Part 7 (1/2)

It was only when we found out that the e-mails had probably been sent by Mirko Zigic that the police The older of the two officers interrupts. Interpol is looking for Zigic. We hope there might be a chance of picking him up here in Denmark.

Apparently Iben and Malene spent hours in an Internet cafe last night but found nothing to lead them to Zigic. The e-mails were sent via an anonymizer site and are impossible to trace. The two look exhausted, especially Iben, who has deep shadows under her eyes. Even so, they appear to be bursting with energy on an adrenaline high. Their eyes seem to be urging everyone, even Anne-Lise, to stick together.

The police have given the office a preliminary once-over and have checked Ibens and Malenes apartments, but so far they have found no clues. They ask general questions about the womens work at the DCIG.

About half an hour later the older policeman begins to tap on the table. Thats it for now. We cant do much more at present. The investigation will be handed over to the computer crime unit here in Copenhagen.

Iben shoves away a pile of photocopies. I see. So youre leaving?

Thats right.

And what if Zigic turns up here?

Two of our men are downstairs, guarding the door. They know the score. Dont worry.

They stare at him.

I can a.s.sure you that it is highly unlikely extremely unlikely that Zigic would come here. If he does, h.e.l.l be doing us all a good turn, because then we can put him away.

Iben refuses to be rea.s.sured. Are you telling me that the two guards downstairs know all about arresting an experienced mercenary? A ma.s.s murderer whos personally killed and tortured hundreds of victims?

The younger officer nods calmly. Youre obviously upset, but please remember that men like Zigic dont bother to e-mail their victims first before a.s.sa.s.sinating them.

Sure. h.e.l.l just sneak up behind his victim in the street without warning like Olof Palmes killer, right? Malene interjects.

The older policeman looks at Malene and pushes his mug of coffee out of the way. That was a problem handled by the Swedish police. b.l.o.o.d.y tragic. But a Swedish case.

He begins to pack his briefcase. Were all busy people. My colleague and I have to get back to the station. If there are any new developments, call the computer crime unit.

The door closes behind them.

The five employees stay on in the conference room to talk about the situation.

Iben speaks without her usual composure and repeats herself several times. Of course the cops are right. This isnt serious.

But something has changed.

Anne-Lise scans the others for signs of fear. What about Camilla, Paul, and Malene? Are they really scared? Or are they playacting as well?

They talk about the risks and about who, apart from Mirko Zigic, could have sent the e-mails. For much of the time they are simply making the same points again and again, and after about an hour, Paul gets up.

You all stay here. I understand that theres a lot for you to talk about. The trouble is, I simply have to go. I have an appointment at the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Fill me in later if you come up with something.

Camilla looks up with disbelief. Paul! Youre not leaving?

Thats the idea. Is there a problem?

But think of the danger!

Come on, I dont think anything bad will happen.

Iben interrupts. It seems to me that we should regard this as a very serious matter.

Pauls face looks grave and he sits back down on the edge of his chair. You must believe me, I am taking it seriously. Honestly. Very much so.

He studies each face in turn. Anne-Lise enjoys the attention.

However, what that police officer said must be true, Paul continues. No experienced soldier would bother e-mailing his victims before murdering them. The senders aim is only to scare us. Maybe to distract us from our work here, which seems to me to be the real danger. We cant let it happen.

He stands up. Anyway, continue talking. I dont expect you to do much more than that today. Later this week, well get up to speed again.

They stay seated around the table and discuss options for protecting themselves and catching Zigic, aware that there is something faintly insulting about Pauls manner. It was all very well for him to say, I understand that theres a lot for you to talk about, but then he made it obvious that he personally hadnt the slightest need to talk. Does he think that they need to sit about empathizing all day just because theyre women?

They decide to try to concentrate on work.

Back in the library, Anne-Lise phones Henrik. They actually looked at me! She cant get over it. And spoke to me as if I were really there. No barriers!

Henrik is pleased. Heartfelt thanks to whoever sent those e-mails.

She twists the phone cord around her finger. Shush.

Everyone in the office knows that the one thing that can disturb Pauls unruffled demeanor is the prospect of another meeting at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, since the outcome of such visits determines the DCIGs ability to grow and its future existence. Although the Ministry for Science, Technology, and Development pays its running costs, the Center is an independent organization and has to raise money for its projects, publications, and conferences by applying for grants from private and state foundations. One way or another, a substantial proportion of its finances can be traced back to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Paul carries a heavy responsibility. To avoid layoffs, each year he must convince the Foreign Affairs Ministry that the Center is effective enough to justify their approval for new project funding. As he has told his staff, that isnt his only problem. The men from the ministry might well decide that the DCIG is too effective. It could occur to them that it would be desirable, all things considered, to s.h.i.+ft the DCIG maintenance grant to their ministry. True, at first glance it might not seem to matter which arm of the government supports the Center, but Paul knows better.

The working briefs of the DCIG and the Danish Inst.i.tute for Human Rights are very similar. The DIHR is an independent organization too, but its fixed costs are paid by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The day may come when some young, inexperienced civil service advisor sees the advantages of making the DCIG part of the DIHR, with its hundred or so staff members. The upshot for Paul would be the loss of his special claim to give television interviews. And according to Paul, the DCIGs duty to inform the public about genocide issues would be undermined.

Yet as far as anyone knows, todays meeting at the ministry is not particularly important. Apparently Paul is out just to make a good impression.

Anne-Lise spends the rest of the morning unpacking parcels of printed matter from abroad and recording their contents.

By lunchtime Paul still isnt back. The women have their usual lunch in the small meeting room, except the bread is stale because no one could face breaking the police cordon to buy fresh rolls.

Camilla hardly eats a thing. She looks defeated, her arms hanging limply by her sides. But what if it isnt Zigic? It could be one of so many people, couldnt it?

Iben replies energetically, quickly swallowing the last bite: Youre right. The other day I tried to arrive at a figure for how many men known to have partic.i.p.ated actively in genocides are still alive. Fifteen million, at least! More than three times the number of men alive in Denmark today. If you count people whove backed a killer at some point, the number is much, much larger maybe several hundred million. Thats like the entire population of Europe. Or the U.S., for that matter. So, Zigic or no Zigic, theres no telling who else might have been provoked by whats on our Web site.

Malene gives her a puzzled look.

Iben answers her question before shes even asked it. I calculated a ballpark figure like this: one million in Rwanda, and about the same number in Sudan and Cambodia. At least five million in China, and three million in Russia. Then pool all the rest.

Iben turns to Camilla. Something happens, changes, inside most men in wartime. Did you read the three reports on genocide in Bosnia by Stjernfelt that appeared in the Week a few years ago?

No. I didnt.

Basically, it was the same story over and over again. A woman meets a nice man, her family likes him, and she feels safe with him. She has no inkling about the dark side to his character; neither has he. Probably. Anyway, no one would have guessed what he was capable of. Then the war begins.

Anne-Lise has often thought that Iben, rather than Malene, should be the one who does lecture tours. Iben always becomes so absorbed in what she is saying.