The Sandman

59

Saga is standing in the empty flat together with the two police chiefs. Her heart is beating hard and every fibre of her being is screaming at her to say no.

‘Is this illegal?’ she asks, and feels that her mouth has gone dry.

‘Yes, of course... and it’s extremely confidential,’ Carlos replies seriously.

‘Extremely?’ she replies, the corner of her mouth curling into a smile.

‘At National Crime we’ll be declaring it confidential, so that the Security Police can’t see the file.’

‘And I’ll make sure that it’s declared confidential by the Security Police so National Crime can’t see it,’ Verner goes on.

‘No one will know about this unless there’s a direct request from the government,’ Carlos says.

The sun is shining through the dirty window, and Saga looks out at the panelled façade of the neighbouring building. A chimney vent is glinting at her and she turns back towards the two men.

‘Why are you doing this?’ she asks.

‘To save the girl,’ Carlos says with a smile, but the smile doesn’t reach his eyes.

‘And I’m supposed to believe that the heads of National Crime and the Security Police are working together to—’

‘I knew Roseanna Kohler,’ Carlos interrupts.

‘The mother?’

‘We were in the same class at Adolf Fredrik School, we were very close... we... it’s been very tough, very...’

‘So this is personal?’ Saga asks, taking a step back.

‘No, it’s... it’s the only right thing to do, you can see that for yourself,’ he replies, gesturing towards the folder.

When Saga’s expression doesn’t change, he goes on:

‘But if you want me to be honest... Obviously it’s hypothetical, but I’m not sure we would have had a meeting quite like this if it wasn’t personal.’

He starts fiddling with the mixer tap on the sink. Saga watches him, and gets the strong impression that he’s not telling her the whole truth.

‘In what way is it personal?’ she asks.

‘It’s not important,’ he replies quickly.

‘You’re sure?’

‘What’s important is... that we actually do this, it’s the right thing to do, the only right thing... because we believe the girl can still be saved.’

‘So we’re sending in an agent as quickly as we possibly can – that’s all, no large-scale operation,’ Verner says.

‘Obviously we don’t know if Jurek Walter’s going to say anything, but there’s a chance... and everything suggests that it’s our only chance.’

Saga stands perfectly still with her eyes closed for a long while.

‘What happens if I say no?’ she asks. ‘Will you let the girl die in that damn capsule?’

‘We’ll find another agent,’ Verner says simply.

‘Go ahead, then,’ Saga says, and begins to walk towards the hall.

‘Do you want to think about it?’ Carlos calls.

She stops with her back to the two police chiefs and shakes her head. Light filters through her thick hair with the interwoven ribbons.

‘No,’ she replies, and walks out of the flat.