Beyond the Truth: Hanne Wilhelmsen Book Seven (A Hanne Wilhelmsen Novel) by Anne Holt Page B

and difficult enough to grasp, as it was. In such cases it was important to find the optimum equilibrium for efficiency: they needed sufficient numbers to ensure that all the work was done, but not so many that it prevented them all from having the opportunity to retain a certain overview. Admittedly Puntvold had made himself increasingly popular, both at police headquarters and with the general public, through his charm, visibility, and tremendous commitment on behalf of the police force, but he should have stayed away from this meeting. The same applied to several others, such as the police trainees and a couple of junior officers. Strictly speaking, they were double the necessary number in this confined room, and Hanne groaned in despair at the thought.
    “It might also mean that the murderer is smart,” she said, trying not to seem magisterial. “Or careful. That’s a good point, about the reloading. With two weapons, it’s not necessary.”
    “I anticipate the technical investigations will be completed as quickly as possible,” the Superintendent said, getting to his feet. “I want all the results sent to me as they become available. As far as the tactical operation is concerned, it’s obvious that Carl-Christian, his wife, and Hermine are the central focus.”
    “Especially with those lame alibis of theirs,” Billy T. added. “They’re so pathetic they could almost be true. Mabelle and Carl-Christian were at home together, with no one to confirm or deny their story. Hermine says she was asleep all evening. At home. With no confirmation, either.”
    “Fine,” the Superintendent said, obviously impatient now. “I expect more work to be done on the family members’ movements, or lack of such, on the evening of the murder. I’d like to see you, Wilhelmsen, and Billy T. in my office in an hour. And you …”
    He nodded at Police Prosecutor Annmari Skar.
    “We’ll have to discuss how to proceed with the interviews and possible arrests. So we’ll say that’s enough for the moment, we have to—”
    “But what about Sidensvans?” Hanne said loudly. “Is he of no interest whatsoever?”
    The Superintendent slowly resumed his seat.
    “Of course not,” he said in a feigned cajoling tone. “Not at all, Hanne Wilhelmsen. I’m simply trying to make slight improvements in efficiency here. Wasting time on meetings is not really my style.”
    “I’m absolutely in agreement,” Hanne began, “that the family certainly seem to be of most interest. After all, it’s Hermine and Carl-Christian who have something to gain by the rest of the gang being eliminated. All the same, I think there’s something amiss when we just don’t know why Knut Sidensvans was there. The Stahlbergs must have been waiting for him. At least it looks that way, since there were cakes and champagne laid out. There were four glasses and four plates set out. They had been expecting a fourth person. But what business did they have with Sidensvans? Shouldn’t we discover precisely that, in any case?”
    “My dear Chief Inspector,” the Superintendent said morosely, “as far as I recall, you ’re the one who always claims the solution to a murder mystery lies in the simple and straightforward. You’re the one who always reminds us that where the motive for the incident is found, that is also where we’ll find the perpetrator. And without jumping to any conclusions whatsoever, I would even now point out that the motives in this case are screaming out to us. It seems to me that this Sidensvans was no more than a chance visitor.”
    “That might well be. But shouldn’t we know that for sure? Of course, I totally agree there’s every reason to suspect one of those three …”
    She pointed vaguely at the chart Billy T. had drawn of the family tree.
    “… of the murders. But surely there are not yet grounds for believing that all three of them were behind it? Of course we should find out which of them has the strongest motive. But