The Snowman ( PDFDrive )

‘But of course, even for men with personal integrity there are compromises,’ Harry pointed out.
Støp studied him hard.
‘I hope you appreciate,’ Harry said, smacking his lips as if to memorise the precise wording, ‘that as
a policeman I have a duty to exploit this situation.’
Støp nodded slowly.
‘Let’s start with Birte Becker,’ Harry said. ‘How did you meet her?’
‘I think we should stop there,’ a voice said.
They turned to the door. Appearances suggested that Johan Krohn had found time to shower, shave
and iron his shirt.
‘OK,’ Harry said with a shrug. ‘Holm!’
Bjørn Holm’s freckled face appeared in the doorway behind Krohn.
‘Ring Odin Nakken of Verdens Gang,’ Harry said, facing Arve Støp. ‘Is it all right if I return your
clothes later today?’
‘Wait,’ said Støp.
The room went silent as Arve Støp raised both hands and rubbed the backs of his hands against his
forehead as though to start his blood circulating.
‘Johan,’ he said at length, ‘you’ll have to go. I can manage this on my own.’
‘Arve,’ the solicitor said, ‘I don’t think you should –’
‘Go home and sleep, Johan. I’ll call you later.’
‘As your solicitor I have to –’
‘As my solicitor you have to keep your mouth shut and hop it, Johan. Got that?’
Johan Krohn straightened up, mobilised the remainder of his wounded solicitor dignity, then
changed his mind on seeing Støp’s expression. Nodded quickly, turned and left.
‘Where were we?’ Støp asked.
‘At the beginning,’ said Harry.
27
DAY 20.
The Beginning.