After hours of mindless TV-watching, Henning’s brain starts to work again. At eleven o’clock that evening he opens FireCracker 2.0, the program Henning’s source within the police wrote a couple of years ago for their confidential two-way communication, and checks to see if 6tiermes7 is logged on. The minutes pass. Then there is a ding-dong sound as if someone had rung the doorbell.
Henning’s fingers hit the keyboard.
MakkaPakka: Do you know what killed Pulli yet?
6tiermes7: Come on, what do you think?
MakkaPakka: That it’s way too early. Was there any blood at the crime scene?
6tiermes7: No.
MakkaPakka: Anything suspicious at all?
6tiermes7: Not that I know of.
MakkaPakka: Police interviews?
6tiermes7: They haven’t got that far yet.
MakkaPakka: Why not?
6tiermes7: TV2 refuses to release the tapes without a warrant. But here’s something interesting for you. A member of TV2’s staff has gone missing.
Henning sits up.
MakkaPakka: Someone who was there when Pulli died?
6tiermes7: Yes.
MakkaPakka: Who is he?
6tiermes7: His name is Thorleif Brenden. He’s a cameraman.
MakkaPakka: Any previous convictions?
6tiermes7: No, or he would never have got into the prison.
MakkaPakka: Okay, but do you know anything about him at all?
6tiermes7: No. He hasn’t put a foot wrong his whole life.
MakkaPakka: So what are you doing about it?
6tiermes7: Nothing at the moment. He hasn’t been missing for very long. But we’ll put out a missing-person bulletin, I imagine — if he doesn’t turn up over the weekend.
Interesting, Henning thinks. Very interesting indeed.
MakkaPakka: Now for something completely different: do you know where Rasmus Bjelland is these days?
6tiermes7: Didn’t he apply for witness protection?
MakkaPakka: Yes. That’s why I’m asking.
6tiermes7: No. Not a clue. Do you want to talk to him again?
MakkaPakka: Not really sure. But I wonder if the people looking for Bjelland might be behind the arson attack on my flat. Knowing if he is still alive would be a good start.
6tiermes7: It could take some time. I might not be able to come up with anything.
MakkaPakka: Okay. I’ll just have to be patient.
6tiermes7: Stay healthy.
MakkaPakka: You too.