The Salt of Ancient Tears by Brian M. Talgo & Brynjulf Haugan

Author:Brian M. Talgo & Brynjulf Haugan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Time slip novel, High-concept, Nordic noir books, Past lives novel, Viking fiction novel, Friends to lovers, Historical mystery books
Publisher: Nordic Noir Press
Published: 2024-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Julia handed Nina a glass of chilled white wine. She was sitting on the couch, feet tucked under her, an expectant look on her face.

“Okay, tell me all about this new case of yours. On the phone it sounded like you were taking the king himself to court.”

“That might be truer than I want it to be,” Julia said. “I hardly know where to begin.”

“Good stuff or bad stuff?”

“I’m not sure yet. Absolutely weird stuff. And you know you can’t discuss this with anyone else, right?”

“Of course,” Nina said putting on her offended look.

Julia began to outline the case. She described how Maria came to her office, asking for help.

“When I first heard about it I thought it was just another battered sex worker case. I don’t mean for that to sound cynical, but you know I’ve handled quite a few of these cases over the years. They often have a common denominator, if you know what I mean.”

“But this is different.”

“Yes, because this one involves a prominent public figure. Karsten Holstein.”

“Get out! You have the Holstein case? I thought there already was a lawyer handling that case, I saw him on TV.”

“There was,” Julia said, “but he wanted to settle, and she didn’t.”

“And you’re coming to the rescue. And you believe her story, I take it?”

“Completely. I mean, she was obviously beaten and raped, his sperm was in her, and only his sperm, so there’s that. Other than that, if you had seen her, heard her story.” Julia merely shook her head. “If she wanted the money, she would have settled. It’s as simple as that.”

“Who is this guy? I mean, I’ve seen his name in the papers, gigantic mansion up on Holmenkollen, photo ops with politicians, stuff like that. What do you know about him? Knowing you, you’ve done your homework.”

“I have. Okay, so Karsten Holstein is fifty-eight years old, but he looks considerably younger. He is, as you noted, obscenely rich. High-class hotels and real estate are his core interests, especially in Scandinavia, the Balkans, and Northern Europe. He’s also into shipping and international investment: Brazil, Russia, Canada, Iran, Saudi Arabia, ex cetera, ex cetera. Interestingly, he wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth, he fought his way up from relatively humble means in Stavanger to be the self-made man he is today. I think he started by buying up property in Stavanger before the oil boom got the prices skyrocketing. I need to check that. Outwardly, he appears to be the Good Citizen. However, according to some people I’ve recently spoken to, he’s a classic sociopath capitalist.”

“Classic sociopath capitalist? I’m the psychologist here. I can’t remember ever having heard that one before.”

“You know what I mean, those millionaires who make their fortunes climbing over the bodies of their friends and families?”

“I thought they all did that?”

“Nina. Anyhow, he’s known in business circles for being completely ruthless. And I mean totally. This friend of mine who works in the Finance Department told me that

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