Contents
Chapter 28 - Saturday. The Dildo.
Overview
Waaler isolates Beate and Olaug while awaiting Sven Sivertsen, heightening concern about his methods. Harry discovers an embalmed thumb and a carved star in Marius Veland’s room, proving an earlier, hidden first murder. He deciphers the killer’s digit-based pattern and predicts the final killing will target the mother or himself—likely at Olaug’s flat.
Summary
At Olaug Sivertsen’s flat, Beate Lønn checks her revolver and tries to secure the entrance, only to discover Olaug hasn’t locked the door. Tom Waaler arrives alone, locks the door, and positions himself in the hall, relegating Beate and Olaug to the kitchen while they await Sven Sivertsen.
Elsewhere, Harry Hole monitors the student block surveillance with Sivert Falkeid and Otto. Spotting a carved five-pointed star above room 406, Harry leads a forced entry. Inside Marius Veland’s conspicuously tidy room, he finds an embalmed white thumb—proof the killer has been there.
Harry confirms Marius’s parents received a Morocco postcard 20 days earlier, indicating Marius vanished before Camilla Loen’s murder. A witness recalls a bike courier at the building that day. Harry deduces the killer’s sequence follows left-hand digits starting with the thumb, making Camilla victim two and suggesting a fifth, final killing is imminent.
Calling Beate, Harry concludes the likely finale targets the killer’s progenitor or himself—logically at his mother’s flat. He questions why Waaler is handling the arrest alone instead of with Beate. The call ends with tension unresolved as Harry admits he’s out of cigarettes.
Who Appears
- Harry HoleDetective who finds the carved star and an embalmed thumb in Marius’s room; deduces the digit-based murder sequence.
- Beate LønnAt Olaug’s flat preparing for Sven’s arrest; coordinates by phone with Harry; grows wary of Waaler’s solo control.
- Tom WaalerArrives alone at Olaug’s, locks the door, takes charge from the hall, sidelining Beate while awaiting Sven.
- Olaug SivertsenSven’s mother; host to police; anxious and initially leaves the door unlocked despite protection.
- Sivert FalkeidSpecial Forces leader monitoring the student block operation and coordinating Delta entry on Harry’s signal.
- OttoObserver in the surveillance room; assists with camera zoom that reveals the carved star.
- Marius VelandMissing student; his room contains the embalmed thumb, revealing the killer’s earlier first murder.
- Bjarne MøllerWatches TV while awaiting Harry’s update; prepares to brief the Chief after the operation.
- Roger GjendemJournalist noting police secrecy and Special Forces activity; senses a major operation brewing.