The Last Fix [En liten gyllen ring no]

Frølichcleared his throat. 'Were you intoxicated?'

Gerhardsenshrugged. 'I presumed I was not over the limit.'

'Butyou had been drinking alcohol and continued drinking all night.'

Gerhardsenreturned a flinty stare. 'I presumed I was not over the limit.'

'Wholeft the party earlier in the evening?' Gunnarstranda interrupted. 'Who elseapart from you?'

'Therewas Goggen, Georg that is. Then there was his boyfriend – a man whose name Idon't recall, but Annabeth knows him through some connection or other. Thenthere was another woman who was a temporary teacher at the centre during thewinter at some point. Her name's Merethe Fossum. And then there was Katrine'sboyfriend – Ole. Can't remember his surname.'

'Whendid you leave?'

'Atmidnight, more or less.'

'Wheredid you go?'

'Wewent to Smuget.'

Gunnarstrandasent an inquiring look to Frølich, who explained: 'Restaurant at thebottom of Rosenkrantz gate.'

'That'sjust by Aker Brygge, isn't it,' Gunnarstranda said.

'Walkingdistance,' acceded Gerhardsen. 'Right across from the City Hall square.'

'Whathappened then?'

'Well,we went to Smuget. And split up.'

'Splitup? What do you mean?'

'Mm,there are several rooms there. In one of them there was a blues band, inanother disco music. There were all kinds of music and it was packed. We wentour own ways.'

'Andwhat did you do?'

'Icirculated a bit, had a few beers and a few mineral waters, talked the usualrubbish to whoever was at the bars.'

'Whydid you leave the party you yourself had organized and hosted?'

'Iusually do.' Gerhardsen sat up straight in the chair. 'I know this may soundstrange to some people,' he began, 'but Annabeth and I have no children. We'vebeen married for sixteen years. We know each other so well and accept thatwe're different and we like to amuse ourselves in different ways. Annabeth isthe kind of woman who likes objects, by which I mean she collects RoyalCopenhagen porcelain – the seagull series. She likes antiques and is very keento have a home that is modern and reflects good taste. I'm not like that.

I'm asimple man with a stressful work pattern, a tough job. When she invites peopleback they tend to be from her circle of friends and if I see that there areother things I can do… Well, we all know that some guests come out ofloneliness, some because they feel they have to come, some to be with goodfriends whose company they enjoy. People's needs vary and that applies to meand Annabeth, too. That is where we are today. At least Annabeth and I have cometo terms with it and we are pretty happy living in this way…' He grimaced andweighed his words before continuing. 'In practice this means that a party likethe one we held on Saturday often ends with Annabeth sitting and chatting withother women about interiors and…' He extended his arms to show the range oftopics in his spouse's conversation.'… about… about the job, the centre andwallpaper patterns too, for all I know. But I…' He tapped his chest with hisfirst finger. 'I prefer to hit the town and have fun.'

Frølichnodded to himself. 'What's your impression of Ole Eidesen?' he asked.

Gerhardsenshrugged. 'Common sort of young man.'

'Common?'

'Yes,usual.'

'Butyou used the word common.'

'Yes.'

'Didyou mean anything derogatory by that?'

'Notat all. He seems like a decent sort. We were on the same wavelength, anyway.'

Frølichmade a note. 'And afterwards? Did you see him again in Smuget?'

'Theodd glimpse. We were spread out, the music was too loud and the room was toocramped to enjoy any conversation. I guess he was dancing and enjoyinghimself.'

'Whendid you leave the place?'

'Ataround three.'

'Andwhat did you do then?'

'Therewere no taxis around, just long queues, so I strolled up to the garage inMunkedamsveien and fetched the car and drove home.'

'Andafterwards?'

'Afterwards?You mean after I arrived home? Well, I helped to empty ashtrays and dispose ofthe bottles and then I went to bed.'

'Withyour wife?'

Gerhardsennodded.

'Whattime would that have been?'

'Aboutfour maybe. Can't say when.'

'Andthen you slept?' 'I slept sweet, dreamless sleep until late in the morning.'

'Cananyone vouch for that, do you think?'

'Thatwould have to be Annabeth, but I assume she was asleep, too.'

'Soyou don't have a witness?'

Gerhardsen,annoyed now: 'Ask Annabeth. I haven't asked her if she lay awake watching overme that night. But let's stop beating about the bush. Why don't you ask me if Ikilled her and get it over and done with?'

'Didyou kill her?'

'Ofcourse not.'

Frølichfell silent and looked across at his colleague, who after fiddling with hiscomb-over took the chewing gum out of his mouth and glowered at it.

'Wasit your idea or your wife's to invite her?' asked Gunnarstranda, continuing tochew.

'Itwas Annabeth's idea.'

'Canyou remember the first time you met Katrine?'

BjørnGerhardsen groaned with irritation and looked up at them. They said nothing.Gerhardsen deliberated. In the end he made a decision.

'I mether first a few years ago in a brothel close to Filipstad, on the corner ofParkveien and Munkedamsveien. I paid her fifteen hundred kroner forintercourse. I had not seen her before. I didn't know who she was until shecame in to massage me. She was a screw, if I can put it like that. I am sure Iwould have forgotten her had it not been for…'

Heclosed his eyes as though searching for the right words. And pulled a face. Thetwo policemen watched him in silence. Gunnarstranda blew a bubble which burst.Gerhardsen took it as a signal to go on.

'Whenshe was offered treatment at Vinterhagen, Annabeth brought her home. I didn't recognizeher, but I think it is highly probable that she recognized me. She abscondedfrom the centre soon after meeting me that afternoon, you see. When Annabethbrought her home and I greeted her, she was a skinny little drug addict, afragile wreck who had been helping Annabeth with the shopping. That sameevening she ran away from the block she was in. They didn't find her…'

'Andyou interpreted this disappearance as a reaction to her recognizing you?'

'Yes.'

'Whendid you come to this conclusion?'

'Later,but I'll come to that.'

'Goon.'

'Iwas the one who found her. I was in town for a meeting and went down toBankplass to find a prostitute. That was about three weeks later. I didn't knowit was her until she got into the car. We had agreed a price through thewindow…'

'Soyou picked her up?'

'Yes…She sat next to me in the car without saying a word and I had no idea who shewas. I drove across Bispekaia to find somewhere to park where we wouldn't bedisturbed. At some point I glanced across and recognized her. She laughed outloud and enjoyed the shock I had. She also reminded me of our encounter at themassage parlour. There were a number of other things she said – I don'tremember what – but the essence was that I was a bad person. I countered that Ihad never claimed to be any better than anyone else. I also said that Iwouldn't be buying any sexual services off her after all. And I asked her if Ishould run her up to the rehab centre. Then she asked me if I had thought aboutwhat I would say as an explanation of how I came to find her. I said it wouldnot be a problem; I would say I had bumped into her in town. She asked me if Iwas wondering what her version would be… to Annabeth. I stopped there and then,and said I had no'-more to say. She could leave and keep all the money she hadbeen given. I also gave her a bit more. Then she sat in the car staring at mewithout saying anything.'

Gerhardsenpaused again, as if he had reached a difficult point, then went on:

'Iasked if I should drive her back to the city centre, but she said no and addedthat she didn't want to owe me anything. She repeated that twice. Used exactlythe same words: I don't want to owe you anything at all! Then sheperformed oral sex and got out of the car.'