‘Yes,’ the Police Chief said. ‘The accused has written a manuscript in recent months about what had happened and what was going to happen. This documentation is now being examined carefully. In many ways we can say that it forms a unique … confession. We’ve also made other very interesting finds at the accused’s house. Against the background of these, we believe we can now say with certainty that the thwarting of the intended murder at Vettakollen and the civil arrest of the accused may well have prevented additional murder attempts to the one at that location.’

‘What? Who, then?’

Hannelore Lorentzen grasped the glass again and took a long drink.

‘I would like to request you to respect the fact that, out of consideration for the ongoing investigation, we cannot give any further particulars.’

‘Vanja,’ Selma said under her breath. ‘Lars Winther whispered in my ear that Knut Nilssen planned to kill Vanja too. That will come out soon enough.’

‘Several media outlets have today claimed that the death of Morten Karlshaug is also linked to this case. Can you tell us anything more on that subject?’

The Police Chief picked up the glass again, but put it down when she realized it was empty.

‘I can only confirm that, as of today, we have a strong suspicion that we are talking about the same perpetrator.’

‘Knut Nilsson, then?’

She nodded almost imperceptibly.

‘But what on earth was his motive?’

‘I can’t say anything further about that at present.’

She hesitated for a moment, and then continued: ‘To all appearances, we’re dealing here with some kind of vendetta. Concerning something that happened a long time ago. I can’t tell you any more than that.’

‘As far as Haakon Holm-Vegge’s death is concerned, have you come any further to reaching an explanation for that?’

‘We have discovered that a burgundy-red Peugeot 206, driven by the now-deceased Arnulf Selhus, was in Maridalen when Haakon Holm-Vegge ran off the road and had an unfortunate accident. More than that I can’t say, other than that the cause of death has been ascertained. He drowned.’

‘Can you also say something about the drugs tests on the two athletes, Hege …’

The Police Chief raised both hands.

‘As far as that is concerned, a great deal of technical investigation remains to be undertaken. We will not comment on that aspect of this complex case for three weeks at the earliest.’

‘But the Norwegian Cross-Country Skiing Federation has already confirmed that they intend to request that Anti-Doping Norway rescind …’

Now she shook her head and interrupted him again.

‘I can state that those involved in the upper echelons of sport already believe they have documentary evidence showing that the two athletes were sabotaged, and therefore are innocent according to the organization’s own regulations, but the purely criminal aspects are for the police to deal with. And we have nothing more to add in relation to that. As yet.’