Neither of the officers said anything for a while. Then Simonsen whistled.
“Bring that creep in here, Poul. Tell him on the way that the Ministry of Justice must have his resignation by the end of the day. And if he makes the slightest bit of trouble . . . Well, I hardly need to tell you. But first of all get him to confirm the colour of Falkenborg’s car, and if he does, call and change the search description. Make sure that our own cars and all taxis get the message right away.”
Troulsen answered tiredly, “It actually tallies with the five calls we’ve already received from witnesses who have seen Falkenborg in a red car. But it has been yellow too of course, and . . . ”
The woman said sadly, “Do you have to punish him? He’s having a hard time. And yesterday I told him that I didn’t want to see him any more.”
She sounded as if the break-up was punishment enough. A few tears rolled down alongside her nose. Troulsen ignored her and left. Simonsen felt sorry for her. She was obviously under the illusion that the world was good, and would probably have to pay dearly on a regular basis for her positive view of life. He placed his hand on her shoulder, and she seized it quickly.
“There are hundreds of police officers who will be ready to break every bone in his body when they hear this, so his continued employment with us is impossible.”
“You don’t need to tell anyone.”
She let out a little sniffle, which he did not respond to, and then another.
“Now I’ll make sure you get a ride home.”
He stroked her hair gently a couple of times and thought that some people you meet too late. Then he sent her away.
CHAPTER 54
The sharp light came on without warning and totally blinded the two women, so that the first they knew of Andreas Falkenborg’s presence was the cry of lament he let out as soon as he entered the room. As little by little they regained their sight, they saw him jumping around on the floor in front of them, waving his arms and legs like a child out of control. Occasionally he shouted furious reproaches at Pauline Berg for the calamity she had inflicted on herself.
“You shouldn’t have done that, you don’t understand anything, you stupid goose!”
His mask hung crookedly, and he made no attempt to straighten it. Pauline said nothing to start with. She had been jolted from a troubled sleep, and the pain in her scalp struck her again full force. She had bitten her lips bloody besides.
“You’re going to get a shock that will make you lose the rest of your hair, that’s what you deserve!”
Jeanette Hvidt twitched nervously when he heard him mention the electric prod, and stammered, “She did it herself. I told her not to, but she begged me, and I couldn’t do anything about it. But I’ll do what he says.”
Falkenborg straightened his mask and stood quietly for a moment while he observed Jeanette, who continued to protest her innocence. He commanded curtly, “She will be quiet.”
Jeanette fell silent immediately. Pauline said in a controlled voice, “You can torture me as much as you want, with your cowardly electric stick, but that won’t make my hair grow, Andreas. Maybe it would be a good idea to think about getting as far away as possible while you have the chance. Here in the Copenhagen area thousands of people are searching for you, and it’s only a matter of time before they find you. And in that connection there is a little unwritten rule within the police force that you probably aren’t aware of, but you soon will be in a very unpleasant way.”
To start with he ignored her bait. Soon however he asked, “What rule is that?”
“That anyone who tortures a police officer gets the exact same medicine from their colleagues when he is caught. And, believe me, you’re going to be caught.”
“You’re lying.”
“All right then. By all means keep on living in your dream world, I don’t care. Go and get your silly prod, if you want. I’m not half as scared of it as you will be when they use it on you. By the way, that couldn’t possibly be a substitute for your dick, little Andreas, could it? You know, I think it is. You’re impotent, aren’t you? Even there you can’t live up to your father, you miserable little creep.”
“Shut your damn’ mouth.”
“Certainly not. Aren’t you going out to get the prod? Just admit you can’t manage without it.”
“You can’t allow yourself to talk that way. As a police officer you have a duty to talk properly.”
“Andreas, there is no end to your childish idiocy. Go out then and get your prod, and let’s get it over with. I’m just going to say to you that whether or not you give me a shock, I’m going to say you did when we’re found. I’ll say the same thing too if you bother Jeanette, and it will be a real pleasure to see you writhing in pain while three of my colleagues hold you, and another one empties the whole battery into your forehead.”
Falkenborg pleaded.