Heidi Kjus gets up as Iver and Henning appear from around the corner looking as if they are about to join the queue of coffee-deprived early birds. Henning can see what she wants to say long before she says it and yet he still lets her make her first management mistake of the day.
‘Where have you been?’
‘We went out for a cigarette,’ Henning mutters.
‘What did you say?’
‘Sorry,’ Iver says and holds up his hands. ‘It’s my fault. Henning and I have just had a meeting to prepare for the morning meeting with you.’
‘That meeting was supposed to start ten minutes ago! And not just because of me, but because of everyone else in the department. Wasting other people’s time shows a lack of respect.’
‘Yes, we know. Sorry. It won’t happen again.’
Heidi turns her attention to Henning. ‘What are you doing here today? I thought you were taking today off as well?’
‘Yes, but I decided I would much rather be here,’ he replies, making no attempt to cover up his irony. Out of the corner of his eye he sees Iver smile.
‘Okay, fine. But are you ready now? Have you finished your little chat?’
‘Yes.’
‘Good. Henning, will you be joining us?’
‘Obviously. It’s the highlight of my day. Do I have time to make a quick phone call first?’
‘To whom?’
‘It’ll only take a minute.’
She checks her watch and sighs. ‘All right then. But be quick.’
Heidi and Iver are sitting alone in the meeting room when Henning enters.
‘So, tell me,’ Heidi says. ‘What are you doing about Tore Pulli?’
Henning and Iver look at each other.
‘The preliminary autopsy report will probably be ready sometime today,’ Iver says.
‘Okay. Anything else?’
Iver and Henning exchange glances, but neither of them says anything.
‘Is that it?’ she asks, suspiciously.
Henning clears his throat. ‘One of the people present when Pulli died has gone missing.’
Iver and Heidi both look at Henning.
‘Missing how? Has he done a runner?’ she asks.
‘Nobody knows yet. I’ve just been speaking to the police. He was supposed to turn up at the station to make a statement last night, but no one has seen him since yesterday, since Pulli died.’
‘Do the police suspect him of anything?’
‘Not at the moment. But they would very much like to know what he has been up to.’
‘What’s his name?’
‘Thorleif Brenden. He’s a cameraman.’
‘Perhaps the shutter went down for him,’ Iver jokes.
‘An experienced cameraman who has covered wars and atrocities all over the world? He goes AWOL just because he sees a man collapse and die in prison?’
Iver says nothing.
‘Besides, he lives with his girlfriend and their two children,’ Henning adds.
‘There could be a perfectly reasonable explanation for why he is missing,’ Heidi suggests.
‘Sure, but it’s still a remarkable coincidence.’
Heidi makes a quick note on the pad in front of her. ‘Okay,’ she says, in her summing-up voice. ‘We need some scoops‚ boys. Real news. It’s been a long time.’