Contents
Chapter 37 - Monday. Confession.
Overview
A chilling confession suggests the killer’s motive and a fixation on a policeman. Beate secures a key photo of the masked courier and a tentative ID from a witness. Harry decides to expose the conspiracy via the press. The conspirators trace Harry through Øystein and violently coerce him, racing to intercept the planned meeting.
Summary
In a sweltering Orthodox church, Priest Nikolai Loeb hears a man confess to infidelity and that his lover—likely pregnant—was shot in the head. The man hints at violent thoughts toward a policeman connected to the woman, then departs, leaving Nikolai alarmed but bound to secrecy and praying for guidance.
At CID, Bjørn Holm shows Beate Lønn a photo from Frogner Park minutes after Barbara’s murder: a masked cyclist with a brown bag and a plaster on his left knee. Beate focuses on the knee detail and decides to seek eyewitness confirmation.
Harry Hole outlines a risky theory to Sven Sivertsen and, mistrusting the police hierarchy, opts to go public. Harry calls journalist Roger Gjendem and sets a clandestine meeting at Underwater at 5 p.m., demanding immediate online publication to out the Courier Killer and a corrupt police inspector.
Beate and Bjørn visit André Clausen, who tentatively identifies the cyclist in the photo as the same masked visitor from the law firm reception; Beate relays this to Harry, who says he thinks he knows the killer and assigns the lab new tasks.
Meanwhile, telecom worker Klaus Torkildsen flags frequent calls between an internal monitored number and a mobile registered to taxi driver Øystein Eikeland, reporting it to shadowy handlers. Soon after, a tanned man with reflector sunglasses enters Øystein’s cab, drives him into the woods, chokes him, and forces a gun into his mouth demanding Harry’s location.
As the assailant prepares to execute Øystein, a call alerts him to the 5 p.m. Underwater meeting. He spares Øystein and orders a high-speed drive to the city center, signaling an imminent confrontation.
Who Appears
- Harry HolePlans to expose the Courier Killer and police corruption via a press meeting; coordinates with Beate and Sven.
- Beate LønnIdentifies key details in a Frogner Park photo; secures a tentative eyewitness ID; updates Harry and drives new lab work.
- Øystein EikelandTaxi driver coerced by a violent assailant seeking Harry’s location; forced to drive toward the city center.
- Unnamed assailantTanned man with reflector sunglasses who abducts and threatens Øystein, responding to intel about Harry’s meeting.
- Sven SivertsenHears Harry’s theory; agrees to going to the press rather than surrendering to compromised authorities.
- Nikolai LoebOrthodox priest who hears a disturbing confession about a murdered pregnant lover and violent intentions toward a policeman.
- André ClausenTentatively identifies the masked cyclist in the photo as the man seen at the solicitors’ reception.
- Bjørn HolmAssists Beate with the photo lead and witness visit; observes and supports the investigation.
- Klaus TorkildsenTelecom technician tracing calls; flags Øystein’s number to shadowy handlers.
- Roger GjendemAftenposten journalist who arranges a confidential meeting with Harry to publish the revelations.
- Unknown confessorMan who admits infidelity and that his pregnant lover was shot; hints at targeting a policeman.