Holger Munch washed down the painkillers with water from the tap and wheezed as he looked at his reflection in the mirror above the sink.
What the hell?
He splashed cold water on his face, but the pain still refused to ease. Perhaps his doctor had been right, after all. Unhealthy. Exercise more. Smoke less. Was that why he felt so bad?
The fat investigator wiped his face with the sleeve of his jumper and continued to breathe slowly in and out while he waited for the pills to work. They were taking a five-minute break in their briefing. The others were waiting for him. On edge. They all had been since this latest name had appeared.
Jacob Marstrander.
Munch had had his doubts to begin with; there had been so many false starts in this investigation, so many suspects already, but now he was sure: this was the man they were looking for.
The only problem was that Jacob Marstrander would appear to have vanished into thin air. It had been two days now, and still nothing. They had turned over his flat in Ullevålsveien, but to no avail. They had raided his office, a small one-person operation, JM Consult, but found nothing which could tell them anything about his whereabouts.
A sick bastard.
Munch stuck his head under the tap and drank more water, finally feeling the painkillers taking effect. He took a last look in the mirror, ran his hand across his face, plastered on a smile and walked calmly back into the incident room.
‘OK, where were we?’ he said, taking up his position by the screen. ‘Ludvig?’
‘Still nothing from any of the airports,’ Grønlie said. ‘Of course, he could have tried to get away by train, or in a car, but we have no records of anyone by that name crossing the border.’
‘So he’s still in Norway?’
‘We don’t know,’ Kim Kolsø said. ‘But we have alerted Interpol.’
‘Good.’ Munch nodded.
‘And Marstrander’s photograph?’
‘Was distributed this morning to all the newspapers – that was what you wanted, wasn’t it?’ Anette Goli said.
‘We all agreed, didn’t we?’ Munch said.
‘No, not all of us,’ Curry grunted.
‘Leave it, please, Curry. No more.’ Goli sighed.
‘What?’
‘We did agree,’ Ludvig Grønlie interjected.
‘It’s stupid, that’s all I’m saying,’ Curry grunted again. ‘It happens every time. Once you put a picture in the media, the phones won’t stop ringing with calls from well-meaning idiots who think they have seen someone suspicious lurking around their garage. I mean—’
‘The last time I checked, I was in charge of this unit,’ Munch said sternly. ‘And I gave the order to release his picture today, didn’t I?’
‘I know,’ Curry went on. ‘I just—’
‘It’s already on the Internet,’ Ylva said, holding up her mobile.
‘Good. Let’s hope it pays off.’
Munch’s head throbbed. He took a sip of water from the bottle on the table. ‘OK, anything else?’ He looked around the room. ‘Where is Mia?’ he said with a frown.
‘I got a text message. She had something to do. She’ll be here later,’ Grønlie said.
‘Like what?’
‘She didn’t say.’
‘All right.’ Munch sounded irritated, and had to take a moment before he continued. ‘It has been two days, and no one has seen neither hide nor hair of Jacob Marstrander. That’s just not good enough, people. Someone must know something. He must have been seen somewhere. Was his car registered leaving the capital?’
‘There’s nothing from any of the toll roads,’ Kim said.
‘What about his phone?’
‘According to Telenor, it was last used at his home address on Friday,’ Gabriel Mørk said. ‘Since then, not a squeak.’
‘And the computer we found in his office?’
‘Completely blank,’ Gabriel said.
‘Seriously, guys?’ Munch sighed. ‘Nothing?’
‘Do you want us to interview the residents at the Nurseries again?’ Kim Kolsø wanted to know. ‘I know we were there yesterday, but some of the girls could be hiding something?’
‘It’s worth a try,’ Munch said. ‘Will you do it?’
Kim nodded.
‘That leaflet we found,’ Ylva ventured cautiously.
‘Yes?’
‘Stop Løken Farm. The Animal Protection League.’
‘Yes? Any luck?’
‘Nothing so far, but there’s something a bit odd …’
Munch grew impatient as his headache returned with a vengeance. ‘Check it again,’ he said abruptly. ‘Check for any links to – what were they called again?’
‘The Animal Liberation Front.’
‘Yes. Good. Try again. See if we can rustle up something there. Three days, people, this isn’t good enough.’
Munch took another sip of water from the bottle as his mobile vibrated on the table in front of him.
Marianne?
Munch made his excuses and quickly went out onto the balcony.
‘Hello?’
‘Holger?’
He could tell from her voice. Even after all these years.
That something was wrong.
‘Are you there, Holger?’ Her voice was trembling.
‘Yes, I’m here, Marianne. What’s the matter?’
He found a cigarette in his jacket pocket.
‘Have you heard from Miriam?’
‘What, no? Not for a few days, why?’
It grew quiet on the other end.
‘It’s just that …’
‘What’s the matter?’ Munch said again, lighting his cigarette.
‘She was supposed to pick Marion up last night, but I can’t get hold of her.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I’ve been looking after Marion …’
‘Is Miriam away?’
‘I’m not sure,’ Marianne went on. ‘I mean, I don’t want to cause trouble, but I didn’t know who else to call.’
‘Of course you should call me,’ Munch said.
‘You don’t mind?’
‘Of course not, Marianne. I’m sure it’s nothing,’ Munch tried. ‘You know what Miriam can be like—’
‘She’s not fifteen any more, Holger,’ Marianne cut him off. ‘I’m worried. She was supposed to be here last night. She lied to me, Holger.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘She said she was helping Julie with something, but I’ve called Julie, and yes, it took a little time, but it turns out it was more than that.’
‘More than what?’
‘A raid.’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘An illegal raid. She wasn’t helping Julie, she just used her as an excuse.’
Munch was struggling to keep up.
‘What raid is this, Marianne?’
‘It took time, but I made Julie tell me in the end. She has gone back to protesting again.’
‘Miriam?’
‘Are you even listening to me, Holger?’ Her voice was shrill now, and Munch finally was fully alert. His headache was gone.
‘Calm down, Marianne,’ Munch said, taking another drag on his cigarette. ‘I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about. We’ve seen this before, haven’t we? It’s just like her. Rebellious. You know what Miriam is like, she always has to—’
‘Christ, Holger, she’s missing! Are you even listening to what I’m saying?’
‘Of course I’m listening to you. She joined in with a raid? What raid?’
‘Animal Protection League,’ Marianne said. ‘Some place out in Hurum. Only she was supposed to be back last night.’
‘Start from the beginning. Where was she going?’
‘Julie said that something went wrong,’ Marianne explained. ‘So it was called off. The raid. They had agreed in advance that they would go into hiding for three days, should anything go wrong.’
‘So she’s in hiding?’ Munch said, somewhat confused.
‘No, Holger. The guy who gave Miriam a lift is the one whose picture is all over the Internet.’
‘Who is?’
‘The man you’re looking for. From the other case.’
Far away, on the other end of the line, Marianne sounded as if her strength was running out. ‘I’m scared, Holger,’ Marianne whispered.
‘Are you talking about Jacob Marstrander?’
‘Yes,’ Marianne whispered.
What the hell?
‘When did you talk to Julie?’
It was impossible.
‘Two minutes ago. Just now.’
How could …? How did …?
‘And Julie is sure that Miriam got into his car?’
‘Julie told me about him. She was scared. She thinks something must have happened. None of the others can contact him either.’
This isn’t happening.
‘Is Julie at home now?’
Keep your voice steady. Don’t make Marianne more worried than she already is.
‘Yes, in Møllergata. Do you remember where she lives?’
Miriam.
‘Yes, yes, of course I remember.’
Animal Protection League.
‘So will you talk to her?’
No.
‘Of course, Marianne. I’m going to hang up now, so I can call her, OK? I’ll talk to you very soon.’
This isn’t happening.
Munch rang off and ran back to the incident room, where he was met by gawping faces.
‘Curry. Kim. You’re coming with me!’ Munch shouted.
Two shocked faces looked back at him.
‘OK?’
‘The rest of you, I need everything we have about an attempt to free some animals, a raid that was allegedly planned to take place in Hurum a few days ago by the Animal Protection League. I need everything you can find. Start with Julie Vik. She’s our way in. I need that information now. Yesterday.’
‘What are we—’ Ludvig Grønlie began, but Munch was already out of the door.