[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.What matters is what I can do for you.’Golden already had two partners.They’d come along in the early nineties when he needed somebody to open doors for him.With no football career of his own to speak of, he needed help to build a network.His first partner had opened the door to Norwegian football, introducing Golden to club chairmen, managers, players and association executives.His second partner had arranged for those first important handshakes in the closed world of English football.Over the years, Golden Boys would go on to export a great number of players to the Premier League and, as a result of that, also to Spain, Italy, France and Germany.‘Does it look like I need your help?’ asked Golden, putting out his arms.‘You’re big, but you’re still just an ordinary football agent.I can make you king.’‘How?’‘I make things happen.’‘I need an example.’‘I’ll give you two.Let’s say Golden Boys and another competing agency each have one footballer playing an international.A club’s sent somebody to watch the two players, comparing them against each other.Wouldn’t it be a relief if the other player got food poisoning on the day of the match?’Golden looked at the man but didn’t say anything.The man held up two fingers and continued.‘Secondly, you’ve got an interest in astroturf.Part of Golden Boys’ income derives from it.I can give you a monopoly.I can put pressure on entrepreneurs, clubs and people in the association, so that nobody would dream of building a synthetic pitch outside the Golden Boys system.’‘I’ve got no idea who you are or what fantasies you’re talking about.All I know is that I need to upgrade my security.If I’m to consider working with you at all, I’ll need proof.’‘I thought as much.Norway play Uruguay here at Ullevaal in two days’ time.Put your money on Uruguay.I’ll make Steinar Brunsvik lose the match.’‘That’s risky business.’‘Nobody will ever find out.’‘A player might get injured and lose his influence on the result.’‘You’ve always been annoyed with Steinar Brunsvik, the best player not to be with Golden Boys, haven’t you?’‘I have.’‘That’s where my expertise will benefit your firm.If Norway don’t lose against Uruguay, then Steinar Brunsvik will never play football again.’Ballet‘Have you done anything for Stanley?’ asked Taribo from the back of the van, partially hidden by a couple of cardboard boxes.Yakubu was at the wheel.‘I haven’t had time.Shadowing Diesen is my main priority at the moment.’‘Does that mean you’ll be able to solve the case more quickly and help Stanley?’‘I think so.’‘It’s checkmate for me anyway, but if you promise to help Stanley after the case is solved, then we’ll help you now.Deal?’‘Deal,’ said Steinar.Steinar showed Yakubu the way to the car park below the ice rink at Valle Hovin, where they could wait for Diesen without being noticed.Steinar texted an update to Benedikte, telling her she could take Junior to the neighbours if there were any problems.How he’d pick up his own car from Vallhall was another problem, but he’d have to deal with that later.He’d seen journalists waiting there, he’d played a bit too well at that training session.Diesen was sitting in his white Porsche Cayenne.The car turned towards Fyrstikktorget, then sped up along the motorway into the Vålerenga Tunnel.He braked just before going past the speed camera.Many winters of cars driving past with studded tyres had kicked up dust from the tarmac, so the camera now blended in with the tunnel wall, but everybody knew about it and everybody sped up straight after it, like Diesen did.But maybe not all drove quite as fast as him.Diesen swerved and passed other cars on the inside lane.Yakubu pushed the van as fast as it would go to keep up.The tyres squealed and the speedometer was redlining.Diesen got away from them, but they were saved by the slowing traffic in the Festning Tunnel.Diesen drove along the motorway all the way to the Bygdøy junction.If he was heading home, surely it would have been quicker to drive through Solli Plass.Had they been spotted?Diesen turned onto Karenslyst Allé at Sjølyst and parked in front of Høyer, a high-end clothes shop, coming out a few minutes later with a couple of bags.He stood calmly for a few seconds underneath the shop awning before putting the bags in the Porsche and going into the shopping centre along the road.He came back out with a smoothie.With three cars between them Steinar, Yakubu and Taribo followed Diesen, up Bygdøy Allé, over the crest of the hill at Gimle Cinema, then down onto Niels Juels Gate.Diesen parked his car right outside number 48.After waiting for a few minutes, Yakubu parked the van further up the street, with a decent view of the entrance and Diesen’s car.‘Guys, we can’t just sit here like this,’ said Steinar.‘What do you mean?’ asked Yakubu.‘We’re too black for this part of town,’ said Taribo.They were in the exclusive West End district of Frogner.Yakubu kept his eyes on Steinar for a moment before softening his expression and breathing out through his nose.‘Alright,’ he said, climbing into the back with his brother.Steinar gave him a hand, holding cardboard boxes to one side so that the enormous man could clamber into the back seat.He landed hard on Steinar’s bike.‘Sorry,’ said Yakubu.‘I’d completely forgotten it was in here,’ said Steinar, checking his phone.No reply from Benedikte.‘Why did you leave football?’ asked Taribo.‘I was forced out.’‘How?’‘I was tricked into thinking I’d been doped.’‘Did you give up that easily?’He had a point [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]