Punishment aka What Is Mine

SIXTY-FIVE

Adam Stubo was sitting alone in his office, trying to suppress an inappropriate feeling of relief.

Laffen Sørnes had died as he lived, escaping from a society that despised him. It was tragic. All the same, Adam could not rid himself of a feeling of satisfaction. With Laffen Sørnes out of the way, it would perhaps be possible to get more people to concentrate on the real sinner, the real hunt. Adam breathed easier at the thought. He felt stronger and more energetic than he had for days.

It had been a while since he’d turned off the TV. It was revolting to see how the journalists buzzed around in a blood haze without giving any thought to the seriousness of the tragedy that had just occurred live on television. He shuddered and started to sort his documents.

Sigmund Berli burst into the room.

Adam looked up and frowned.

“That was quite an entrance,” he said laconically, tapping his finger on his desk and nodding at the door. “Have we completely forgotten our manners?”

“The crash,” puffed Sigmund Berli. “Laffen Sørnes died, as you’ve no doubt heard. But the other…”

He gasped for breath, bent over slightly, and pressed his palms against his knees.

“The other… the man in the other car…”

“Sit down, Sigmund.”

Adam pointed to the other chair.

“Jesus Christ, the other one was… Karsten Åsli!”

Adam felt like his heart had short-circuited. Everything stopped. He tried to focus, but his eyes were locked onto Sigmund’s chest. His tie was tucked in between two buttons on his shirt. It was far too red, with birds on it. The tail of a yellow goose stuck out from an opening on his chest. Adam didn’t even know if he was still breathing.

“Did you hear what I said?” Sigmund shouted. “It was Karsten Åsli who crashed with Laffen! If you’re right, that means that Emilie…”

“Emilie,” Adam repeated. His voice gave way; he tried to cough.

“Karsten Åsli is about to die too! If you’re right, how the fuck are we going to find Emilie, Adam? If Karsten Åsli has forgotten her and decides to log off for good?”

Adam got up from the chair slowly. He had to support himself by holding onto the edge of the table. He had to think. He had to focus.

“Sigmund,” he said, in a more normal voice. “Go to the hospital. Do everything you can to get the man to talk, if at all possible.”

“He’s unconscious, you idiot!”

Adam straightened up.

“Yes, I realize that,” he said pointedly. “That’s why you have to be there, in case he wakes up.”

“And you? What are you going to do in the meantime?”

“I’m going to go to Snaubu.”

“But you’ve got no more on the guy than you did yesterday, Adam! Even though Karsten Åsli has been seriously injured, you can’t just break into his property without a warrant!”

Adam pulled on his jacket and looked over at the clock.

“I don’t care,” he said calmly. “Right now, I don’t give a damn.”