Bjørn got in the car and glanced at her, Beate knew she looked like a grumpy old cow, with her arms crossed, fuming as she stared ahead.
    ‘We’ll collar him on Sunday,’ Bjørn said.
    ‘Let’s hope so,’ Beate said. ‘Everything set up in Bergslia?’
    ‘Delta’s done a recce and found their positions. They said it was simple with all the forest around. But they’re in the neighbouring house as well.’
    ‘And everyone who investigated the original crime has been informed?’
    ‘Yes. Everyone will be near a phone all day and report in if they receive a call.’
    ‘That goes for you too, Bjørn.’
    ‘And you. By the way, why wasn’t Harry on that case? He was an inspector in Crime Squad then.’
    ‘Mm, he was indisposed.’
    ‘On the booze?’
    ‘How are we using Katrine?’
    ‘She’s got a position in Berg Forest, with a good view of the house.’
    ‘I want regular mobile contact with her all the time she’s there.’
    ‘I’ll tell her.’
    Beate glanced at her watch. 09.16. They drove down Thomas Heftyes gate and Bygdøy allé. Not because it was the shortest way to Police HQ, but because it was the most scenic. And because it killed some time. Beate glanced at her watch again. 09.22. D-Day in two days. Sunday.
    Her heart was still beating fast.
    Was already beating fast.
    Johan Krohn kept Harry waiting in reception the usual four minutes past the time of the appointment before coming out. Gave a couple of obviously superfluous messages to the receptionist before directing his attention to the two people sitting there.
    ‘Hole,’ he said, fleetingly studying the policeman’s face to diagnose mood and attitude before proffering his hand. ‘You’ve brought your own lawyer, have you?’
    ‘This is Arnold Folkestad,’ Harry said. ‘He’s a colleague, and I’ve asked him to join me so that I have a witness to what is said and agreed.’
    ‘Wise, very wise,’ said Johan Krohn, without anything in his tone or expression suggesting he meant it. ‘Come in, come in.’
    He led the way, looked quickly at a surprisingly petite, feminine wristwatch and Harry took the hint: I’m a busy lawyer with limited time for this relatively minor matter. The office was executive size and smelt of leather, which Harry assumed came from the bound chronological volumes of Norsk Rettstidende filling the shelves. And a perfume he recognised. Silje Gravseng was sitting in a chair, half turned towards them, half turned towards Johan Krohn’s massive desk.
    ‘Endangered species?’ Harry asked, running a hand across the desk before taking a seat.
    ‘Standard teak,’ Krohn said, occupying the driving seat behind the rainforest.
    ‘Standard yesterday, endangered today,’ Harry said, nodding briefly to Silje Gravseng. She answered by slowly lowering her eyelids and opening them again, as if she mustn’t move her head. Her hair was tied in a ponytail so tight it made her eyes narrower than usual. She was wearing a suit that could easily suggest she worked in the office. She seemed calm.
    ‘Shall we get down to business?’ said Johan Krohn, who had adopted his customary pose with his fingertips pressed together. ‘Frøken Gravseng has testified that she was raped in your office at the Politihøyskole at around midnight on the night in question. The evidence so far: scratch marks, bruises and a torn dress. All this has been photographed and can be used as proof in a court of law.’
    Krohn shot Silje a quick glance to ensure she was bearing up under the strain