“Out with the pictures then, I’ll take a look.”
Pedersen placed the photographs on the table before him. Maryann Nygaard, Catherine Thomsen and Annie Lindberg Hansson, three smiling, pretty women with a remarkable resemblance to one another. Hans Svendsen took a quick glance at them and said, “Yes, they look very like Rikke did back then.”
“You remember her so clearly?”
“Rikke has a grandchild. The girl is not quite the age of these women yet, but she resembles them very strongly.”
“And the granddaughter looks like her grandmother did at that age?”
“That’s what people say, and also what I recall. She’s a very pretty girl anyway. They often take walks together, Rikke and she, so you will probably meet her later.”
Pedersen took the opportunity to show him a picture of Andreas Falkenborg also. Without saying anything. This time too Hans Svendsen answered without reservation, although after taking a slightly longer time to consider it.
“Yes, that’s the culprit. Even after all these years, I have no doubt that’s the man I removed from the hair salon. Is that the type he goes after? That is, pretty young women with black, wavy hair?”
“We assume so, but his taste is a bit more rarefied than that and the victims have to meet it in every respect. In addition there is reason to believe he does not go after his victims, as you put it. He does not actively seek them out. They have to come to him. But when that happens, he strikes. At least that’s how we see the cases at the moment, but there are still a lot of unknowns.”
Hans Svendsen nodded seriously.
“I assume that this time you have the right man in your sights.”
“We do. The problem will be proving it. But tell me one thing: how much of what we have talked about now did you explain to Konrad Simonsen on the phone?”
Pedersen raised his hand to forestall any objection from Svendsen. “And I’m well aware that I ought to know that myself, but I really don’t.”
“Okay, okay, no offence taken. I can easily imagine that you have an awful lot on your plate, but the answer is, almost nothing. We talked together for about one minute, and the rest he left to this meeting.”
“I don’t think he’s aware of how significant our meeting Rikke Barbara Hvidt could be. I intend to call him at once and get him up here to take part. I think he should prioritise that over everything else.”
To Pedersen’s surprise Hans Svendsen did not seem too keen on the idea. He scratched his beard thoughtfully and said, “I don’t really know . . . maybe that’s not so smart.”
“Why? What harm can it do??”
“Because two strangers may be one too many. Rikke is a very nervous sort. About two years ago she was the victim of a horrible accident, in which her daughter was killed and she herself became blind. A car drove right through the front window of her bookshop when she and her daughter were setting out a new display. The driver was drunk and unable even to brake before he ran into them. He was killed too. Since that day she has been very nervous and withdrawn, even with people who know her well. I don’t know how she will react if two strangers suddenly turn up to question her. It’s possible she won’t manage to talk with you.”
“I understand.”
“Why don’t I see if I can get hold of her granddaughter? It will depend on how she is doing, of course. You know, some days are better than others.”
Svendsen got up and disappeared into the restaurant. It was twenty minutes before he reappeared.
“It’s okay to try, but you should be prepared for the questioning to take time. It will be best if only one of you asks questions. The granddaughter is taking a walk with her at the harbour in an hour, and Simon is en route.”
“You called him?”
“I thought I might just as well, since I was on the phone anyway. Do you play billiards?”
“You mean that game with long sticks and balls on a table?”
“Exactly. It sounds like I’ve found myself a good mark. Let’s go in and see if it’s available.”
“Okay, post and play, you can set up.”
“Now you’re sounding more like a shark than a mark, but let’s see what you’re good for.”
CHAPTER 15
“What was the dyke angle, Simon?”