Summary

In Chapters 11 – 15 there are developments in three strands of the plot. First, Gunnar Hagen sets up a small unit, which is essentially Harry Hole's former unit with the addition of Katherine Bratt, to work on the police murders and the original rape and murder cases, all of which remain open, unsolved. They will meet in the small “Boiler Room” in the basement of police headquarters. The group includes the old team of Beate, Bjørn, Gunnar, and Ståle with Katherine. They divide up the necessary areas of investigation amongst themselves and Gunnar stresses that they must work in total secrecy and report only to him. Chief of Police Mikael Bellman, in particular, should hear nothing about their work.

Second, there are plot development concerning Truls, Mikael, his wife Ulla, and Isabelle. Most important are Truls indirect threats, when Mikael joins Truls at...