Harry Hole Oslo Sequence 10 - Police

before continuing.
    ‘The medical examination at the Rape Crisis Centre didn’t, it is true, reveal any tears or bruising, but it rarely does. Even in brutal attacks we’re only talking about fifteen to thirty per cent of cases. There is no sign of semen as you had enough presence of mind to ejaculate externally, on frøken Gravseng’s stomach to be precise, before you told her to get dressed, dragged her to the door and threw her out. Shame she didn’t have the same presence of mind as you did in retaining some of the sperm as evidence. Instead, she cried in the shower for hours and did her utmost to wash away all the signs of her defilement. Not so surprising, perhaps, a very understandable and normal reaction for a young girl.’
    Krohn’s voice had acquired a slightly indignant quiver, which Harry assumed wasn’t genuine, but rather designed to demonstrate how effective this testimony could be in court.
    ‘But the staff at the Rape Crisis Centre are required to describe the victim’s psychological state in a few lines. We are talking here about professionals with long experience of rape victims’ behaviour, and accordingly these are descriptions that the court would set great store by. And, believe me, in this case the psychological observations support my client’s statement.’
    An almost apologetic smile flitted across the lawyer’s face.
    ‘But before going over the evidence in any more detail let’s establish whether you have given my proposal any more thought, Hole. If you have concluded that accepting my offer is the right path – and I hope for everyone’s sake you have – I have the written contract here. Which, I hardly need say, will remain confidential.’
    Krohn passed a black leather document case to Harry while sending eloquent glances to Arnold Folkestad, who nodded slowly.
    Harry opened the case and scanned the A4 sheet.
    ‘Mm. I resign from PHS and waive any work in, or in connection with, the police force. And I do not talk under any circumstances with or about Silje Gravseng. Ready for signature, I can see.’
    ‘It’s not exactly complicated, so if you’ve already done your own calculations and come to the correct solution . . .’
    Harry nodded. Looked across at Silje Gravseng, who was sitting there, as stiff as a post, staring back at him, her face pale and expressionless.
    Arnold Folkestad coughed quietly, and Krohn turned his attention to him with a friendly gaze while straightening his wristwatch in a studied casual manner. Arnold held out a yellow folder.
    ‘What’s this?’ Krohn asked, taking it with one raised eyebrow.
    ‘Our suggestion for an agreement,’ Folkestad said. ‘As you’ll see, we suggest Silje Gravseng terminates her course at PHS with immediate effect and does not apply under any circumstances for a job in, or in connection with, the police force.’
    ‘You are joking . . .’
    ‘And she does not try under any circumstances to contact Harry Hole again.’
    ‘This is preposterous.’
    ‘In return, we will – out of consideration for all parties – refrain from legally pursuing this false accusation and attempted blackmail of a PHS employee.’
    ‘In that case, see you in court,’ Krohn said, managing to avoid the cliché sounding like one. ‘And even if you suffer as a result I am looking forward to conducting the prosecution.’
    Folkestad shrugged. ‘Then I’m afraid you’re going to be a bit disappointed, Krohn.’
    ‘Let’s see who will be disappointed.’ Krohn had already risen to his feet and done up one button of his jacket, a sign he was on his way to the next meeting, when he caught Harry’s eye. He hesitated.
    ‘What do you mean?’
    ‘If you wouldn’t mind taking the trouble,’ Folkestad said, ‘I would suggest you read the documents behind the proposed agreement.’
    Krohn opened the file again. Flicked through. Read.
    ‘As you can see,’ Folkestad continued, ‘your client has followed the lectures at PHS about rape, in which, among other things, there is a description of how rape victims tend to react psychologically.’
    ‘That doesn’t mean—’
    ‘May I ask you to wait with your objections until the end and now flick over to the next page, Krohn? There you will find a signed, and for the moment unofficial, witness statement from a male student who was standing outside the front entrance where he saw frøken Gravseng leaving PHS at the time in question. He states that she looked angry rather than