against individuals. . . . And they only prosecute crimes against the state that have the potential for long prison sentences of up to twenty-one years . . . crimes that threaten the security of the country. They do stuff like prosecuting government employees who break secrecy laws.”
“And yet . . . Fru Sivertsen . . . I was thinking. . . .”
“Yes?”
“Even if an ambitious and scheming prosecutor like Kasper Berge wanted to get placed in the Janne Eide case he would still need someone high up in the Ministry of Justice to go along with his scheme to get assigned to the Eide prosecution.”
“Of course. It goes without saying.”
Sohlberg pondered three scenarios—all equally disturbing.
Scenario Number One: someone very corrupt at a very high level inside the Ministry of Justice assigned Kasper Berge to the Janne Eide case to please her father and curry favor with the Eide business empire. Or someone got bribed and paid by the father or someone in the Eide business empire to assign Kasper Berge to the case.
Scenario Number Two: Old Man Eide or someone in his business empire secretly worked for the government or secretly helped the government in some major project. After all shipping companies sometimes have to transport sensitive cargo prone to cause controversy or investigations or scandal.
Scenario Number Three: the murderer or the person ultimately responsible for the murder worked for the government or was somehow involved in the government at a high enough level or in an important enough project.
None of the three scenarios appealed to Sohlberg. “The Eide case smells bad. There’s a stench from the Justice Ministry’s bench.”
“Oh my Solly boy . . . you’re far too cynical for someone who’s early into his career.”
“I see things as they are. My eyes are open. So are my nose and ears.”
“Then you must be careful my boy. Make sure no one else knows of your cynicism. Keep your mouth shut like the rest of us worker bees. . . . Speak of this to no one. Or you’ll pay and pay.”
Sohlberg pondered over her ominous warning. He then went over his options as to how best to proceed. None were particularly attractive. His options ranged from difficult to dangerous and maybe even worse.
“My Solly boy. Time for me to go. You need time to think. Call me if you have any more questions. Now . . . you asked me who could help you get the Eide case files. So here’s your Christmas gift . . . a list with the names of reliable and discreet people who will help you. Their personal phone numbers are written backwards. I already called them. Told them you and I needed their help.”
“Thank you.”
“Now keep in mind . . . these folks are nobodies like me. They didn’t go to fancy schools and they’re not high in the bureaucratic food chain. But like me they know exactly how to get things done . . . what levers to pull and buttons to push. If they can’t help you they will get someone who can and will.”
“Excellent. I really appreciate your help.”
“Also . . . you told me you were going to look at the court files on the Eide murder. So I put in the name of a person who works at the National Courts Administration. I put him in because who knows what problems you might get into if anyone finds out that you’re looking at the Eide case file from the trial court.”
“Fru Sivertsen . . . you’re so good to me.”
“Nonsense. We’re just kindred spirits. Rowing on the same boat and all that. I just have one favor to ask of you.”
“Yes. What?”
“Keep your contact with these people to a minimum. Only ask them for help if absolutely necessary.”
“Of course.”
“And never use a phone or computer that can be traced back to you or them.”
“I only use disposable cell phones. I’ve got a bag of totally untraceable disposable cell phones that I bought two years ago from a
“And yet . . . Fru Sivertsen . . . I was thinking. . . .”
“Yes?”
“Even if an ambitious and scheming prosecutor like Kasper Berge wanted to get placed in the Janne Eide case he would still need someone high up in the Ministry of Justice to go along with his scheme to get assigned to the Eide prosecution.”
“Of course. It goes without saying.”
Sohlberg pondered three scenarios—all equally disturbing.
Scenario Number One: someone very corrupt at a very high level inside the Ministry of Justice assigned Kasper Berge to the Janne Eide case to please her father and curry favor with the Eide business empire. Or someone got bribed and paid by the father or someone in the Eide business empire to assign Kasper Berge to the case.
Scenario Number Two: Old Man Eide or someone in his business empire secretly worked for the government or secretly helped the government in some major project. After all shipping companies sometimes have to transport sensitive cargo prone to cause controversy or investigations or scandal.
Scenario Number Three: the murderer or the person ultimately responsible for the murder worked for the government or was somehow involved in the government at a high enough level or in an important enough project.
None of the three scenarios appealed to Sohlberg. “The Eide case smells bad. There’s a stench from the Justice Ministry’s bench.”
“Oh my Solly boy . . . you’re far too cynical for someone who’s early into his career.”
“I see things as they are. My eyes are open. So are my nose and ears.”
“Then you must be careful my boy. Make sure no one else knows of your cynicism. Keep your mouth shut like the rest of us worker bees. . . . Speak of this to no one. Or you’ll pay and pay.”
Sohlberg pondered over her ominous warning. He then went over his options as to how best to proceed. None were particularly attractive. His options ranged from difficult to dangerous and maybe even worse.
“My Solly boy. Time for me to go. You need time to think. Call me if you have any more questions. Now . . . you asked me who could help you get the Eide case files. So here’s your Christmas gift . . . a list with the names of reliable and discreet people who will help you. Their personal phone numbers are written backwards. I already called them. Told them you and I needed their help.”
“Thank you.”
“Now keep in mind . . . these folks are nobodies like me. They didn’t go to fancy schools and they’re not high in the bureaucratic food chain. But like me they know exactly how to get things done . . . what levers to pull and buttons to push. If they can’t help you they will get someone who can and will.”
“Excellent. I really appreciate your help.”
“Also . . . you told me you were going to look at the court files on the Eide murder. So I put in the name of a person who works at the National Courts Administration. I put him in because who knows what problems you might get into if anyone finds out that you’re looking at the Eide case file from the trial court.”
“Fru Sivertsen . . . you’re so good to me.”
“Nonsense. We’re just kindred spirits. Rowing on the same boat and all that. I just have one favor to ask of you.”
“Yes. What?”
“Keep your contact with these people to a minimum. Only ask them for help if absolutely necessary.”
“Of course.”
“And never use a phone or computer that can be traced back to you or them.”
“I only use disposable cell phones. I’ve got a bag of totally untraceable disposable cell phones that I bought two years ago from a
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