If he was surprised by the question, he did not show it.
“Why do you ask?”
“I was thinking that maybe we could have coffee sometime.”
They walked along the corridor and were now out of range of possible long looks from her colleagues, so Pauline relaxed and added, “If you want to go out with me, that is?”
“Are you always so direct?”
“No, not always, but who knows when I will see you again?”
“You know that yourself—within the next few days, when Andreas Falkenborg is brought in for questioning.”
Pauline Berg thought that this conversation was about to be derailed before it had really started; this was not a man to be effortlessly manoeuvred.
“Okay, what I want to ask you about I would prefer to keep to myself, because the others will definitely be against it. I mean, the question alone will set them rolling their eyes, so that’s why I ran after you to get you one-on-one. And as far as coffee goes, I was toying with the idea while you made your presentation, but forced the issue a little because what I want to know is important to me.”
“Reasonable enough. Tell me, do you have any idea where we’re headed?”
“Yes, I do, but now it’s your turn to come clean.”
“Then let me start by saying that this is the best offer I’ve had all morning,” he said, laughing.
Pauline Berg smiled, then said seriously, “I don’t want to date you if you have a girlfriend or are already married. I’ve had enough of that.”
“Then I’m afraid we’ll have to have our coffee separately. You see, I’m married.”
She was more annoyed than she would admit, and for a moment considered stretching her principles a bit. Again.
“But next month, when my divorce has been finalised, perhaps we can return to the subject. Unless you dare go out with me in anticipation?”
“I’ve taken bigger chances than that.”
“Should we have a bite to eat before that cup of coffee?”
Pauline Berg agreed.
“Is there somewhere I can pick you up, so I can find a restaurant and reserve a table?”
She thought about it.
“At eight o’clock on Dantes Plads. Do you know where that is?”
“Yes, across from Glyptotek. It’s a deal.”
“Do you have a cell-phone number, in case I have to cancel? If there are any breakthroughs in the case, I can’t go off duty. This is too high-profile.”
“And you like that?”
“Could you please stop? I don’t like having my every word and action weighed up like that. It was what you were doing for Falkenborg. Do you get that way from being a profiler?”
“No, you get that way from having heard hundreds of slightly too intimate excuses from female students who have missed the deadline for their assigned papers.”
“That just about hit the mark. I’m blushing! Is it okay if we wait with my questions until this evening?”
“Hmm, you slipped in a plural form there. Do you think I work for free?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Then you should also show me that famous row of columns you have. I’ve seen it on TV many times, but never in reality. Is it far from here?”
“No, it’s not far, but you’ll have to take a rain check. The others are probably wondering where I am. And one more thing—we’ll split the bill this evening, so please find a place that’s not too expensive. I recently bought a house and I’m feeling the pinch.”
“So I won’t be after you for the money?”
“Time will tell, but whatever happens, you won’t get any further tonight.”
On her way back Pauline Berg ran into Malte Borup, who was curious.
“Who was that, Pauline?”
“A man.”
“Yes, I could see that, but is it someone you know . . . well?”
She ignored the question.
“I’m very happy to see you,” she told him. “I put an assignment on your desk earlier. Please try and get to it today. It would take you less than ten minutes.”
The student confirmed he could spare ten minutes. Then he said, “See, I shouldn’t even be at work today. It was a coincidence that I was in the area when Simon called. Anita and I were out looking at clothes . . . that is, Anita was doing most of the looking, I was just there, but she got really upset when I left. Can you imagine? She took hold of the cell phone and chewed out Simon.”
Pauline Berg did not respond. This did not sound like something she should get mixed up in.
Konrad Simonsen turned eagerly towards Malte and Pauline as they came into the room. The tirade from Malte’s girlfriend had not been without effect, as he remembered the girl from a previous case and knew that she was neither hysterical nor unreasonable. From time to time he needed to draw heavily on Malte’s labour. Best to keep his girlfriend happy too.
“Thanks, Malte, for taking the time to drop by. You and Anita can go out for lunch at government expense. Do you mind being reimbursed later?”