Harry Hole 02 - Cockroaches Read Free Page A

because people were confident that she was the person she claimed to be. Trust, that’s the key word.’
    The others around the table nodded. This was clearly part of the core curriculum.
    ‘Now, Ambassador Molnes and our current Prime Minister were closely connected, through friendship as well as their political careers. They studied together, rose up through the party ranks together, battled through the modernisation of the youth movement and even shared a flat when they were both elected to Storting at a very young age. Molnes voluntarily stepped out of the limelight when they were joint heirs apparent in the party. He gave the Prime Minister his full support and hence we were spared an agonising party duel. All this obviously means that the Prime Minister owed Molnes a debt of gratitude.’
    Askildsen moistened his lips and looked out of the window.
    ‘In other words, Ambassador Molnes didn’t have any diplomatic training and wouldn’t have got to Bangkok if the Prime Minister hadn’t pulled strings. Perhaps this sounds like cronyism, but it’s an acceptable form of it, introduced and given general currency by the Socialist Party. Reiulf Steen didn’t have any Foreign Office experience when he was made ambassador in Chile.’
    The eyes refocused on Møller, a playful glint dancing inside somewhere.
    ‘I’m sure I don’t need to emphasise how this could damage trust in the Prime Minister if it comes out that a friend and party comrade, whom he appointed himself, was caught in flagrante in a brothel. And murdered into the bargain.’
    The Secretary of State motioned to the Police Commissioner to continue, but Møller couldn’t restrain himself.
    ‘Who hasn’t got a pal who’s been to a brothel?’
    Askildsen’s smile curled at the edges.
    The Foreign Office Director with the steel glasses coughed. ‘You’ve been told what you need to know, Møller. Please leave the judgements to us. What we need is someone to ensure that the investigation of this matter does not take . . . an unfortunate turn. Naturally, we all want the murderer, or murderers, to be apprehended, but the circumstances surrounding the murder should remain under wraps until further notice. For the good of the country. Do you understand?’
    Møller looked down at his hands. For the good of the country. Bloody hell. They had never been much good at doing what they were told in his family. His father had never risen through the police ranks.
    ‘Experience tells us that the truth tends to be hard to conceal, herr Torhus.’
    ‘Indeed. I’ll take responsibility for this operation on behalf of the Foreign Office. As you appreciate, this is a somewhat delicate matter which will demand close cooperation with the Thai police. As the embassy is involved we have some leeway – diplomatic immunity and all that – but we’re walking a tightrope here. Therefore, we wish to send someone with honed investigative skills and experience of international police work and who can produce results.’
    He stopped and looked at Møller, who was wondering why he felt an instinctive lack of goodwill towards the diplomat with the aggressive chin.
    ‘We could put together a team with—’
    ‘No team, Møller. Too conspicuous. Besides, your Commissioner thinks that a whole division would hardly be conducive to good relations with the local police. One man.’
    ‘One man?’
    ‘The Commissioner has already suggested a name, and we consider it a good suggestion. Now we’d like to hear your opinion of him. According to conversations the Police Commissioner has had with his colleague in Sydney, he did remarkable work down there last winter in connection with the Inger Holter murder.’
    ‘I read the story in the papers,’ Askildsen said. ‘Impressive stuff. Surely he has to be our man?’
    Bjarne Møller swallowed. So the Police Commissioner had suggested they should send Harry Hole to Bangkok. He had been summoned to assure them that Hole was the best the