Pedersen did not give up. “It can wait. Come on, Simon.”
But it was too late. An impeccably dressed man came into the room. Both Simonsen and Pedersen knew him from a previous case. His name was Helmer Hammer and he was employed in the Prime Minister’s office—a charming person, who consistently downplayed his influence, and as a rule got things done the way he wanted them. Both detectives liked him, which did not however prevent Pedersen from receiving him with a bad-tempered torrent of words.
“We weren’t the ones who embarrassed the little worm from the Foreign Ministry, and if you want to speak to Simon, you’ll have to wait a couple of hours until he’s rested.”
As usual Helmer Hammer was one step ahead.
“Well, I don’t mind waiting. It’s no skin off my nose. But I thought you’d like to know that the little worm from the Foreign Ministry is in the process of arranging a videoconference for this evening, and he has asked if Simon has time to participate.”
“Is it Berlin calling?”
It was Pedersen again.
“No, now it’s a ship in the Caribbean . . . Though naturally it’s wrong of me to come rushing in and then expect you to drop everything else. Even though my errand will only take ten minutes, I apologise . . . ”
But a bell was already ringing in Simonsen’s head. When he and the Countess had been obliged to cancel their Caribbean trip, she had suggested that his daughter Anna Mia should go instead. Completely free, with a friend if she liked. She did. The agreement was that Anna Mia would phone home occasionally, but so far he had not heard from her. He’d assumed it was due to poor signal.
“Just a moment. What kind of conference is this?” he asked.
“They are calling it a trust-building initiative. The kind they’re really good at in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
“And what do I have to do in return?”
“Nothing, that’s the whole point. Consider it his apology for flying off the handle at you earlier.”
“Sounds like a trick to me.”
“But it’s not, you have my word on that. He made an ass of himself, and now he’s trying to make up for it.”
“Then I’d be happy to agree. Will you tell him for me?
“Yes, no problem. And while I’m here, tell me, is there a place we can talk undisturbed? I meant what I said, it will only take ten minutes.”
Simonsen threw out his arms.
“No one will interrupt us here.”
The two men walked down the corridor together while Helmer Hammer explained.
“I’m here because I want some advice from you, and at the same time I want to ask for a favour. First the advice: some people have become aware that there is a handful of young constables who have passed a number of examinations in legal studies before dropping out of university and attending the police academy instead. Now, the idea is to help them complete their degree in law while they are training as constables. It’s good economics: we gain extremely capable police employees for a relatively modest outlay. I would like to hear what you think about that plan, as a chief inspector.”
Simonsen shook his head in disbelief at such a virtuoso display of manipulation, marvellously downplayed so that it was impossible to be genuinely annoyed by it. Helmer Hammer knew perfectly well that Simonsen’s daughter had skipped two years of legal studies and would soon be finished at the police academy. He also knew that the loosely sketched education project was bait that her father could not refuse.
“You’re simply too much. So how can I help you?”
“I’ll take that as confirmation that you like the concept. With respect to the favour I want to ask for, I’ve run into a problem. The man from the Foreign Ministry who visited your lecture is named Bertil Hampel-Koch, and his title is actually not worm, but general director. God knows he can be a sourpuss sometimes and even a little arrogant. He’s also constantly getting mixed up in every possible territorial pissing contest, which unfortunately he’s not alone in, definitely not. Now and then the central administration at Slotsholmen is a real kindergarten, but Bertil is also a very competent person, who can be a good and faithful supporter if you get to know him. Besides, you can rely on him, he always keeps his agreements.”
“And how do I get to know this gentleman?”
“By sending him a brief email, preferably just a couple of lines, every evening about how the investigation is proceeding. If there’s nothing new, tell him that. If an important development happens, email as soon as you have time.”
“Is that all?”
“No, not quite. You will also get to know him by visiting him every now and then, if he wants that.”
“According to my calendar, not his.”
“I have emphasised that detail.”
“And he went along with it?”