Page 16 of Whispers at Dusk
“We don’t need to rest—we slept on the plane,” Mason assured him.
“Enough sleep?” Wilhelm asked skeptically. “Hopefully, you’ll enjoy Lillehammer as a base, at least. The town is truly charming, surrounded by mountains, filled with immaculately kept homes and businesses that are several hundred years old. The city and municipality came to prominence during the winter Olympics back in 1994. And the winter Youth Olympics in 2016.”
“It’s a beautiful place,” Della said, glancing to the back seat and smiling.
“You’ve been here before?” Wilhelm asked her.
“My grandparents were from Oslo. I visited a lot as a kid,” she said, turning to face Wilhelm.
“Ah, well, great. You’ll know the lay of the land.”
“Some,” Della said. She hesitated. “I know the area is beautiful.”
Wilhelm nodded. “Beautiful and often remote.” He shook his head and stared straight ahead as he drove, seeing the road and more. “I was born here, but I’m now stationed in Oslo. Lillehammer...is not that big, and the murder rate is extremely low. We have had a specialist medical examiner here out of Oslo as well, Dr. Andersen. Things happen, yes, but...”
“The Lillehammer Affair,” Mason murmured.
Wilhelm glanced back at him. “Yes, of course. There hasn’t been a murder here in over thirty years when Mossad agents arrived in Operation Wrath of God, hunting down the man responsible for the massacre of Israeli athletes, among others, at the 1972 winter Olympics—and killed the wrong person. Disaster for all involved, an innocent man paid the price. And the world trembled because... Munich was a horrible affair, but the death of an innocent man is a tragedy as well—and hatred creates more hatred. We learn, of course. We seek justice not retribution, but I imagine it was hard for many not to want dead a man who caused the deaths of so many. That was long ago. Lillehammer is a beautiful and generally peaceful place.” The police chief paused, as if remembering the grim cause for their being in Norway. “Asta Dahl was found by hikers—they tried to wake her up at first. I was called out to take the case. They had moved the body, but just to try and wake her up. She looked like a princess out of a fairy tale—just needing a kiss to be awakened.” He let out a long breath. “And we were back at the crime scene with our forensics people, trying to find anything that was a clue or a lead, when we found Brenna Arud.” He paused a minute.
“This killer has struck in France, England—and now here. Once in France, twice in England, and here...two,” Mason murmured.
Wilhelm looked back quickly in the rearview mirror at Mason. “Do you think he’ll move on again already? Or that he has already done so?”
Mason shrugged. “I do believe he’s traveling with an American or European Union passport—probably forged, or perhaps he has several. He’s traveled easily between countries. But he’s gotten away with his killing spree thus far—perhaps he will decide to strike again here. He may be feeling extremely confident.”
“Wereallymust stop this killer before he strikes again,” Della murmured.
“Okay, you’re sure you don’t want to settle into your rooms in Lillehammer?” Wilhelm asked.
“No, thank you,” Mason told him.
“Right,” Della agreed.
“Then we’ll pass by and head to the base of the mountains. It’s on foot from there. After, we will meet with Dr. Andersen and our Interpol liaison, François Bisset, at the morgue.”
“That sounds like an excellent plan,” Mason said. He looked out the window at the land they passed.
The landscape was beautiful. Rolling hills, lush foliage, the mountains a creative beauty in the background.
Mason had been in Norway before, but like many foreigners, he’d gotten to Oslo and then up to Bodø, a spectacular trip in which he’d seen the midnight sun. But if there was one thing he’d learned in years of law enforcement, most people were the same everywhere. Most people sought lives in which there was a home and a desire for love, be that from a spouse, children, family, or friends. Most people sought happiness without violence or bloodshed.
Goodness came with every nationality, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation.
Just as human evil might be found anywhere as well.
As they drove, Mason could see the town across the river. It appeared charming with its many late-nineteenth-century wooden buildings rising only a few stories, not like towers to the sky. It was a setting for a fairy tale, he thought, and then remembered the victims had been left like sleeping princesses just awaiting true love’s kiss. The mountains rose with nature’s beauty on this side of the water, and Wilhelm took a turn that led up a winding path. He parked the car, saying, “This way.”
Mason and Della exited the car and followed where he led. Jon Wilhelm paused before starting up a trail to tell them, “Hikers come here, or just nature lovers, not climbing too far. You are likely to see a lot of trees—”
“Noted,” Mason told him, grinning as he swept out a hand to indicate the heavy growth of trees to each side of the trail they were about to take. “I’m not an expert, but...” he paused to point “...there. Birch...then a group of gray alder trees. And...”
“Downy birch, and over there, aspen, and rowan,” Wilhelm said. “You do spend some time in forests at home, I take it?”
“I like forests,” Mason assured him.
“And you, Special Agent Hamilton?” he asked Della.
“Who doesn’t like a good forest?” Della said. “My natural habitat is a bit different. Very wet. I grew up near the Everglades.”
