Aurora Borealis over Trondheim
Prologue
Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense. Buddha
I am I
I am I, small with little to say
In the great circumstances
I am small, just a grain of dust
Compared to the Cosmos
But still; I am I
And therefore I am as good
And even better than Cosmos
Because I am a part of it
And without me, Cosmos
Couldn’t exist -
And we are all together
Charles Ekram Esteban Danzai-Roenning
Not one of a kind
1
Soldier of Misfortune
2
1
It is early morning in a small town in the middle of Norway. By the river meandering from the ‘Leirfossen’ waterfall all the way through town and into the Fjord of Trondheim four apartment blocks were perched.
On the fourth floor of the block closest to the river a middle-aged man is living with his seventeen year old daughter.
She isn’t his real daughter, but the only child of his ex-girlfriend who died in a climbing accident when the girl was nine years old.
Since then she has lived with Frank Paul as if he was her father. She has taken his family name, but is not adopted by him.
They go along pretty well as they have been living together since she was a kid of only six…
This morning he woke up very early. He was awoken by some horrible screams coming from the floors above somewhere…
He was a curious man.
He put on his Moroccan Koftan and slippers and went out into the corridor.
He couldn’t hear the screaming now, but he heard someone coming down the stairs
He stood still on the landing until he could see a young man dressed immaculately in the latest style of fashion.
He looked clean and his shoes were so thoroughly brushed that he could use them as mirrors.
Frank looked at him and asked him if he’d heard the terrible screams? The man had a faint smile on his face.
He looked friendly and nodded his head; “Yes I noticed”, he said, “and as you say: “it sounded horrible!”
Frank watched him as he was talking and didn’t believe a word of what he was saying.
Before he ventured further down the stairs he asked him,:
”do you live here? I cannot remember seeing you before.” “No, I do not. I was just sleeping over with a friend.”
“And what is your friend’s name”, Frank asked, ever so politely.
“The man looked at him with a smile and said:
”I don’t want to give out his name; we may all be in trouble if I do. We have to take care of our friends, when needed, don’t you think?”
Frank just looked at him and said: “I guess I do, in my way.”
Then he said good morning and turned to go into his own apartment; he could hear the mild voice of the man saying: “and the same to you, Frank Paul!”
Frank turned and looked down the stairs where he could hear the steady steps of the night guest.
The man looked up and flashed a white smile at him.
Frank went inside and waited for a while.
He anticipated the time the intruder would use to walk all the way down the stairs to the ground floor.
He calculated it to be five-six minutes.
He waited ten minutes to be sure and then he went out into the corridor again and up the stairs to the next floor.
There were three flats on each floor, but everything seemed to be quiet and in order on the first one he visited.
So he kept on walking up the stairs to the next floor, but it was all tidy and quiet there too.
Finally he reached the sixth floor and could hear the sound of flowing water from one of the flats.
He went over there and noticed that the door had been splintered where the door handle had been; now it was lying scattered on the floor
Water was seeping out underneath the door. The woman who lived there was one of the few persons he was talking with in the block.
She was beautiful, but most of all she seemed to have a brilliant mind and some kind of wisdom.
Frank didn’t know what she was earning her living from.
Sometimes he met her late at night and then she looked very tacky…
He rapped his knuckles at the door, but there was no other sound in there than the flowing water. He pushed the door wide open and went inside.
Out from the bathroom there was a steady flow of water mixed with blood.
He opened the bathroom door and froze on the spot just inside when he saw his neighbour lying in the bath tub, most probably dead.
He turned and left the flat after having turned off the water. He tried to close the outer door by jamming a pair of shoes underneath it…
He ran down the stairs and into his own apartment.
Carla had just got out of bed and now she was standing in the hall; paralyzed.
She looked at him and asked him where he had been?
“Just upstairs to have a look at things”, he said
“What things?” she asked. Then she looked down at his slippers and saw that they were colored red.
“Frank; what’s happened?!” He looked at her and said: “let me have a cup of coffee first.”
She turned to him again and said: “There was a man here asking for you”
He spun around and looked at her. “What did he look like?”
She looked at him and said: “he looked like a lawyer or a business man and he was very well dressed!”
“Ok, let’s calm down a little first and I’ll tell you what happened here today while you were still asleep.
They sat down by the kitchen table and he told her what had happened the last fifteen minutes.
When he was finished she just sat there with her mouth wide open…
“Oh, Frank, what are you going to do? He might be coming for you too!”
“Actually I don’t think so; this man has something else on his mind.”
“I have to call the police, or better; a friend of mine who is into this line of work. Do you remember Ole who used to visit us some years ago?”
“Yes”, she said.
“He has written many books about this kind of criminality.”
“Oh, I am forgetting; I have to call the police to report this nasty incidence.”
He drank his coffee in one gulp and went out into the hall to call. Ten minutes later he came back into the kitchen looking at his watch.
“I guess you’re off to school soon?”
“Yes”, she said, “but I am a little afraid to leave you.”
“Nice of you, but have no fear, Carla, I can take care of myself, but I am not sure of you. Do you have some friends you can stay with a few days?”
“Do you think I am in danger?” she said with her eyes wide open, staring at him.
“I don’t know, but this man is dangerous for anyone, including himself.”
“Do it please, just for your own sake - and mine”, he said.
Carla came up to him and gave him a hug.
“I have many friends, and I am going to ask them today.”
“Ok, keep in touch, will you.”
“You too!” she said. She prepared her breakfast and her lunch for school.
Fifteen minutes later she left with a worried look on her face.
Frank wasn’t in a good mood himself after she was gone.
He knew from experience that people with a mild voice and a nice face and an impeccable appearance was not what they appeared to be.
On the contrary; in his experience they were hiding something; what they mostly were hiding would be of the deep and murky kind of emotions and actions…
He sat down and poured himself another cup of coffee while he looked out of the kitchen window.
Ten minutes later someone were pushing his doorbell by the entrance downstairs.
A man’s voice said that he came from the police station to investigate what he had reported this morning; the nearest police office was just across the river.
He opened the door and waited for the Officer…
He arrived after 2 minutes and knocked at the door. Frank went out into the hall and bid him to come right in.
The Officer introduced himself as Trond Melhus.
Frank liked him immediately; he had this ability to see through people.
He had learned it throughout his many years of training and studying Gestalt Therapy and from many years of intense meditation.
He asked Melhus if he wanted a cup of coffee and the policeman was smart enough to say yes.
They sat down and chatted a little and then Melhus asked where the incidence had happened.
Frank took him to the fifth floor.
He showed him the splintered door and said it’s still open…
It was still wet on the landing outside the door.
Frank pulled out the shoes and they entered.
Melhus went into the bathroom. He looked at the scene and said: “mm Paul; I’ve seen this kind of scene before. You see the throat; it’s cut open and so are her wrists. If I am right I think we will find another sign on the body to indicate who did this.
We haven’t got the identity of the murderer, but he or she is leaving us clues all the time. Have a look at her left breast.”
Frank bent over and could see a small silver brooch pinned through her left nipple
“It looks like an angel”, Frank said.
“Exactly!” Melhus said, “This is the third victim of this monster!” he said with disgust.
“Ok, I will call up the station and tell the forensics to come and evaluate the scene. Meanwhile we can have another coffee and you tell me what happened, ok?”
“Yes, sure.” Frank replied.
“Your coffee was of the best class you know! Much better than my wife’s!” Melhus said as they walked down the stairs.
Frank smiled a little, but he was trembling inside.
They went into Frank’s apartment and sat down by the kitchen table. Frank poured two cups of coffee.
Melhus produced a notebook from his coat’s inner pockets and started writing the date and the name of the witness.
Then Frank explained in detail what had happened since he woke up this morning. Melhus wrote it down and closed the book; then he emptied his cup
“Very good Mr. Paul”, he said, “It’s not often we have such good statements as you have given me here.” He touched his notebook and pocketed it again.
“So”, he said, “anything else to tell me?” Frank had been thinking about that and told him about the impression the ‘stair man’ had induced in him, and about the Gestalt Therapeutic way of seeing people and their inner mandates.
Melhus looked at him and said; “You know, Frank, you could be valuable for us down at the station. I wonder if you could pop in one day and tell us more about your abilities.”
Frank wasn’t keen on this, but he nodded and told Melhus to call him.
With that he rose and thanked Frank for his frank report on the morning’s events.
2
Arthur Rosenborg was a junior partner in F.B. Shipping. The company wasn't of the biggest ones, but it was
conservative enough for young Arthur who wanted to mingle with the elite in the little town.
He also ran a Publishing Company called: “Inner Nature of Man;” which focused solely on man’s darkest sides.
He was also in cahoots with an establishment called: “Gentlemen’s Club no. 1”
This place was nothing but a brothel despite its audacious name.
Inside, on the first floor there was a huge bar and red puffed up sofas covered with purple velvet.
Upstairs in the second floor there were twenty compartments of various size and shape and equipment for the love making business.
Only the wealthy could afford the prices in this little dump…
Rosenborg met some raised eyebrows and problems concerning his involvement with the Gentlemen’s Club no. 1.
He didn’t have any problems in fending off these by means of his charming appearance. He was a slick and well dressed and seemingly polite and friendly young man with a white, flashing smile.
Later on in the morning a group of three policemen and a doctor rang his bell and he opened for them…
Upon reaching the third floor they knocked on his door and asked him to show them the apartment where the murder had been committed.
He took them up to the fifth floor and they found their way in. One of the policemen said he’d be down with him soon to have some more details on the incident…
Frank went down the stairs again and went into his own apartment to relax a little from the busy morning he’d had today.
He went into the living room and sat down in the sofa with his legs on the low coffee table. He sighed and sank down in the soft cushions. He dozed off and dreamt about the elegant man he had seen on the landing just outside his own door.
He was looking at Frank while waving his index finger in front of his face, saying: “Careful Frank, something may happen to you one early morning too!” Then he flashed a white smile at him and faded away.
Frank jumped out of the sofa and was very disturbed by this vision.
Someone at his door was calling at him; “hello, hello.”
Frank went out into the hall where one of the policemen was peeping into his kitchen.
“Ah, there you are Mr. Paul. I just wanted to have a quick chat with you before we leave.”
“Ok”, he said, “ask away.” The constable pulled up a notebook like the one Mr. Melhus had processed from his pocket and Frank couldn’t but smile.
“Standard equipment, Frank”, the copper said with a smile on his face.
Then he asked some of the questions Melhus had asked him earlier this morning. Frank went through it again and the policeman nodded. Then he wanted to know how Frank had come upon the murdered woman.
Frank told him and described in detail what he had observed in his neighbour’s flat…
The officer said;” thank you, we might have to talk with you again if you don’t mind?”
“Fine with me”, Frank said
So he was finally left alone and the time was soon noon…
He went out into the kitchen and made a cup of tea for himself.
As he sat down by the kitchen table he was thinking of Carla.
He was very anxious about her safety.
He had seen such a deep and dark abyss of malice in this well dressed young man.
He was convinced that this slick character was a psychopath.
No one could have done something as bad as he’d done this morning and still be in control as he seemed to be when Frank first saw him.
He felt sorry for him, thinking of what kind of future he would have to go through. It wouldn’t be easy; he would have to face a lot of obstacles and defeats on the kind of road he had ventured onto.
He finished his tea and went into his office, which was the smaller of two bedrooms in the apartment.Inside he had built two desks for him and Clara where they could search the net, write and talk with friends. By the window there was a bed where Carla slept…
Now he wanted to find out about this man showing up in the stairs…
He found the number of the police office and asked for Detective Melhus. The receptionist asked him who he was and where he lived and if he was calling from his own phone. Frank told her the truth and nothing but the truth. She asked him why he wanted to talk with Officer Melhus. He briefly told her about what had happened this morning and she said:” Just a minute Mr. Paul.”
A couple of minutes later she was back again. “It’s funny, “she said, “he wanted to see you today too. He will call you in half an hour.”
“Thanks”, Frank replied and hung up.
He sat for a while by the desk and decided to call Ole.
He remembered his number and knew that he was staying at home most of the time; so he wasn’t surprised when Ole answered immediately.
“Hello there, Frank!” he said, “long time no see! What’s on your mind today, Doc!” Frank smiled; it felt good to talk with his friend again.
He said:”Ole, I am going to meet with a policeman today and I wonder if you’d like to join us for a hefty conversation in a coffee shop somewhere. This cop is a good one. His name is Trond Melhus. Are you familiar with that name?”
“Melhus is one of the best in this town, but why do you want to talk with him – and me, for that matter?”
“You see, something terrible has popped up and I would like to invite you into it. I like this policeman and I think we will have a good cooperation with him.”
“We? What is this, Frank? What has happened?”
“It will all be revealed today. Melhus will call me very soon and then I’ll call you back, ok?”
“This sounds as a prologue for a good novel to me; I am in!”
“Thanks, Ole. I am looking forward to see you again.”
He went into the kitchen and looked out at the busy lunch rush. The area he was living in was called “The sunny side” and there were lots of restaurants and coffee shops and shopping centers there; very convenient for anyone living in this neighbourhood. People were rushing in for lunch now from nearby offices and companies and schools…
The phone rang and he grabbed the one on the wall right in front of him and answered: “Frank Paul here.”
“Hi coffee man!” a jovial voice said, “Do you have time for a chat today in the ‘Blueberry’ or wherever you prefer?”
“Exactly what I was going to ask you. I will bring a friend; Ole Tjern. I guess you know him?”
“The best crime writer in town”, he said, “No problem; just bring him. He might even be of help.”
“Your description of him is exactly what he says about you being a policeman.”
“Sounds promising! What time will be convenient for you?”
“Blueberry in half an hour? I have to call Ole.”
“No problem! See you there.”
Frank called Ole again and told him where and when. Ole was eager to meet with them and said he would probably be there before they arrived. He lived in the neighbourhood and could walk over there in ten minutes.
Frank went into the bathroom to brush his teeth. While doing that he looked at himself in the mirror.
“Now, what are you getting yourself into, old man?!” Frank shook his index finger to the reflection of his face.
He dressed; casually as always and left for the coffee shop and hopefully good company and a pleasant conversation…
He went down the stairs and thought of this morning’s events. Just a few hours ago a murderer had come into his life and walked down these same stairs!
Outside he just had about a hundred meters to walk to the ‘Blueberry.’
The Sunny Side had once been a shipyard and still there were signs of it all around in the area. The old brick houses of the old yard were now rehabilitated for all kinds of shops and coffee shops.
Cranes were still standing immobile along the canals. Two anchors were also placed on an open space by the entrance of the shopping mall.
All around the blocks and apartment houses there were canals filled with water. They had once been docks for building ships…
‘Blueberry’ was situated in the old office building of the yard and was a popular place for the younger coffee - shop - crowd, but also for people like Frank who had plenty of time at his disposal as he was on a pension and had been so for twelve years.
"The Sunny Side
He was still having clients who needed to get rid of blockages and difficult relationships or just needed to be aware of the positive sides of their lives.
Otherwise he was also busying himself with painting and drawing. Sometimes he sold some of his collection, but mostly he gave them away. He didn’t want to charge too much for his products as he didn’t see himself as a professional artist…
He reached the coffee shop and could see Ole inside with a beer in his hand. Ole wasn’t too amused by all the coffee that was drunk among his friends, so he stubbornly stuck to his pint of dark beer.
Now he became aware of his friend approaching outside and waved at him. Frank waved back and jumped the stairs up to the entrance and went in. He went over to Ole and grabbed his hand and shook it.
Ordinary Norwegians would feel awkward about this kind of procedure. For him and Ole it was common sense; to touch like this was a way of strengthening the relationship and make people feel comfortable.
This had become a habit between them many years ago. Ole smiled at him: “nice to see you again my friend”, he said, “let’s meet more often; hopefully we can have some more to share after this meeting?”
“Who knows? I surely hope so”, Frank said
“Ah, here’s our man of law”, Ole said and pointed out the window. Soon Melhus joined them and announced that he would pay today!”
“What you really mean is that we have already paid you through our taxes and now it’s your time for a payback?” said Ole, “by the way; my name is Ole Tjern.” Melhus looked at him and smiled, “any new novels lately?”
Melhus looked around in the coffee shop and asked them: “Can we move to a quieter corner. I wouldn’t like it if someone with big ears sat too close to us!” So they moved to the adjacent room that wasn’t frequented as much as the main one…
“I hope to have one on the block one of these days!” Ole said as they sat down in the almost empty room.
Melhus looked at him and said:” maybe you will have it up close this time?”
“That would be too close for me I think, but I believe our friend here is grossly annoyed with this killer. He might even go after him.”
“Are you sure it is a he?” Melhus looks at them both. Then he turns back to Frank and says: “can you describe the man you met in your block again, Frank?”
Frank told them how the man looked and what he saw in him and how he behaved and how he actually launched a covert threat against Frank and his daughter.
Ole just looked intensely at Frank when he described the whole event. Then he asked Frank:” the description of this man; are you absolutely sure he looked and behaved like you said?”
“Absolutely!”
“Then I know who he is!” Ole said and looked at both of the men.
Now Melhus was as intense as Ole. He asked Ole who this guy was and Ole came out with a name after some thinking. He whispered now; “there is only one man in this town that fits into Frank’s description and that’s Arthur Rosenborg!” His voice was barely audible when he spoke the name.
Melhus leaned back in his chair looked out into the air and sighed heavily.
“Frank, can you tell your friend what you saw in this man?”
Frank told Ole that he didn’t doubt a second that the man he met had to be a psychopath and especially after he had turned up at his door while Clara was alone there.
Ole stared at him. He said: “where is your daughter now?”
“At school, “Frank said, “but I have told her to stay with friends for some time”.
“Good!” Ole said.
Melhus had a worried look on his face.
“Is there something you’d like to share with us Officer?” Frank said.
“I am not sure. I know this man of course. He is in with the high shots in town. We believe he is supported by his father who we suspect is a drug dealer, but he is a veteran who knows all the tricks and we have never got anything on him.”
“Good men, I am also a bit worried about this meeting’s purpose. What did you have in mind when you decided to invite your friend with us, Frank?”
Bakklandet, old wooden buildings
Frank says: ”Ole is the man who as a civilian knows the most about cons and ex-cons and crooks and crimes in this town. He has been doing thorough research for many years around here. He is a valuable source for anyone who wants to track down any kind of crime!”
“My problem is that I cannot see how I as an Officer of Law can cooperate with two civilians like you; especially in this case. I have to talk with the mighty boss and I guess you both know what that may lead to?”
“He will turn us down on the spot!” Ole says, “But do you have to tell him? Birger Grytvik is the most incapable head of office that has warmed the chief’s chair in your department, ever!” said Ole
“Anyone knows that!” Melhus says, “But still I have to deal with him. I see you two as a formidable resource for this kind of plot.” He sighed and said:” I‘ll have a talk with him and use all my skills as a negotiator which are not too bad. Ok? I need you to be very quiet about this; understand?” He added:” and Frank if you have told your daughter about this, you must tell her the same! It’s very important!”
3
Arthur Rosenborg has just left his office at F.B. Shipping in the Fjord Street and is now on his way to his other occupation; the Publisher company, which is not too far away from his more respectable office.
The company is run by Arthur and his cousin Peter. They have also hired a Solicitor and a Psychologist.
The first to fend off any complaints about the company’s dirty literature and the latter takes care of both the writers and the psychology used in their products and those of them who have fallen into the trap of their own works; as they dive so deeply into the abysses of darkness and fear…
These employees are of the darker kind themselves, obviously.
Arthur went up a narrow alley and reached the ‘Krambu Street’ where he rented a couple of shabby rooms on the second floor in an old wooden house for their tiny company. His cousin hasn’t arrived yet, but Arthur sits down in his swivel chair and picks up a newly arrived manuscript from someone who wrote under the synonym; “Filthy Amanda”
Arthur smiled and licked his lips. “Sounds promising Amanda,” he said and opened the envelope. He picked out the pile of papers and prepared himself to dive into it.
He went over to the kettle to boil some water for a cup of coffee. While waiting for it to finish he looked briefly through the first chapter; “Amanda; your choice of name really fits you!” he said and smiled broadly; almost drooling.
The water was ready and he added a bag of Nescafe to it and went over to his desk again…
He was way into the manuscript when he heard someone coming up the narrow staircase leading from the sidewalk and up to their office. “Peter, is that you?” he said in a loud voice. No answer, but then he saw a middle aged man stick his head into his office. Arthur recognized him at once as Ole Tjern, the well-known local writer. Arthur rose up and went over to him and shook his hand. “Ah, our excellent local crime reporter is here in our humble office,” he said and smiled, “are you here to deliver a manuscript? I would be very happy to publish it for you!”
Ole looked at him and said: “maybe one day I will shock you with one, maybe”…
“Then, what can I do for you?” Arthur said. Ole looked around and noticed there were many files with writers he knew, but with whom he didn’t socialize.
Actually I was looking for manuscripts I could look into. I am just into the first steps of a new novel based on crimes committed here in Trondheim. It’s the first time I’ve done that. I have been ‘inspired’ by a series of murders lately and had a chat with Detective Melhus in the central police station in a coffee shop today… He recommended “Inner Nature of Man.” I believe that’s the name of your company?”
Arthur just looked at him. He smiled and just stood there scrutinizing Ole’s appearance.
“I am afraid we haven’t got anything by local writers here for the time being. We receive manuscripts from many places in the country and ever so often from other countries too.”
“Oh, that’s a pity!” Ole said,” have you heard about these murders here in our town?”
Arthur was standing in the same position he had taken a while ago; as he was frozen to the floor. He looked down and said: “yes I have and it’s a devastating experience. Here in this small and peaceful corner of the world! Who would have thought that?”
Ole looked at him and said; “well. I have to find someone else’s manuscript then. Thanks for your help and I might come back to your offer to publish my latest novel. I am following this tragic case here you know.”
He turned around and was about to open the door when he heard Rosenborg saying:” if you are here for some other reason you better tell me Mr. Tjern. I could be of some help in filling you in with details from these nasty affairs going on here in town. Have a nice day.”
Ole nodded and opened the door. Then Rosenborg obviously had some more to say:” If this investigation leads you here I might be of substantial help for you Mr. Tjern. Don’t forget!” He turned around and sat down in his swivel chair to read again.
Ole went down the steep stairs to the sidewalk. He couldn’t decide if he had been threatened by Rosenborg or not.
“I’ll have to talk with Frank again”, he thought.
