The Snowman ( PDFDrive )

‘It’s relevant,’ Katrine said. ‘Because he studied at Bergen University.’
K1 went quiet.
‘A medical student?’ The Chief looked at Harry.
‘Why not?’ Harry said. ‘He took up plastic surgery later, and he says he likes shaping faces.’
‘I checked the places where he trained as a houseman and later worked,’ Katrine said. ‘They don’t
coincide with the disappearances of the women we believe the Snowman has killed. But as a young
doctor you quite often travel. Conferences, short temporary posts.
‘Damn shame Krohn won’t let us talk to the guy,’ Skarre said.
‘Forget it,’ Harry said. ‘We’ll arrest Vetlesen.’
‘What for?’ Hagen said. ‘For studying in Bergen?’
‘For trying to buy sex from minors.’
‘On what basis?’ asked the Chief Superintendent.
‘We have a witness. The owner of Leon. And we have photos connecting Vetlesen with the place.’
‘I hate to say this,’ said Espen Lepsvik, ‘but I know the Leon guy, and he will never testify. The
case won’t stick; you’ll have to release Vetlesen within twenty-four hours, no question.’
‘I know,’ Harry said, looking at his watch. He was working out how long it would take to drive to
Bygdøy. ‘And it’s incredible what people can find to say in that space of time.’
Harry pressed the doorbell once more, thinking it was like the summer holidays when he was small
and everyone had gone and he was the only boy left in Oppsal. When he had stood there ringing the
bell at Øystein’s place or one of the others’, hoping by some miracle that someone would be at
home and not with Grandma in Halden or in a cabin in Son or camping in Denmark. He had pressed
the bells again and again until he knew that only one possibility remained. Tresko. Tresko, with
whom Øystein and he never wanted to play, but who still hung around like a shadow waiting for
them to change their minds, to bring him in from the cold, temporarily. He must have chosen Harry
and Øystein because they weren’t the most popular either, so he reckoned if he was going to be
accepted into a club this was where his greatest hope lay. And now this was his opportunity because
he was the only one left and Harry knew that Tresko was always at home because his family could
never afford to go anywhere and he had no other friends to play with.
Harry heard slippers shuffling inside, and the door opened a crack. The woman’s face lit up. Just
like Tresko’s mother’s face had lit up when she saw Harry. She never invited him in, just called
Tresko, went to get him, gave him an earful, shoved him into his ugly parka and pushed him out
onto the step where he stood looking sulkily at Harry. And Harry knew Tresko knew. And felt his
mute hatred as they walked down to the kiosk. But that was fine. It helped time pass.
‘I’m afraid Idar’s not here,’ fru Vetlesen said. ‘But won’t you come in and wait? He was just going
out for a little drive, he said.’
Harry shook his head, wondering if she could see the blue lights piercing the evening darkness of