Death on Pilot Hill

should have heard Nilsen praising Maya and Arvid Engen as solid members of the courts and the police. He heaped even more praise on Maya’s first husband the goat farmer for raising their son alone while making great cheese.

“I almost puked when Nilsen about got on his knees to worship the two retired university professors in Stavanger who are the parents of Agnes Haugen. As you can imagine. . Nilsen couldn’t say enough nice things about Thor’s paternal grandparents as honorable citizens and a Navy captain.”

“We’ll see how honorable all these citizens are in reality. Also. . did the team bother checking out the activities and whereabouts of Maya Engen’s first husband the goat farmer on June four?”

“No.”

“What about the paternal grandparents of the stepmother’s first son Thor. . who live up in Trondheim?”

“No.”

“What about the stepmother’s parents. . the retired university professors in Stavanger?”

“No.”

“I want their homes searched top to bottom and their whereabouts for Friday June fourth and Saturday June fifth thoroughly examined. Call headquarters right now and let them know that we need this done immediately.”

“Ja. Chief Inspector.”

While Constable Wangelin placed the call to Oslo on her cell phone Sohlberg thought about the infinite possibilities that existed for mischief — and murder — as a result of the messy relationships of the adults around little Karl Haugen.

The minutes passed by slowly as Wangelin made several more phone calls to launch the re-invigorated investigation. When the calls finally ended Sohlberg let out another exasperated sigh. He shook his head and said:

“Did the team check the phone and computer records of Maya and Inspector Arvid Engen?”

“I don’t think so. . let me think. . Actually no.”

“What? That’s outrageous.”

“Nilsen said it was ridiculous to even think that a police officer or a goat farmer or a retired Navy captain or retired university professors would kidnap Karl or help someone do that.”

“Get the records for all of them. . six months before June fourth and six months after. . ”

“Ja.”

“Did Nilsen get the phone and computer records for Karl’s father and the stepmother?”

“No. Again Nilsen said it was a waste of time to think that the mother or father or stepmother would take or harm the child. According to Nilsen, ‘These are good people. Not the criminal element.’”

“Get me the phone and computer records for the father and the stepmother. . six months before and after June fourth.”

“Not that I mind Chief Inspector but. . that’s a lot of stuff for me to look into. . ”

“Just look for frequently called phone numbers. . or e-mail addresses that show up a lot. I’m sure that KRIPOS has some software to do that in minutes. If they don’t then just go on the Internet. I’m sure you’ll find some company somewhere selling that software.”

“Of course. I’ll call or go to a company called Alta Soft. . I think they’re still up on Adolph Tidemandsgt in Lillestrom. . about twenty minutes northeast of downtown Oslo. They have very good stuff.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Steen and Strom sells software next to linens and housewares. Everything is available nowadays on the Internet. . especially software.”

“Ja Chief Inspector. I’ll look at altasoft dot no and see what they carry. Then I’ll call them to find out if their software can help us.”

“Good,” said Sohlberg. He started to frown. “There’s something else.”

“What?”

“I’m really bothered by Karl’s mother. . so this Maya Engen woman gave birth to two sons and then she abandons the two boys to her two husbands?. . Maybe she wanted back what she had so carelessly given away.”

“That’s a thought. . we never considered that angle Chief Inspector. Everyone saw her more as a pitiful victim.”

“Could be she’s a pitiful victim. . as you call her. It could also be that she arranged for Karl’s kidnaping.”

“Ja. . could be.”

“Alright then. . after you get the phone and computer records I want you to give me a list of every single one of the friends and family of Karl’s mother. . of Karl’s father. . and of Karl’s stepmother. . who had frequent phone or computer contact with these three people.”

“The three people closest to Karl Haugen.”

“Exactly Constable Wangelin.”

“Chief Inspector. . I think we’re getting closer to solving this.”

“Actually we’ll be much closer after the Smiley Face Killer tells us who is his Number One suspect.”

“Why did they take me?. . Where’s my Daddy?”

No answer. He looked but could not see his father at all.

“Mom!”

He was hurt and bewildered beyond measure as to why his mother and father had not come for him. Maybe just maybe he was going to have to live without his parents. He remembered the woman who had recently come to visit him. She said:

“Sometimes we have to do things on our own. Like when we go to school alone without Mommy and Daddy. That’s kind of what you’re doing here right now. . ”

No. He would keep waiting for his mother and father. Surely they would come for him.

Chapter 9

HALDEN PRISON, AFTERNOON OF 1 YEAR AND

24 DAYS AFTER THE DAY, FRIDAY, JUNE 4

“I think we’re almost at the exit,” said Constable Wangelin excitedly. “Is that it?”

“Ja!”

“I can’t believe we’re about to visit the Smiley Face Killer.”

Sohlberg checked his map one more time and read aloud the instructions on how to get to the maximum security prison. A few minutes later they got off the E-6 at the exit for Highway 21 east to Halden. Less than a mile later they turned left and went north until they reached Road 104 and headed east on Torpumveienen.

“Are we on the right road?”

“Ja. . this is it,” said Sohlberg who felt a stressful tension he had not felt in a long time.

They turned left to the ironically named Justice Road.

Despite his growing tension Sohlberg looked forward to visiting Halden Fengsel. He wanted confirmation that his investigation was on the right track.

Who better than a serial killer and a child predator to let Sohlberg know if he had narrowed down the list of suspects to the most likely culprit?

Sohlberg desperately wanted to solve the Karl Haugen case and not make any mistakes. His investigation had to be flawless or close to flawless or he would probably never be able to leave Norway and get back to Interpol. But the main motivation in solving the Karl Haugen case was the little boy himself. Innocent. Defenseless. Taken and gone. Whoever took Karl Haugen had so far made no mistakes or at least no discernable mistakes. That meant that Sohlberg could make no mistakes.