The Snowman ( PDFDrive )

‘Fine, but our responsibility is not for the country, Harry. It’s for Oslo Police District.’ Hagen
smacked both palms down to indicate that the audience was over.
‘The problem,’ Harry said, rubbing his chin, ‘is that it’s come to Oslo.’
‘What it?’
‘Last night I found Birte Becker’s mobile phone in a snowman. I don’t know quite what it is, boss.
But I think we need to find out. Quick.’
‘These statistics are interesting,’ Hagen said, absent-mindedly taking Battalion Commander
Yasuda’s little finger and pressing his thumb into it. ‘And I also appreciate that this latest
disappearance is grounds for concern. But it’s not enough. So tell me: what was it that actually
made you ask Skarre to write this report?’
Harry looked at Hagen. Then he pulled a dog-eared envelope from his inside pocket and passed it to
Hagen.
‘This was in my mailbox after I did the TV show at the beginning of September. Until now I had
thought it was a madman’s work.’
Hagen took out the letter, and after reading the six sentences, shook his head at Harry. ‘The
snowman? And what is/are the Murri?’
‘That’s exactly the point,’ Harry said. ‘I’m afraid this is the it.’
The POB gave him a nonplussed look.
‘I hope I’m wrong,’ Harry said, ‘but I think we have some hellishly dark days ahead of us.’
Hagen sighed. ‘What do you want, Harry?’
‘I want an investigation team.’
Hagen studied Harry. In common with most other officers at Police HQ, he regarded Harry as a
self-willed, arrogant, argumentative, unstable alcoholic. Nevertheless, he was glad they were on the
same side and that he wouldn’t have this man snapping at his heels.
‘How many?’ he asked at length. ‘And for how long?’
‘Ten detectives. Two months.’
‘Two weeks?’ said Magnus Skarre. ‘And four people? Is that supposed to be a murder
investigation?’
He looked around with disapproval at the other three squeezed into Harry’s office: Katrine Bratt,
Harry Hole and Bjørn Holm from Krimteknisk, the Forensics Unit.
‘That’s what Hagen’s given me,’ Harry said, tipping back on his chair. ‘And this is not a murder
investigation. For the moment.’
‘What is it actually?’ Katrine Bratt asked. ‘For the moment?’