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‘The Forensic Medical Institute, right.’ Harry waved towards Øystein and Truls as he backed into 618 again. ‘Are you on your own?’

‘Almost.’

‘Almost?’

‘I told you that Helge and I were going to be here.’

‘Mm.’ Harry drew a deep breath and lowered his voice to almost a whisper. ‘Alexandra?’ Harry sank into the chair next to the bed as Truls and Øystein entered the room.

‘Yes, Harry?’

‘Listen to me carefully now. Don’t so much as bat an eyelid, and just answer yes or no. Can you get away from there without arousing suspicion, say you need to go to the toilet or fetch something?’

No answer. Harry held the phone a little from his ear and the other three in the Aune group inclined their heads towards the Samsung.

‘Alexandra?’ Harry whispered.

‘Yes,’ she said in a toneless voice.

‘Helge is the killer. You need to get away. Out of the building or lock yourself inside somewhere until we arrive. OK?’

There was a crackling noise. And then another voice, a man’s voice.

‘No, Harry. Not OK.’

The voice was familiar but unfamiliar at the same time, like another version of a person you know. Harry took a deep breath. ‘Helge,’ he said. ‘Helge Forfang.’

‘Yes,’ the voice confirmed. It wasn’t just deeper than Harry remembered. It sounded more relaxed, confident. Like it belonged to someone who had already won. ‘Or actually you can call me Prim. Everyone I hated did.’

‘As you wish, Prim. What’s going on?’

‘That’s exactly the right question to ask, Harry. What’s going on is that I’m sitting here with a knife to Alexandra’s throat wondering what the future has in store for the two of us. For the three of us, perhaps, as you’re a part of this too, aren’t you? I realise I’ve been found out, a lost position, as they say in chess. I was holding out, hoping to avoid that, but even if I’d known things would work out this way, I wouldn’t have changed what I’ve done. I’m quite proud of what I’ve accomplished. I think even my uncle will be when he reads about it — if he reads about it. If his parasite-ridden brain manages to cling on to life.’

‘Prim...’

‘No, Harry, I certainly haven’t thought of avoiding punishment for what I’ve done. In fact, I was planning on taking my own life when all this was over, but things have happened. Things that have given me the desire to live on. That’s why I’m interested in negotiating that my punishment is as lenient as possible. But in order to have a bargaining position you need to have something to bargain with, and I have a hostage that I can choose to spare or not. I’m pretty sure you understand, Harry.’

‘The best move you can make to get a more lenient sentence is to let Alexandra go and hand yourself over to the police right away.’

‘The best for you, you mean. Get me out of the way so you have a clear shot.’

‘A clear shot at what, Prim?’

‘Don’t act stupid. A clear shot at Alexandra. You’ve infected her, made her desire you, made her believe that you have something to offer her. Like true love for example. Well, here’s your chance to prove it’s true. What do you say to an exchange, you swapping places with her?’

‘And you’ll let her go?’

‘Of course. Neither of us wants Alexandra to be harmed.’

‘OK. Then I have a suggestion about how to go about it.’

Helge’s laughter was lighter than his voice. ‘Nice try, Harry, but I think we’ll do things according to my plan.’

‘Mm. And that is?’

‘You drive here together with one other person; you park out in front of the building so I can see the two of you — and only the two of you — get out of the car and walk towards the building. I’ll open the door from here. As soon as you get out of the car, I want to see your hands being handcuffed behind your back. Understand?’

‘Yes.’

‘Both of you will take the lift up, walk to the door leading to the roof, open it a crack and let me know you’re there. If you come rushing out, I’ll cut Alex’s throat. You understand that too, right?’

Harry swallowed. ‘Yeah.’

‘So, when I tell you, both of you will back out through the door and onto the roof.’

‘Back out?’

‘That’s how they do it in maximum security prisons, isn’t it?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Then you understand. You’ll go first. Eight steps backwards. Then you’ll stop and go down on your knees. Whoever’s with you will take four steps backwards and then kneel. If that’s not done exactly as—’

‘I get it. Eight and four steps backwards.’

‘Good, you’re quick. I’ll put the knife to your throat while Alexandra walks to the door of the roof. Your colleague will accompany her down to the car and they will drive away.’

‘And then?’

‘Then the negotiations can begin.’

There was a pause.

‘I know what you’re thinking, Harry. Why swap a good hostage for a bad one? Why give up a young, innocent woman who both the police and the politicians know will stir much stronger feelings among the public than an ageing, male police detective?’

‘Well...’

‘The answer is simply that I love her, Harry. And to make sure she’s willing to wait for me to be a free man I must demonstrate my true love to her. I think the jury will also see it as a mitigating factor.’