Images of the two dead women quickly dampened the group’s high spirits. The photographs had been carefully selected from the hundreds taken at each crime-scene, so that camera angle and distance were near-identical, further underscoring the similarities between them. Simonsen expanded on this.
“The woman to the left is Maryann Nygaard. She was killed on the thirteenth of September, 1983 at the DYE-5 station on Greenland’s ice cap, and found just over a week ago in circumstances I’m sure you have heard about. The woman to the right is Catherine Thomsen. She was killed on the fifth of April, 1997 at Nordstranden outside Stevns’s Klint. Her body was discovered some eight months later by two amateur archaeologists, who picked up her bracelet with their metal detectors. There is a long list of similarities between the two murders, which means, I believe, that we are dealing with the same perpetrator. I still want you to listen with an open mind and maintain your usual healthy scepticism, though. You all know how fatal to an investigation it can be to jump to the wrong conclusions early on.”
There were nods of agreement. Simonsen continued.
“Both women’s hands were secured with duct tape to their thighs, just above the knees. The ankles likewise were tied together with duct tape. This was done before death. Both women were dressed only in panties and undershirt. Both had their breasts exposed or partly exposed, their clothing torn in front. We know that Catherine Thomsen wore a bra, so that was removed. We do not have corresponding information on Maryann Nygaard. Both women’s nails had been clipped, in all probability by the perpetrator. Both were buried immediately after their death—Maryann Nygaard in ice and Catherine Thomsen in gravel, close enough to the sea that her body was regularly covered with chalky water and thereby to some degree kept partially intact. Bright red lipstick has been applied to the mouths of both women before their death. In their mouths and throats textile fibres have been found—the result of a rag having been stuffed into their mouth. Specifically in the case of Catherine Thomsen some of these fibres contained microscopic traces of lipstick, while others did not, from which the technicians conclude that the perpetrator put the lipstick on while she had the rag in her mouth. We won’t know if the same approach was used on Maryann Nygaard until we get the final autopsy report, and that won’t be ready for a couple of days. Last but not least, both women were suffocated by pulling a transparent plastic bag over their heads and fastening it around their neck. The rag in their mouth was removed prior to that.”
Simonsen paused briefly. None of his listeners said anything, and the mood was heavy. Malte Borup, who had illustrated his boss’s points with corresponding close-ups, returned to the original two photographs.
“In addition to this, there are a number of features common to both homicides which may or may not be coincidences. Judge for yourself. Maryann Nygaard was twenty-three years old at her death, Catherine Thomsen twenty-two. Both women were medium height and slender, almost athletic in build. Both had black, wavy hair down to the middle of their back, and in both cases their hair was let down when they were found. If you look at their faces, there are quite a few similarities. Both must be considered pretty, with fine features, high cheekbones and brown eyes. Naturally there are differences, especially around the nose, but without being able to support it objectively I would say there was a close resemblance between them.”
Pedersen took Pauline Berg by the hand. She misunderstood and pushed him away, annoyed at first, only to freeze the next moment when she stared at the screen and, shaken, grab hold of his hand again. Simonsen went on speaking.
“For further parallels it should be mentioned that the women were not raped, and we must assume there had not been any other form of sexual molestation, apart from the exposed breasts. Maryann Nygaard’s vagina contained an intact tampon, and Catherine Thomsen was a virgin—she was an active member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, who as you know do not sanction pre-marital sex. And besides, no semen residue was found at either of the crime scenes.”
He paused here, waiting for a reaction which quickly came. They were all in agreement that the person who had murdered Maryann Nygaard in 1983 most likely also killed Catherine Thomsen almost fourteen years later. He took a deep breath. He’d reached the part of the briefing he’d been dreading. His words were chosen with care.
“What I have to tell you next isn’t easy for me. Some of you who were also involved in the Thomsen murder case will know why, but for the benefit of those who weren’t, I want to give you a brief overview and also talk about my personal role in it, to dispel any rumours you might have heard.”