Cold Hearts by Gunnar Staalesen Read Free Book Online

won’t be the last. You know that.’
    I thought of Hege, who had been in the same class as Thomas. I thought about Siren whom I had known once, andEva-Beate. The number of women who had been subjected to the sort of treatment Tanya had described was not small. They were in the grey area between law and law-breaking and as such easy game for brutes of all kinds, from notorious criminals to top civil servants with an unfulfilled need to make their mark.
    ‘The one that took you … like that, was that the person in the front of the car?’
    ‘I think so. Because I had to give the other one a blowjob in the end, and he was a real limpdick, I’m tellin’ you. Not much bloody life in ’im.’
    ‘And then …?’
    ‘Well, in the end they closed up my eyes with a few punches and said if I breathed a word to anyone they’d be back to kill me, I could be damn sure of that! I was scared out of my wits. For a while I thought they were gonna do it there and then, but then they gave up, kicked me out of the car and screeched off. I ambled back down the street, but I didn’t take any more soddin’ tricks that night, I went home and took a massive dose of pills so that I could sleep.’
    I looked at her battered face. She didn’t look so cocky now, after being reminded of her terrible experience.
    ‘But … did you ask Maggi who they were? Could she have had the same done to her before?’
    ‘I haven’t seen ’er since, have I! She took off like a rabbit!’
    ‘Right … What about the car they were driving? Would you recognise it?’
    She rolled her shoulders. ‘It was black. That’s all I remember. Oh, and the three first numbers.’
    ‘Ri-ight! And they were …?’
    ‘There was an SP first, followed by 523. I remember thatbecause the last two add up to the first number, if you know what I mean. I’m not a hundred per cent sure about them, though.’
    I noted down the numbers on my pad. ‘Tell me, Tanya. These boys you were talking about, are they the same ones that take care of Hege and Maggi?’
    She tossed her head; that was her response.
    ‘Kjell and Rolf?’
    I could see in her eyes that I had hit the bullseye, but she didn’t answer.
    ‘If so, have you told them what happened?’
    She hesitated. ‘That Rolf came and asked. They’d heard a rumour, and he could see the state I was in.’
    ‘OK. How did he react?’
    ‘Well, a bit like you. Asked questions, did some digging, about who they could have been and what car they drove. Said if they came again I should refuse to go, but take their number and they would deal with them.’
    ‘Exactly.’
    ‘Yes!’ She almost looked indignant. ‘They’re s’posed to be looking after us! It’s their job!’
    ‘What a job!’
    ‘Tell me about it. Who are you anyway? What have you got to do with all this?’
    ‘Name’s Veum, and I’m a private investigator.’
    ‘Private investigator!’
    I took out a card and gave it to her. ‘I’m looking for Maggi.’
    ‘So she has gone missing?’
    ‘Looks like it. When she told you she was going away … did she mention where?’
    ‘No. I thought she was just dreamin’, the way we all do from time to time.’
    ‘Mm.’ I fastened the seat belt again and pointed to the card in her hand. ‘Should you remember something later, you can find me there.’
    She glanced at the card and nodded.
    ‘I’ll drive you back then. If that’s where you want to go.’
    ‘Yes, unless you want … after all you’ve paid!’
    ‘Not tonight, thank you,’ I said with a crooked smile.
    As we were driving back I asked: ‘How long have you been in Norway?’
    ‘I’ve got a work permit, if that’s what you’re wonderin’!’
    ‘Oh yes? In the fish filleting industry?’
    ‘Exactly!’
    ‘You speak good Norwegian anyway!’
    ‘Thank you. I picked it up using the natural method, as they say.’
    ‘Yes, it’s supposed to be the best.’
    I dropped her off at Tollbodallmenningen. I remained in the car and watched her