Jo Nesbo - The Redeemer

Sunday, 21 December. The Disciple.

Someone had hung a Christmas wreath outside the meeting room in the red zone.

Behind the closed door the last morning meeting of the investigative team was drawing to an end.

Harry stood sweating in front of the assembled group in a tight-fitting, dark suit.

'As the contract killer, Stankic, and the go-between, Robert Karlsen, are both dead the investigative team, in its present form, will be dissolved as of this meeting,' Harry said. 'And that means most of us can look forward to a Christmas holiday this year. However, I will ask Hagen to make a few of you available for further detection work. Any questions before we round things off? Yes, Toril?'

'You say that the Stankic link in Zagreb confirmed our suspicion that Robert Karlsen contracted the murder of Jon. Who spoke to the link and how?'

'I'm afraid I can't go into any details on that,' Harry said, ignoring Beate's eloquent eyes and feeling the sweat running down his back. Not because of the suit or the question, but because he was sober.

'OK,' he continued. 'The next job is to find out who Robert was working with. In the course of today I will contact the fortunate few who will be allowed to be involved. Hagen is holding a press conference later today and will take care of whatever has to be said.' Harry shooed with his hands. 'Run along to your piles of paperwork, guys.'

'Hey!' shouted Skarre over the scraping of chairs. 'Shouldn't we celebrate?'

The noise died away and the group looked at Harry.

'Well,' Harry said quietly, 'I don't know quite what we should celebrate, Skarre. That three people are dead? That the man behind Robert Karlsen is still free? Or that we still have an officer in a coma?'

Harry watched them and did nothing to ease the painful silence that followed.

When the room was empty, Skarre went over to Harry, who was sorting through the notes he had written at six o'clock that morning.

'Sorry,' Skarre said. 'Rotten suggestion.'

'That's alright,' Harry said. 'You meant well.'

Skarre coughed. 'Rare to see you in a suit.'

'Robert Karlsen's funeral is at twelve,' Harry said without looking up. 'Thought I would see who turned up.'

'Right.' Skarre rocked back on his heels.

Harry stopped flicking through his papers. 'Anything else, Skarre?'

'Well, yes. I was thinking that quite a few people in Crime Squad have got families and are looking forward to Christmas, whereas I'm single…'

'Mm?'

'Well, I'd like to volunteer.'

'Volunteer?'

'I mean I'd like to keep working on the case. If you want me, that is,' Skarre hastened to add.

Harry studied Magnus Skarre.

'I know you don't like me,' Skarre said.

'It's not that,' Harry said. 'I've already decided who will stay. And it's those I consider the best, not the ones I like.'

Skarre shrugged, and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down. 'Fair enough. Happy Christmas then.' He moved towards the door.

'That's why,' Harry said, putting the notes in the briefcase, 'I want you to start checking Robert Karlsen's bank account. See what's gone in and out over the last six months and note any irregularities.'

Skarre stopped and turned in amazement.

'Do the same for Albert and Mads Gilstrup. Have you got that, Skarre?'

Magnus Skarre nodded with enthusiasm.

'Check with Telenor if there have been any phone conversations between Robert and either Gilstrup during that period. Yes, and since it looks as though Stankic took Halvorsen's mobile, check if there have been any conversations on that number. Talk to the solicitor about access to bank accounts.'

'No need,' Skarre said. 'According to new regulations we have permanent access.'

'Mm.' Harry sent Skarre a serious look. 'Thought it would be a good idea to have someone on the team who reads instructions. Yup.'

Then he strode out of the door.

Robert Karlsen didn't have the rank of an officer, but since he had died on duty it was decided that he would still be entitled to a grave in the area the Army reserved for officers in Vestre cemetery. After the burial, there was to be a remembrance service with the corps in Majorstuen.

As Harry entered the chapel Jon, sitting alone on the front bench with Thea, turned his head. Harry noted the absence of Robert's parents. He and Jon made eye contact and Jon gave a quick, sombre nod, but there was gratitude in his expression.

The chapel was, as expected, full to the last bench. Most people were wearing the Salvation Army uniform. Harry saw Rikard and David Eckhoff. And beside him, Gunnar Hagen. There were also a few vultures from the press. At that moment Roger Gjendem slipped onto the bench next to him and asked whether he knew why the Prime Minister was not coming as previously announced.

'Ask the Prime Minister's Office,' Harry answered, knowing that the office had that very morning received a discreet telephone call from the top police echelons to talk about Robert Karlsen's possible role in the murder case. The Prime Minister's Office had subsequently remembered that the premier had other pressing engagements he had to prioritise.

Commander David Eckhoff had also received a call from Police HQ and it had created panic in the Salvation Army centre, particularly as one of the key figures in the preparations for the burial, his daughter Martine, had rung in early that morning to say she was sick and would not be coming to work.

The commander, however, had announced in a resolute voice that a man is innocent until the contrary has been proven beyond any shadow of doubt. Besides, he had added it was too late to change the arrangement now. The show had to go on. And the Prime Minister had assured the commander his attendance at the Christmas concert was definite whatever happened.

'Anything else?' Gjendem whispered. 'Anything new on the murders?'

'I understand you've all been told,' Harry said. 'The press have to go through Gunnar Hagen or the spokesperson.'

'They're not saying anything.'

'Sounds like they know their jobs.'

'Come on, Hole, I know something's going on. The officer that was stabbed in Goteborggata – is there any connection between him and the gunman you shot down last night?'

Harry shook his head in a way that could mean both 'no' and 'no comment'.

The organ music stopped at that moment, the mumbling went silent and the girl with the debut album stepped forward and sang a wellknown psalm with an alluring amount of air, the suggestion of a groan and brought it to an end by taking the final syllable on a roller-coaster ride that Mariah Carey would have envied. For a second Harry experienced an overwhelming yearning for a drink, but at long last she closed her mouth and bowed her head in sorrow to an imaginary storm of camera flashes. Her manager smiled with pleasure. It was obvious he hadn't received a telephone call from Police HQ.

Eckhoff spoke to the congregation about courage and sacrifice.

Harry was unable to concentrate. He looked at the coffin and thought about Halvorsen. And he thought about Stankic's mother. And when he closed his eyes, he thought about Martine.

Afterwards six Salvation Army officers carried out the coffin. Jon and Rikard went first.

Jon slipped on the ice as they turned on the gravel path.

Harry left the others still gathered around the grave. He walked through the deserted part of the cemetery towards Frogner Park where he heard the creak of shoes on the snow behind him.

At first he thought it was a journalist but when he heard the fast, agitated breathing he reacted without thinking and spun round.

It was Rikard. Who came to a sudden halt.

'Where is she?' he wheezed.

'Where is who?'

'Martine.'

'I heard she was ill today.'