The Devil's Star Read Online Free PDF

bureau. Design. Or something like that.’
    ‘Or something like that,’ Harry said, half-heartedly making notes on the pad in front of him.
    It was a trick he used when he was questioning people. If you didn’t look at them, they relaxed more. If you gave the impression that what they said was not very interesting, they automatically made an effort to say something that would grab his attention. He should have been a journalist. He felt that there was more sympathy on offer for journalists who turned up drunk for work.
    ‘Boyfriends?’
    Vibeke shook her head.
    ‘Lovers?’
    Vibeke gave a nervous laugh and looked away from her partner.
    ‘We don’t spend our time eavesdropping,’ Anders Nygård said. ‘Do you think it was a lover who did this?’
    ‘I don’t know,’ Harry said.
    ‘I can see that you don’t know .’
    Harry noticed the irritation in his voice.
    ‘But those of us who live here would like to know if this looks like a personal matter or if we may have an insane killer running round the neighbourhood.’
    ‘You may have an insane killer running round the neighbourhood,’ Harry said, putting down his pen and waiting.
    He saw Vibeke Knutsen’s startled reaction, but concentrated on Anders Nygård.
    When people are frightened they lose their temper more easily. This was a lesson he had learned during his first year at Police College. As recruits they had been told not to excite frightened people unnecessarily, but Harry had discovered that the opposite was much more useful. Excite them. Angry people often said things they didn’t mean, or more to the point, things they didn’t mean to say.
    Anders Nygård eyed him impassively.
    ‘But it’s more likely that the person who did this is a lover,’ Harry said. ‘A lover or someone she had a relationship with or someone she rejected.’
    ‘Why?’ Anders Nygård put his arm round Vibeke’s shoulders.
    It was an amusing pose because his arm was so short and her shoulders were so broad.
    Harry leaned back in his chair.
    ‘Statistics. Can I smoke in here?’
    ‘We’re trying to keep this a smoke-free zone,’ Anders Nygård said with a thin smile.
    Harry noticed that Vibeke lowered her eyes as he stuffed the cigarette pack back in his trouser pocket.
    ‘What do you mean by statistics?’ the man asked. ‘What makes you think they’re valid in a case like this?’
    ‘Well, before I answer your two questions, do you know much about statistics, Mr Nygård? Gausian distribution, significance, standard deviation?’
    ‘No, but I –’
    ‘Fine,’ Harry interrupted. ‘Because in this case you don’t need to. Hundreds of years of crime statistics from all over the world have taught us one simple, basic thing. That she’s the typical victim. Or if she’s not typical, he’s the type to think she was. That’s the answer to your first question. And the second.’
    Anders Nygård snorted and let go of Vibeke.
    ‘That’s completely unscientific. You know nothing about Camilla Loen.’
    ‘Right,’ Harry said.
    ‘So why did you say what you said?’
    ‘Because you asked. And if you’re finished with your questions, perhaps I can continue with mine?’
    Nygård seemed to be on the point of saying something, but then changed his mind and glowered at the table. Harry could have been mistaken, but he thought he spotted a tiny smile form between Vibeke’s dimples.
    ‘Do you think Camilla Loen was taking drugs?’ Harry asked.
    Nygård’s head shot up. ‘Why should we think that?’
    Harry closed his eyes and waited.
    ‘No,’ Vibeke said. Her voice was soft and low. ‘We don’t think so.’
    Harry opened his eyes and smiled at her gratefully. Anders Nygård sent her a somewhat surprised look.
    ‘Her door wasn’t locked, was it?’
    Anders Nygård nodded.
    ‘Don’t you think that was strange?’ Harry asked.
    ‘Not particularly. She was at home after all.’
    ‘Mm. You have a simple lock on your door and I noticed that you . . .’