Contents
Chapter 39 - Monday. Meetings.
Overview
Harry aborts the meeting with journalist Roger Gjendem, confirming his fear that communications are compromised while tightening a plan to draw out Waaler. Roger remains under threat and on standby. At HQ, Waaler assaults Beate for information, but she calls in Holm, forcing his retreat and exposing cracks in his control.
Summary
Roger Gjendem arrives at the bar Underwater to meet Harry Hole, recalling his drowned brother Thomas and fearing the professionals coercing him. Harry fails to appear. A leather-jacketed man signals a throat-cut gesture, and Roger receives a call ordering him to wait until eight under renewed threats to Thomas. Roger strikes up wary conversation with a bruised red-haired woman and invites her to stay at his flat, resigned to waiting.
Elsewhere, Harry hides with Sven Sivertsen. Harry interprets a journalist’s wording as a warning, suspects his mobile is compromised, and switches it off. Sven accuses Harry of luring Waaler into a trap; Harry neither confirms nor denies. Harry then calls Beate Lønn from a payphone; she confirms an expert at Norske Møller has validated Harry’s suspicion about a seed, and reports Olaug’s fears for her missing lodger. Harry hints the plan is nearing an end.
Back at Police HQ, Tom Waaler enters Beate’s office uninvited, lowers the blinds and menaces her, probing for Harry’s location and escalating to physical assault. Beate triggers the intercom and summons Bjørn Holm, forcing Waaler to release her. She refuses to divulge anything, noting a flicker of anxiety and loss of control in Waaler before he retreats, promising retribution as Holm arrives.
Who Appears
- Roger GjendemJournalist coerced by conspirators; waits at Underwater for Harry under threats to his brother Thomas.
- Harry HoleSkips the meeting, suspects phone compromise, advances a plan; calls Beate from a payphone.
- Beate LønnConfirms lab finding; confronted and assaulted by Waaler; summons Holm and holds firm.
- Tom WaalerIntimidates and assaults Beate seeking Harry’s location; briefly loses control and retreats.
- Sven SivertsenHiding with Harry; challenges Harry’s motives; part of the unfolding plan.
- Bjørn HolmArrives when summoned by intercom, prompting Waaler to withdraw.
- Red-haired womanBruised patron at Underwater; exchanges wary conversation with Roger and accepts his offer to wait together.
- Barman at UnderwaterIndifferent bartender observing the sparse bar scene.
- Receptionist/Securitas guardAttempts to announce Waaler’s visit to Beate before he forces entry.