The Redeemer

'I think we throw everything into one great calculation, lust and fear and excitement and greed and all that kind of thing. And the brain is brilliant. It computes away and almost never makes a mistake; that's why it produces the same answers every time.'

Martine propped herself up on one elbow and gazed down at Harry. 'And morality and free choice?'

'They're in the great calculation, too.'

'So you think a criminal will always-'

'No, otherwise I couldn't do my job.'

She ran a finger across his forehead. 'So people can still change?'

'That's what I hope anyway. That people learn.'

She rested her forehead on his. 'And what can you learn?'

'You can learn…' he began and was interrupted by her lips touching his, '… not to be lonely. You can learn…' the tip of her tongue caressed the bottom of his lower lip. '… not to be frightened. And you can…'

'Learn to kiss?'

'Yes. But not if the girl has just woken up and has a disgusting white coating on her tongue which…'

Her hand hit his cheek with a smack and her laughter tinkled like ice cubes in a glass. Then her hot tongue found his and she covered him with the duvet; she pulled up his sweater and T-shirt and the skin on her stomach glowed bed-warm and soft against his.

Harry's hand wandered under her top and up her back, felt the shoulder blades that moved under the skin and the muscles that tensed and relaxed as she wriggled towards him.

He unbuttoned her top and held her gaze as he moved his hand over her stomach, over her ribs until the soft skin of his thumb and forefinger was holding her stiff nipple. She panted hot air over him as her open mouth closed on him and they kissed. As she forced her hand down between their hips, he knew that this time he would not be able to stop. Nor did he want to.

'It's ringing,' she said.

'What?'

'The phone in your trousers, it's vibrating.' She began to laugh. 'Feel…'

'Sorry.' Harry dragged the silent phone up from his pocket, leaned over her and put it on the bedside table. But it was on its side and the throbbing display faced him. He tried to ignore it, but it was too late. He had seen that it was Beate.

'Shit,' he breathed. 'Just a moment.'

He sat up and studied Martine's face, which studied his as he listened to Beate. And her face was like a mirror; they seemed to be playing a mime game. Apart from seeing himself, Harry could see his fear, his pain and in the end his resignation reflected in her face.

'What's up?' she asked after he rang off.

'He's dead.'

'Who?'

'Halvorsen. He died in the night. Nine minutes past two. While I was out by the barn.'

Part Four MERCY 29

Monday, 22 December. The Commanding Officer.

It was the shortest day of the year, but for inspector Harry Hole the day seemed impossibly long before it had even started.

After hearing the news of Halvorsen's death he had first gone for a walk outdoors. Trudged through the deep snow to the woods and sat there watching day break. He had hoped the cold would freeze, alleviate or, at least, numb his feelings.

Then he had walked back. Martine had watched him with questions in her eyes, but said nothing. He had drunk a cup of coffee, kissed her on the cheek and got into the car. In the mirror, Martine had seemed even smaller standing on the step with her arms crossed.

Harry drove home, had a shower, changed clothes and flicked through the papers on the coffee table three times before giving up, bewildered. For the umpteenth time since the day before yesterday he would check his watch only to see his bare wrist. He fetched Moller's watch from the drawer in the bedside table. It was still working and would have to do for the time being. He drove to Police HQ and parked in the garage beside Hagen's Audi.

Walking up the stairs to the sixth floor he could hear voices, footsteps and laughter resounding in the atrium. But when the Crime Squad department door closed behind him it was as though the volume had been switched off. In the corridor he met an officer who observed him, shook his head in silence and walked on.

'Hi, Harry.'

He turned. It was Toril Li. He could not recall her using his first name before.

'How are you doing?' she asked.

Harry was about to answer, opened his mouth, but realised all of a sudden that he had no voice.

'We thought we might assemble after the briefing to pay our respects,' Toril Li said with brisk delicacy, as though to cover for him.

Harry nodded in silent gratitude.

'Maybe you could get in touch with Beate?'

'Of course.'

Harry stood in front of his office door. He had been dreading this moment. Then he entered.

In Halvorsen's chair sat a person leaning back and bobbing up and down, as if he had been waiting.

'Good morning, Harry,' said Gunnar Hagen.

Harry hung his jacket on the hatstand without replying.

'Sorry,' Hagen said. 'Poor choice of words.'

'What do you want?' Harry sat down.

'To express my regret about what has happened. I'll do the same at the morning meeting, but first I want to do it face to face with you. Jack was your closest colleague, wasn't he?'

'Halvorsen.'

'I beg your pardon.'

Harry rested his head in his hands. 'We called him Halvorsen.'

Hagen nodded. 'Halvorsen. One more thing, Harry-'

'I thought I had the requisition order at home,' Harry said between his fingers. 'But it's gone.'

'Oh that…' Hagen shifted; he seemed uncomfortable in the chair. 'I wasn't thinking about the gun. With regard to travel expense cutbacks, I've asked accounts to present me with all receipts for approval. It turns out you've been to Zagreb. I don't recall having authorised any foreign travel. And if the Norwegian police have carried out any investigations there, it is a flagrant breach of instructions.'

They've finally found it, thought Harry, his face still buried in his hands. The blunder they have been waiting for. The formal reason for kicking the alkie inspector back to where he belongs, among the uncivilised civilians. Harry tried to sound out what he felt. But the only thing he was conscious of was relief.

'You'll have my notice on your desk tomorrow, boss.'

'I have no idea what you're talking about,' Hagen said. 'I assume there has been no investigation in Zagreb. That would have been very embar-rassing for all concerned.'

Harry looked up.

'The way I read it,' Hagen said, 'you've been on a little study trip to Zagreb.'

'Study trip, boss?'

'Yes, an unspecified study trip. And here is my written consent to your oral enquiry about a study trip to Zagreb.' A printed A4 sheet sailed over the desk and landed in front of Harry. 'And so this business should be a thing of the past.' Hagen stood up and went to the wall where the photo of Ellen Gjelten hung. 'Halvorsen is the second partner you've lost, isn't he?'

Harry inclined his head. It went quiet in the cramped, windowless room.

Then Hagen coughed. 'You've seen the little piece of carved bone on my desk, haven't you? I bought it in Nagasaki. It's a copy of the little finger belonging to Yoshito Yasuda, a well-known Japanese battalion commander.' He turned to Harry. 'The Japanese usually cremate their dead, but in Burma they had to bury them because there were so many and it can take up to two hours for a body to burn out. So instead they would cut off a little finger, cremate it and send the ashes home to the family. After a decisive battle by Pegu in the spring of 1943 the Japanese were forced to retreat and hide in the jungle. The battalion commander begged his superior officer to attack that same evening so that they could recover the bones of their dead men. His request was rejected – the victors' numbers were too large – and that evening he stood weeping before his men in the light of the campfire and told them of the CO's decision. On seeing the hopelessness in his men's faces, he dried his tears, drew his bayonet, laid his hand on a tree stump, cut off his little finger and threw it on the fire. The men cheered. It came to the CO's ears and the next day the Japanese attacked in full force.'