'Arne Albu. I apologise for calling you in the evening, but I was given your name by my wife and thought I would clear up this matter at once. Is it convenient?'
'Fine,' Harry said sheepishly in his usual voice.
'Well, I've had a chat with my wife, and neither of us has heard of this woman or knows how she got hold of the photo. But it was developed by a professional, perhaps someone working in the shop took a copy. Also, there is a lot of coming and going in our house and so there could be many, many possible explanations.'
'Mm.' Harry noticed that Arne Albu's voice didn't have the same assured composure it had had earlier in the day. After a few seconds of crackly silence Albu continued: 'If you need to talk about this more, I would appreciate it if you would contact me at the office. I understood from my wife that she gave you my number.'
'And I understood that you didn't want to be disturbed during your working hours.'
'I don't want…my wife to be stressed. A dead woman with a photo in a shoe, my God! I would like you to deal with me.'
'I understand. But the photo is of your wife and the children!'
'She knows nothing about it, I'm telling you!' And then apparently regretting his angry tone, he added: 'I promise I will examine every possibility I can envisage to explain how this might have happened.'
'Thank you for the offer, but I still reserve the right to talk to whoever I think fit.' Harry listened to Albu's breathing before adding: 'I hope you understand.'
'Listen here—'
'I'm afraid this is not a topic for discussion. I'll contact you or your wife if there is something I need to know.'
'Wait a minute! You don't understand. My wife gets…very upset.'
'You're right, I don't understand. Is she ill?'
'Ill?' said Albu with surprise in his voice. 'No, but—'
'Then I suggest we conclude this conversation now.' Harry saw himself in the mirror. 'These are not my working hours. Good evening.'
He put down the telephone and looked in the mirror again. It was gone now, the little smile, the glee that Spite gives. The Small-mindedness. The Self-righteousness. The Sadism. The four 'S's of revenge. There was something else, too, though. Something looked wrong. Something was missing. He studied the reflected image. Perhaps it was just the way the light fell.
Harry sat down in front of the computer while thinking that he would have to tell Aune about the four 'S's. He collected that sort of thing. The e-mail he had received came from an address he had never seen before:
[email protected]. He clicked on it.
As he was sitting there, a chill spread through Harry Hole's body that would linger for a good year.
It happened while he was reading from the screen. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up and the skin around his body tightened like shrinking clothes.
Shall we play? Let's imagine you've been to dinner with a woman and the next day she's found dead. What do you do?
S2MN
The telephone chirruped its lament. Harry knew it was Rakel. He let it ring.
17
Arabia's Tears
HALVORSEN WAS VERY SURPRISED TO SEE HARRY AS HE entered their office.
'Here already? You are aware it's only—'
'Couldn't sleep,' Harry mumbled, sitting in front of the computer screen with crossed arms. 'These machines are so bloody slow.'
Halvorsen peered over his shoulder. 'It all depends on the data transfer rate when you're on the Net. You're using a standard ISDN line now, but, rejoice, we'll soon be on broadband. Looking for articles in Dagens Nćringsliv?'
'Eh?…Yes.'
'Arne Albu? Did you talk to Vigdis Albu?'
'Yes.'
'What have they actually got to do with the bank robbery?'
Harry didn't look up. He hadn't said it was anything to do with the robbery, but he hadn't said it wasn't either, so it was quite natural for his colleague to make the assumption. Harry was spared answering him as at that moment Arne Albu's face filled the screen. By far the broadest smile Harry had seen today presided over the tightly knotted tie. Halvorsen smacked his lips and read aloud:
'Thirty million for family business. Today Arne Albu can salt away thirty million kroner after the hotel chain Choice bought up all the shares in Albu AS yesterday. Albu says he wants to devote more time to his family, which was the biggest reason for him selling his successful company. "I want to see my children grow up," Albu said when interviewed. "The family is my most important investment." '
Harry pressed PRINT.
'Don't you want the rest of the article?'
'No, I just want the picture,' Harry said.
'Thirty mill in the bank and now he's started holding up banks, too?'