by Samuel Bjork
Mia was increasingly talking to herself. Her knotted thoughts began to unravel, all the things that had lain concealed in the shadows of her mind.
‘This woman is incredibly caring. She loves children. She wants to protect them. She washes them and gets them ready. It’s not going to hurt. Now, two things.’
Mia coughed slightly. She felt exhausted, but she had to go on.
‘Two things. This was what confused me to begin with. The chaos, the symbols … I didn’t see at first, so many traps and hints, and yes, well, I didn’t see initially, but I think we’re dealing with two separate issues. One is the girls. She doesn’t want the baby to be alone. That’s it, that’s it. It was her fault that the baby died. She was responsible. She wants to make amends. Find some friends for the baby. But that was our mistake. We should have stopped her. Damn, I’m losing my train of thought here.’
‘Two things,’ Curry prompted her gently.
‘Yes, thank you. Two things. Number one: she kills the girls so that the baby, who is now six years old, won’t have to be alone. In heaven. Number two: she wants to get Munch. Sorry, it was obvious all along. But that’s why it was so muddled to begin with. That’s why we made such a mess of it. We need to look at everything from both of those angles, even though she’s mixing two motives to confuse us. Number one: she kills the girls so that the girl she stole won’t have to be alone in heaven. Number two: she wants to get her own back on the police. Take revenge. Get Munch. Somehow, she killed the baby, but she blames Munch. I think …’
Mia Krüger was completely exhausted now. She was barely able to talk.
‘What do you think, Mia?’ Munch said to support her.
‘She wants to be caught,’ Anette said.
‘What do you mean?’ Munch said.
‘She wants to be caught,’ Anette continued. ‘She shows us what she’s doing. Toni J. W. Smith. The girls at the Fort. Calling the journalists. She wants to be caught, doesn’t she, Mia?’
Mia nodded.
‘I agree. Good thinking. She wants to be stopped. She’s almost reckless. She’s revealing more and more to us. Because she’s going up there, too. To heaven. To be with her baby again. She’s going to be …’
Mia was unable to go on. She collapsed, exhausted, on the table, gasping for breath. Munch went up to her and put his hand on her shoulder.
‘Are you all right?’
Mia nodded slowly.
‘This is starting to make sense,’ Munch said, turning to the team. ‘Bloody brilliant. A woman. I believe it. I can see it. So which women have we already considered?’
‘The woman with two different-coloured eyes,’ Ludvig said.
‘Someone from the church?’ Curry said.
‘Staff at Høvikveien Care Home,’ Gabriel said.
Mia looked at Ludvig Grønlie.
‘Anything? Any links? Veronica Bache’s mobile?’
‘I’m sorry, nothing yet. We’re still working on it,’ Ludvig Grønlie said.
‘Oh, Christ, I’m slow!’ Mia burst out.
‘What is it?’
‘Charlie. Charlie Brun.’
‘Who?’ Munch said.
‘A friend. He runs a transvestite club in Tøyen. He told me about her. The woman with different-coloured eyes. He’s seen her several times. God, I’m an idiot.’
‘Bring him in,’ Munch said. ‘We have to find this woman. Who knows, perhaps she’s the woman from the photofit, the one our eyewitness saw in Skullerud. God knows, it’s a long shot, but why not give it a go? We’ll let this Charlie meet every woman whose name has cropped up in the investigation who would have been in a position to pay Veronica Bache’s mobile bills after her death, all staff at the care home and anyone connected to this church. And if we get a hit, check with the pensioner if it’s the same woman.’
As Mia was heading out of the door, Anette pulled her to one side.
‘Are you sure about this?’ Anette whispered.
‘About what?’
‘This whole set-up? You don’t think Munch is too close? I mean, a threat has been made against his grandchild. His mother might be involved. Shouldn’t he step aside? Let someone else take charge?’
‘Holger knows what he’s doing,’ Mia said sharply.
‘Let’s hope so,’ Anette said.
Chapter 54
‘What do you think?’ Charlie said, twirling in front of Mia in the bedroom.
He had chosen an old-fashioned floral tea dress, shiny knee-length silver boots, white gloves that reached all the way up to his elbows and a green feather boa.
‘Don’t you have an ordinary jumper and a pair of ordinary trousers?’ Mia heaved a sigh.
‘Really, Mia, you’re crushing freedom of expression here. I’m an artist, I’m a mobile work of art, didn’t you know that?’
Charlie rummaged through his wardrobe and made a big deal out of showing her how difficult it was.
‘All right, all right, Charlie, point taken.’
‘I’ve got it!’
Charlie turned around and was one big smile.
‘Mr Freud.’
‘Mr who?’
Charlie clapped his hands and jumped up and down like a little girl.
‘Mr Freud. He hasn’t been on an outing for a long time. He was in the cabaret. It’s Swinging Again in 2004. You know that The Swingers Club and the Association for Transgender People held several …’
‘Enough,’ Mia said. ‘I don’t need to know everything you get up to. Mr Freud is fine, just get a move on.’
Charlie took a suit bag out of his wardrobe and disappeared into the bathroom. He returned, dressed as a dandy in a black suit with a pink tie and patent-leather shoes. He looked like a cross between James Bond and Egon Olsen.
‘What do you think?’
Charlie smiled and spun around once more.
‘Stunning,’ Mia said.
‘Am I man enough now?’
‘Very manly. The ladies at the care home will throw roses at you.’
‘Do you think so?’ Charlie chuckled.
‘I’m sure of it,’ Mia said. ‘Now come on.’
Charlie followed her out to the waiting car. On their way to Høvik, Mia wondered if she should tell Charlie that he was not going there to perform but simply to look at photographs of the staff on a computer, but she decided against it. They had called the care home in advance and, fortunately, they had photographs of all staff members on record. New security requirements made it essential for all staff to carry photo ID; it would make their work so much easier.
Holger Munch was waiting outside the care home for them when they arrived.
Charlie bowed and greeted him politely.
‘Nice to meet you,’ Munch said, smiling slightly. ‘Like the suit.’
‘Has Mia explained to you why we’re here?’
‘I’m working undercover, isn’t that right?’ Charlie winked.
‘Yes, exactly. What we need you to do is to look through some photographs on a computer here, tell us if you recognize Roger Bakken’s friend.’
‘I can do that.’ Charlie smiled.
‘Her eyes were different colours, am I right?’
‘Yes,’ Charlie nodded. ‘One brown and one blue. I knew there was something mysterious about her.’
‘Well, that might be going a bit far,’ Munch said. ‘We just want to have a word with her, that’s all.’
‘I understand.’ Charlie winked again. ‘Top-secret police business.’
At that moment, the door opened and the woman Holger had been talking to outside the last time they were here came out.
‘This is Karen Nylund,’ Holger said.
The woman, who looked to be in her late thirties, was slim, with long, strawberry blonde hair and a beautiful smile. Charlie bowed and took her hand.
‘This is Charlie. H’s helping us today. And this is Mia, my colleague.’
Mia shook Karen’s hand.
‘Nice to meet you,’ Karen said with
a smile. ‘I’ve been trying to get hold of Karianne, but she’s not answering her phone; she’s quite strict about things like that. She doesn’t want to be disturbed when she is off work.’
Mia did not ask, but concluded that Karianne must be the manager of the care home.
‘But is it all right if we take a look?’ Holger said.
‘Yes, I don’t see why not.’ Karen smiled. ‘I’m glad to be of service.’
Mia still said nothing. She had been a little worried about the paperwork; they needed a warrant, and these things usually took time, but she expected that Holger must have called in a favour from the staff at the care home because they already knew him.
‘Excellent,’ Holger said. ‘Shall we go inside?’
They followed Karen inside the care home and into one of the offices. Charlie strutted like a peacock through the corridors, bowing politely right and left.
‘Here we are,’ Karen said, indicating a computer on the table.
Suddenly, she looked a little hesitant.
‘This is a shared computer used by all staff members, and none of residents have access to it, but I guess it’s OK for you to look at it? I mean, you are the police?’
Karen glanced at Holger, who nodded to reassure her. Mia suppressed a smile.
‘It’ll be fine, Karen,’ he said, patting her tentatively on the shoulder. ‘I’ll take responsibility, so you don’t have to worry about a thing.’
‘Oh, good.’ Karen smiled again. ‘It’s just that, well, Karianne can be quite strict sometimes, but she’s also very nice, and she’s a good boss.’
She added the latter hastily, as if she did not want to be caught speaking ill of anyone.
‘Like I said, I’ll take the responsibility.’ Munch smiled and moved another chair in front of the screen so that Charlie could sit down.
‘Do you want me to stay?’ Karen asked.
‘Yes, that would be good. In case we have any questions.’
‘Not a problem,’ Karen said. ‘We’ll be serving lunch in a little while, but not yet.’
‘Good,’ Holger said, sitting down on the chair next to Charlie.
He grabbed the mouse and clicked on the file Karen had found for him.
‘Do we scroll down?’
‘Just use the arrows.’ Karen smiled, pointing to the keyboard.
Holger pressed the arrow key and the first picture appeared. The caption identified her as Birgitte Lundamo.
‘No,’ Charlie said, looking very grave, to prove that he was taking the job seriously.
Holger pressed the key again. This time a picture of a Guro Olsen appeared.
‘No,’ Charlie said again.
‘How many employees have you got?’ Mia asked.
‘We have fifty-eight residents and twenty-two – no, twenty-three staff – in total. Some work full time, others part time; in addition, we have a list of temps we call on when someone is off sick.’
‘And they’re all on the file?’
‘Yes, we have a details of everyone.’ Karen smiled once more.
‘No,’ Charlie said.
Holger Munch pressed again. This time the name Malin Stoltz came up on the screen.
‘That’s her,’ Charlie said with a nod.
‘Are you sure?’ Mia said.
‘Absolutely,’ Charlie said.
‘But her eyes aren’t different colours?’
‘It’s her,’ Charlie insisted.
Mia swore softly. She had met this girl. It was the girl with the long, raven-black hair she had chatted to the first time she had been here while she waited for Holger.
‘Do you know her, Karen?’
‘Yes, I do.’ Karen nodded, and looked slightly frightened for the first time. ‘What has she done?’
‘It’s too early to say,’ Holger said, noting down the address on the screen.
‘How well do you know her?’ Mia said.
‘Really well,’ Karen said. ‘But only through work. She’s nice enough. All the residents like her.’
‘Have you ever been to her home?’
‘No, I haven’t. Please tell me why you’re looking for her. It makes me feel – well, it makes me feel a bit scared.’
She looked at Munch, who rose to reassure her.
‘She’s just a witness, Karen.’
‘Ugh.’ Karen shuddered and shook her head.
‘Like I said, just a witness.’
‘Have we got her address?’ Mia said.
Munch glanced over Karen’s shoulder and gave Mia a note with the address. He gestured for her to go outside to make the call so as not to upset Karen further.
Charlie sat on the chair, looking slightly put out.
‘Was that all?’
‘It was.’ Munch nodded. ‘Well done, Charlie.’
‘Good job, Charlie,’ Mia said, half running outside to call Curry.
‘Yes?’
‘We have a name and an address,’ Mia said.
She could barely conceal her excitement.
‘Malin Stoltz. Born in 1977. Long, pitch-black hair. About 1.7 metres, weighs about sixty-five kilos.’
She read out the address on the note to him.
‘Is that her?’ Curry said.
‘Yes, Charlie identified her immediately.’
She could hear Curry shout orders out into the room before he came back on the phone.
‘We’re on our way there now. I’ll see you there.’
Mia ended the call and found a lozenge in her pocket. She had spoken to her. Stood very close to her. Not realized it. She hadhad blue eyes. Lenses, probably. Damn, how stupid could you get?
Charlie appeared outside on the steps, closely followed by Munch, and Karen, who was still looking anxious.
‘I’ll call you,’ Munch said, taking Karen’s hand.
‘Thanks for your help, Karen,’ Mia said again.
‘Oh, don’t mention it,’ said woman with the strawberry-blonde hair, trying to muster a smile and not quite succeeding.
‘Was that all?’ Charlie said again, clearly unhappy.
‘Well done, Charlie,’ Mia said.
Munch said goodbye to Karen yet again and walked quickly to his car.
‘Are you coming with me, Mia?’
‘Yes,’ Mia nodded, following him.
‘What about me?’ Charlie said, flinging out his arms.
‘He’ll give you a lift home,’ Mia said, pointing to the police officer who had driven her and Charlie up here.
‘Not even a cup of coffee?’
‘Next time,’ Mia shouted as she jumped into the car.
Munch hit the accelerator and pulled out on Høvikveien so fast the tyres squealed on the tarmac.
Chapter 55
Malin Stoltz had slept badly. She had had such bizarre dreams. That an angel had come to fetch her. That it was all over. Now I can stop doing this, she had thought in her sleep or her dream; she wasn’t sure which was real and which wasn’t. But an angel had come to her. A beautiful, white angel girl. The angel had held out her hand to her and told her to follow. She could leave the earth now. She would never have to do this again. And Malin Stoltz had been so relieved and so happy that, when she woke up, she had been unable to go back to sleep. She had different-coloured eyes today. One brown and one blue. This was who she was. For real. She had been teased about it when she was little. People had called her a freak and a weirdo. Only cats had different-coloured eyes. You look like a stupid cat. And they had not meant a nice cat either, but a stray. Whose fur fell off in clumps because it was riddled with diseases. Even though her doctor had said it was a common condition. Heterochromia. No, not common. It wasn’t common, but neither was it as unusual as many people thought. The doctor had explained to her that it was a genetic fault. No, not a fault. When genes changed at the embryonic stage, a mutation might occur where the gene for blue eyes might partly dominate an individual who was meant to have two brown eyes. A mutation. A mutant. The doctor had called her a mutant. She w
as a mutant with different-coloured eyes, and that explained why she was not herself. Why she should have been someone else. That was what the doctor had said. Or had she read it somewhere? The doctor had said nothing of the sort. She had read about it on the Internet. And in Science Illustrated. The doctor had issues of Science Illustrated in his surgery when she went to find out if she was able to have children. The doctor had said that she could not have children because she was a mutant. That she was not supposed to be who she was, that she should have been someone else. Even though many celebrities had different-coloured eyes. Dan Ackroyd. David Bowie. Jane Seymour. Christopher Walken. None of them had to be anyone else, even though some of them had changed their name. Malin Stoltz had dreamt that an angel had come for her, that she would not need to do this ever again, and she had been so happy that she had woken up. Afterwards she couldn’t fall asleep again. She had spent a couple of hours in front of the bathroom mirror. The doctor had given her pills. Told her she was not normal. That she was a mutant who had to take pills. Malin did not like the pills. She took them only occasionally, when she heard voices in her head, but she did not take them often enough to be normal.
Malin Stoltz stood in front of the cooker. She was hungry. She had not eaten for a long time and she had slept badly. And she had forgotten to buy eggs, even though she had put it on the list yesterday. Malin Stoltz was good at faking. She was good at being someone other than herself. As long as she was someone other than herself, everything was fine. Finding work was easy. As long as she was not herself. She returned to the bathroom without knowing why, so she went back to the kitchen and opened the fridge. The clock near the kitchen window showed eight. She was not going to work today and that was good, because she had slept badly.
Malin Stoltz decided to get dressed and go to the shops. Going shopping was easy, as long as you remembered to get dressed. The shops opened early today. It was easy to buy eggs, as long as you remembered to put them in your basket, pay for them and take them home in a carrier bag. Malin Stoltz went to her bedroom to find some clothes, but when she opened the door to her wardrobe, it was full of dairy products. Milk, butter and cream. She closed the door again and discovered that she was in the supermarket. There was a sour smell. It was very early and people had slept badly, that explained the smell. Malin Stoltz had dreamt that an angel had come for her, told her she did not have to be on earth any longer, but now she was in the supermarket buying eggs because she was hungry. Not all days were bad. There were things she could do to make herself feel better. Pretending to be someone else, that made everything better. When she was herself, things did not go so well, just like today, but she had be herself now, because today was a day off, and she was hungry. She had not had a day off for a long time. She had been good, worked hard, been Malin Stoltz, who was polite and normal and had the same colour in both eyes. Soon she would stop being Malin Stoltz, she would become someone else, and she was looking forward to that.
