The Snowman ( PDFDrive )

‘Happen to be?’
‘There are around eighteen thousand doctors in Norway. Do you know how many known diseases
there are in the world?’ Vetlesen motioned with his head to the wall of diplomas. ‘Fahr’s syndrome
happened to be part of a course I went on in Switzerland about nerve channels. The little I learned
was enough to make me a specialist in Norway.’
‘What can you tell us about Birte Becker and Sylvia Ottersen?’
Vetlesen hunched his shoulders. ‘They came here with their children once a year. I examined them,
was unable to determine any deterioration of their conditions, and, apart from that, I know nothing
of their lives. Or for that matter –’ he tossed back his fringe – ‘their deaths.’
‘Do you believe him?’ Harry asked as they drove past the deserted fields.
‘Not entirely,’ Katrine said.
‘Nor me,’ Harry said. ‘I think we should concentrate on this and drop Bergen for the time being.’
‘No,’ said Katrine.
‘No?’
‘There’s a link here somewhere.’
‘Which is?’
‘I don’t know. It sounds wild, but perhaps there’s a link between Rafto and Vetlesen. Perhaps that’s
how Rafto’s managed to hide all these years.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘That he quite simply got himself a mask. An authentic mask. A facelift.’
‘From Vetlesen?’
‘It could explain the coincidence of having two victims with the same doctor. Rafto could have seen
Birte and Sylvia at the clinic and decided they would be his victims.’
‘You’re jumping the gun,’ Harry said.
‘Jumping the gun?’
‘This kind of murder investigation is like doing a jigsaw puzzle. In the opening phase you collect
the pieces, play with them, you’re patient. What you’re doing is trying to force the pieces into
position. It’s too early.’
‘I’m just saying things out loud to someone. To see if they sound idiotic.’
‘They sound idiotic.’
‘This isn’t the way to Police HQ,’ she said.