The Snowman ( PDFDrive )

person as Harry arrived in the cabin cruiser. He, two police officers and the duty psychiatrist joined
him below deck where Katrine Bratt lay handcuffed to the bed. She was given a shot of an antipsychotic
tranquilliser and transported to a waiting vehicle.
Müller-Nilsen thanked Harry for agreeing to handle the matter with discretion.
‘Let’s try and keep this to ourselves,’ Harry said, looking up at the leaking heavens. ‘Oslo will want
to take control if this is made public.’
‘Course,’ nodded Müller-Nilsen.
‘Kjersti Rødsmoen,’ said a voice that made them turn round. ‘The psychiatrist.’
The woman peering up at Harry was in her forties, with light, tousled hair and a big, bright red
down jacket. She was holding a cigarette in her hand and didn’t appear to be bothered that the rain
was drenching both her and the cigarette.
‘Was it dramatic?’ she asked.
‘No,’ Harry said, feeling Katrine’s revolver pressing against his skin under his waistband. ‘She
surrendered without resistance.’
‘What did she say?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Nothing?’
‘Not a word. What’s your diagnosis?’
‘Obviously a psychosis,’ Rødsmoen said without hesitation. ‘Which does not imply in any way that
she’s mad. It’s just the mind’s way of managing the unmanageable. Much the same as the brain
choosing to faint when the pain is too great. I would conjecture that she’s been under extreme stress
for a lengthy period. Could that be correct?’
Harry nodded. ‘Will she be able to speak again?
‘Yes,’ Kjersti Rødsmoen said, gazing with disapproval at the wet, extinguished cigarette. ‘But I
don’t know when. Right now she needs rest.’
‘Rest?’ snorted Müller-Nilsen. ‘She’s a serial killer.’
‘And I’m a psychiatrist,’ Rødsmoen said, dispensing with the cigarette and departing in the
direction of a small red Honda that even in the pouring rain looked dusty.
‘What are you going to do?’ Müller-Nilsen asked.
‘Catch the last plane home,’ Harry said.
‘No shit. You look like a skeleton. The station’s got a deal with Rica Travel Hotel. We can drive
you there and send on some dry clothes. They’ve got a restaurant, too.’