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things over the next few days: identify the victims, find the rest of the bodies and determine the cause, or causes, of death.’
    ‘When can identities be established?’ the Chief Superintendent asked.
    Wisting passed the question to Espen Mortensen.
    ‘The samples were handed in to the forensics laboratory yesterday afternoon,’ the crime technician explained. He pushed a copy of the request form across to Wisting, elaborating to the others how he had obtained reference samples for DNA matching from the relatives. ‘We’ll get an answer by tomorrow lunchtime. In addition we’ll have a preliminary report from the pathologist by the end of the day.’
    A ray of sunshine crept through the blinds and caught Wisting in the eyes. He went over to the window and adjusted them.
    ‘What will we do about finding the rest of the bodies?’ the Chief Superintendent asked as he sat down again.
    ‘The beach searches are continuing today,’ Torunn Borg explained. ‘I’ve also got an appointment with a researcher from the Meteorological Institute.’ She leafed through her papers. ‘An Ebbe Slettaker. He’s a specialist in floating objects.’
    ‘You get specialists in that?’ Hammer asked.
    ‘They calculate the likely direction of drift for oil spillages, life rafts, cargoes, or people who have fallen into the sea. Slettaker is on holiday in Kragerø, but when he heard what it was about, he agreed to come.’
    ‘When will he arrive?’ Wisting enquired.
    ‘I’ve made an appointment with him for twelve o’clock.’
    Wisting nodded and made a note before leafing back a page. ‘I’ve gone through the files of the three missing men,’ he said. ‘Originally we simply assumed that these were old folks who had got lost and involved in an accident. It will be necessary to do the rounds again with the close family. We’ll require a thorough overview of their circles of acquaintances and to chart their last movements.’
    Torunn Borg nodded and made a note. It was a task well suited to her ability to order and classify information.
    ‘What about electronic traces?’ Vetti asked.
    ‘None of the missing persons had mobile phones,’ Torunn Borg explained. ‘Telecoms data from the fixed line network hasn’t been collected, but is probably with the operators.’
    ‘Strictly speaking we should inform the media too,’ Audun Vetti said. He swept his hand over the newspaper page in front of him. ‘We depend on tips and information from the public.’
    ‘Let’s gain some breathing space first,’ Wisting suggested, gripping his coffee cup slightly more tightly. ‘The feet have certainly been floating about for months. I propose that we hold back for one more day, so that we can obtain a better overview.’
    The Assistant Chief of Police frowned his disagreement. ‘We should consider going out in time to catch tonight’s evening news,’ he argued. ‘You should in any case write a note concerning what we want information and details about.’
    ‘We still lack an overview,’ Wisting explained, setting his cup down abruptly. He could hear the irritation in his own voice. ‘Let’s see how the day develops,’ he went on diplomatically, turning over a fresh page in his notebook. ‘There’s something unusual I’ve noticed in the case files. Several people mention that Camilla Thaulow, one of the carers at the nursing home, had good relationships with the old folk, but she hasn’t been interviewed in connection with the missing persons reports.’
    ‘Shall I take that?’ Torunn Borg offered.
    Wisting shook his head. ‘I want to speak to her myself.’
    Chief Superintendent Eskild Anvik reached for the picture of Otto Saga that was sticking out from among Wisting’s papers and held it up.‘Old men,’ he commented. ‘Who kills old men?’
    No one could give him an answer. Wisting fixed his eyes on the man with thick, white hair in the photo. The eyes were almost black, beneath thick eyebrows, the face dark skinned