The Abominable Man - A Martin Beck Mystery (Ep. 7) | BBC RADIO DRAMA

[Music] [Music] have you got some sort of timetable yeah an  assistant nurse open those doors at tenants after two she was just making a routine check and she  found neyman dead the officers in the radio car got the alarm at 2 12. they made it here between  three and four minutes later they reported to criminal at 217 I got here at uh to 22 called you  at 2 29. you got here at 16 minutes to three right when he arrived he'd been dead for half an  hour at most how will the doctor said well no that

's just what I thought well because  of the warmth of the body yeah right [Music] I didn't call you because Neiman was  a Chief Inspector I called you because well because of the way in which he died the fact  that he was um he was butchered butchered yeah how many know how to do this must be completely  insane uh it does look that way doesn't it I wonder what he used or maybe a  macheteer samurai sword neither we found the weapon outside well outside  where or just under the window see a bayone

t yeah why are you just letting it lie  there I thought so yeah until it goes light okay do you think we can go and call  on Mrs Neiman at this ungodly out I suppose so I mean we have to start somewhere Martin Beck and Aina Rune drove North on Darla  Garden towards odengarten outside the Eastman Institute they saw a black Volkswagen that was  so badly parked Rune felt compelled to comment it's an old parking Zone and he's got two wheels  on the bloody pavement probably drunk or a woman terrible

drivers they're not  made for it driving I mean that's a very sexist attitude run  are you serious yeah I am yeah what it was inspector Neiman's son who answered  the door wait a minute and I'll go get mother back and run stood in the living room and looked  around it was very neat Beck was beginning to feel uneasy and a little bit frightened yet he didn't  know what exactly he was frightened of he wished that he had Colbert with him instead of roon  unfortunately Colbert was at home sleeping ru

n for his part wished only that he was at home sleeping  instead of Colbert he'd been on duty for 18 hours straight and he was exhausted when Mrs Neiman came  into the room she held a small white handkerchief in one hand and she looked as if she'd been  crying mother this is um Chief Inspector back are you the man I spoke to on the phone that's  right yes and this is detective run hello hello sit down thanks yeah why wouldn't you let me come and see  him well he is my husband after all Mrs Neima

n yes your husband didn't die of his illness  someone came into his room and um killed him killed him a nurse found him on the  floor of his room just after two o'clock someone came in through the window and  I killed him with a Bayonet oh they must have hung very fast a few seconds can you think  of anyone who might have done it no no sorry no of course not has anyone ever threatened him was  there anyone who inspector Neiman felt might want him dead absolutely not no we don't want to  distress

you Mrs neyman we just we want to find whoever it is who killed your husband yes  yes of course was there anyone who hated him why should anyone hate him well I don't know  but he was a policeman and policeman in the course of their career well um naturally at  some point they make enemies well not stick well at least he never said so father  didn't talk about his job did he not really no how long had he been ill I  don't remember exactly since June last year he had an awful pain in his stomach

and he  went to the doctors and they thought it was an ulcer he's been on sick leave ever since they  couldn't find out what was wrong with him father thought it was cancer three weeks ago he went  into Hospital all right well thank you anyway um Stefan yes I think the best thing would be  if you could get a doctor to come over to look after your mother yes all right but it must be  one of those things mustn't it it must be one of those random things when he is about it doesn't  have to be pers

onal does it it could be just well it could be anyone it was 7 15 a.m  on the 3rd of April 1972 a Saturday an inspector Colbert was dreaming in his dream  his daughter Bodo was standing at an open window five stories above the street he tried  to run to her but his legs were paralyzed and she began Falling Slowly as if in slow motion  she screamed and stretched her arms out towards him but he couldn't reach her he couldn't move  he woke up to see Bodil standing beside him hi a little old man wit

h a big blue nose all dressed  up in Calico clothes can I have a cuddle yes Colbert arrived at kung's home's Garden at  a quarter to nine in the corridor he met run you look awful I've been here all night why  on the earth and what about stigma not what I just want to slice him up with a Bayonet Jesus  Christ I know where's Martin Miranda's office just heard about stigma yeah when did it happen  last night Mount Sabbath hospital it's all in here have a look Colbert sat down on  the edge of the d

esk and read you're saying I think run writes a terrible  report yeah apart from that what did it look like bloody awful what have we got to go on Footprints  that's it Footprints well fingerprints have come back negative so far no one saw anything  no one heard anything what about motive well I suppose revenge of some kind is  the obvious possibility like probability I know it wasn't a great policeman Martin okay all  right he was a bad police he was a hell of a bad policeman he was barbaric we

ll I didn't really  know him oh for God's sake what I never worked with him you couldn't you couldn't work with him  no one could all you could do was take orders and do as you were told of course if you were his  Superior then you could give him orders and then have them sabotaged or completely ignored when  did you work for him in the army during the war a lot of what I know I learned from Stig Neiman like  what how to gouge out a pig's eyes really without the Pig making a sound you know how t

o do that no  first you cut out the tongue oh I mean even if for some reason all of that was necessary he didn't  have to do it with such pleasure he actually enjoyed cruelty and he loved teaching it so it was  a Sadie sadist a bully if we got something wrong he used to make us choose between a report or a  beating a report meant a black mark on your record so most of us chose a beating on one occasion  listen to this I had to stand to attention with a bar of soap in my mouth while he broke two

of my  ribs Christ and afterwards he bought me a cup of coffee told me I had the makings of a real Soldier  a real hard man that was him being nice yeah what he kind of carried on like that Kenny I  mean once he became a policeman I don't know Martin honestly I've heard a lot of stories a  lot of rumors so have I but I thought you thought what oh that they were just just that rumors not  but look he must have been reported sometimes by other colleagues or whoever yes I'm sure he was  but because

of this whole loyalty thing stick together don't grasp anyone up I bet you won't  be able to find a single report I'll have just gone in the bin what about the justice department  the um you know the Ombudsman someone must have lodged a complaint there that's very true I mean  even if the complaint doesn't get anywhere oh you do have your moments I try good good I'm going to  go over to the hospital really why not okay okay I just remembered what he had this um sidekick  utterly devoted complet

ely loyal sidekick cold Holt Holt yes he should be a captain by now if  he's still around somebody should talk to him [Music] in a two-room flat on the second floor it was  clean and neat and so tidy that it somehow felt desolate Holt himself looked to be about 60. a  large heavyset man with expressionless gray eyes sorry do you have an ashtray they're done I've  never smoked wait a minute I'll find you a saucer [Music] nice place you've got yes I suppose it's  nice gets a bit lonely since my wi

fe died oh I'm sorry cancer it's  been three years right thanks so what can I do for you yes um I'm  afraid Stig Neiman died last night and did you already know that no I didn't but I  knew he was ill um what did you think of Inspector Neiman he was a very good man why I've heard the  opposite they're from various people well in that case those people are wrong but you do know you  I mean you must know that some people didn't like him or his uh approach Steve Neiman was the  best commander I eve

r had right right okay I don't have only much to do when I'm not at work and I  don't have very much to think about except this 40 years in uniform in this city in the whole  time it's only been getting worse and if there have been more men like stick Neiman then things  wouldn't be the way they are today so anyone who listens to a bunch of lies about Chief Inspector  Neiman well they needn't come running to me Neiman didn't die of his illness he was murdered and  we think whoever killed him was

after Revenge who could have hated Stig Neiman enough to want  to kill him no one I have to go where to work I found seven complaints against Neiman all right do I carry  on looking um please if you don't mind I've got a hair appointment this afternoon right you know  because it's Saturday the weekend yeah yeah well um I won't be long by this time run was so  tired that letters and words and whole lines kept flowing together or sagging or hopping  out of place the letter in front of him was han

d written on a piece of brown paper bag  and despite the spelling mistakes and the shaky handwriting it gave the impression of  having been written with patience and Industry to his honor the justice department Ombudsman in  Stockholm on the 2nd of February this year I got drunk I had my pay and bought a fifth of vodka I  remember I was sitting singing down by the year Gold Ferry and then a police car came up and took  away my bottle which there was some left in and dragged me away to a gray VW

bus and there was  another policeman with stripes on his sleeve and he grabbed me by the hair and hit me several times  then they put me in a cell and another policeman he had a broad stripe on his sleeve and his name  was Chief Inspector Neiman he punched me in the face and kicked me in the belly official remarks  say the officer named him the complaint is Chief Inspector Stig Neiman he knows nothing of the case  emergency Squad Commander Lieutenant Harold Hut certifies the apprehension of the

complainant  who is a notorious troublemaker and alcoholic is in the habit of bursting out with unfounded  accusations against officers who are then forced to take action against him how much longer what  sorry how much longer are you gonna be uh yeah I've nearly finished just uh just about another  five more minutes you said that half an hour ago the next letter was correctly addressed and  neatly typed on heavy linen paper [Music] on the afternoon of Saturday the 14th of this month I was  on t

he Pavements outside the entrance to number 75 quantonia Garden together with my two-year-old  daughter I was just lifting her up in the air to kiss her when a police car stopped at the curb  two officers got out of the car and one of them said what are you doing to that kid I explained  to them that I was her father I was then taken to the police station and held in a police cell then  a man called Chief Inspector Neiman came into the cell and punched me in the stomach I explained  again that I

was the girl's father he continued to hit me until someone came into the cell and  told him that my wife had arrived as soon as the Chief Inspector understood that I was telling the  truth he told me to go without apologizing or in any way attempting to explain his behavior reports  is Chief Inspector Neiman has no recollection of the complainant Constable's strum and rosenc  claimed to have apprehended the complainant on the grounds that he acted oddly and threatened  the child nor did they no

tice that Chief Inspector Neiman entered the detention cell in fact  they believe he did not no action to be taken the final letter turned out to be the  most interesting in that it was written by a policeman a constable Orca Ericsson run  knew something about Ericson's story but he couldn't remember all the details and the letter  told him nothing that he didn't already know [Music] how'd it go well I read through  the reports from Neiman's last year as Precinct captain and I wrote down  the na

mes and addresses of the people who reported him for a couple  of years before that have a look yeah okay so tired I could actually start crying I know I  know I know both of us should probably go home and go to sleep but if we stick with it for  just a bit longer maybe we can come up with something something conclusive I mean I think  it's worth the effort that's what I'm saying okay I just think there's maybe an urgency to the  situation okay let's say you take the first 10 names on the list a

nd I take the rest then  we can probably locate most of these people and and I just cross them off if nothing  else what do you think sure I'm sorry I I really think there might be the possibility  that what I don't know nice it's nothing we'll just get through the list Martin Beckley  to Florida cigarette and picked up the phone to begin working through the names but after  two phone calls a thought occurred to him hello Neiman household Stefan speaking hello  Stefan this is inspector Beck we m

et last night how's your mother now all right not too bad I mean  it wasn't entirely unexpected the father died I mean not you know do you think your mother can  come to the phone I'm sure she can wait a minute thank you as he waited for Mrs Neiman to come  to the phone he wondered why he was so nervous there was a feeling he couldn't seem to get  rid of a sense of danger that something was about to happen something had to be warded off  at any price but he didn't know what or how yes hello oh h

ello Mrs Neiman I'm sorry to  bother you I just wanted to ask you one thing who knew that your husband was in hospital not  many because Dick didn't really want people to find out some people knew of course stick has  two younger brothers they knew what about friends well Dr Bloomberg we saw quite a  lot of him and then Captain Palm my husband was in the army with him we we used to  see him and his wife quite a bit and what about in the police department who did you and your husband  see sociall

y from the police department yes nobody at all in the 26 he has Stig and I were  married no policeman ever set foot in our home well I find that quite difficult to  believe there was one man that he talked about now and then a man I knew he respect he phoned last night did he he phoned and asked  for my husband and I told him that stick was in hospital but I gave him the address because  he said he wanted to send flowers [Music] Sabbath Hospital Colbert was eating a Danish  Pastry when Larson ar

rived Larson wasn't inspector with the violent crime division  in Stockholm and he would never go higher up the career ladder as a matter of fact it was  incredible that he hadn't already been fired seeing him a crime and all that but it's not like  the body's still here yeah I know but what do you think the murderer did after he left this room I  have no idea but if you had to take a guess I'd say you went home and shot himself really I don't  know no idea no but can you think yourself into the

position of this man who killed Neiman and how  he might have behaved afterwards no I can't know how do you know it was a man because not  many women know how to handle a carbine bayonet or wear size 12 shoes oh why do you  do that do what cracking knuckles that's my business isn't it bloody irritating good have you  inspected coal there the lawyers I am hello I'm inspector Larson who are you I was stigma's  Doctor all right I just wanted to know a bit more about his condition his condition it'

s a  bit late for that you know what was wrong with him well ironically the diagnosis was largely  positive I mean if we were alive really he had a cyst on his small intestine that was benign  we would have removed that and he had a tumor on his liver but with pain management he should  have been able to live quite comfortably for several years he was very strong physically he  was in excellent condition apart from the tube apart from the tumor and what kind of person  was Stig Nema sorry what's

that got to do with anything well you must have an opinion  about his personality and he was complicated that's it that's all you're saying that's all  I'm saying okay well thank you yeah thanks okay why are you asking what his doctor thinks of his  personality because I may as well why not because it's irrelevant no it's not okay what have  you done haven't done anything what have you done that's so marvelous you caught the killer you  cracked the crime no you're making a Danish Pastry [Music]

run what Holt called Neiman's wife  last night and got the address of the hospital so what's the Curious coincidence oh what's  the coincidence that he should call out the night that Neiman was murdered I suppose so  I want to get hold of Holt ask him some more questions why don't you send out a call on the  radio that's a pretty constructive suggestion I don't look so surprised sorry sorry um I  didn't sorry look I've checked as far as I can and I can't locate the policeman well he's  not a po

liceman anymore he was at one point he's called Ericson name rings a bell his wife  died what his wife died in a police cell really well that's why the name Rings about what happened  I can't remember the details but milandread now he called him ask him to come down he was his  day off I don't care but since he got promoted he can just say no tell him it's urgent tell  him it might even be an emergency really yes you mean it might be an actual emergency you're  not just saying that to get him in

no I'm not just saying that to get him in Frederick Miranda  was one of the violent crime squad's few Priceless resources he had an incredible memory all right  so the story of Ericson goes like this in 1956 he started out as a constable at Katarina Precinct it  was a pretty average policeman not brilliant not awful there were no complaints about him anyway  only one thing that distinguished him from anyone else is this he was an excellent shop I remember  that I remember that now yeah okay oka

y and uh was he ever in Neiman's Precinct hmm yes 1956 to  1958 that is particularly awful coffee sorry go on in 1959 a Rickson got married a girl named  Maria she was Finnish her Swedish wasn't very good maybe that had something to do with  what happened anyway they had a baby and when the baby was 18 months old Maria died how did she  die well she died in a Cell at Neiman's Precinct right okay uh how she was diabetic she needed  regular injections of insulin and for some reason on that particu

lar day she forgot her syringe  two officers from Neiman's Precinct discovered her sitting on a bench and became convinced  she was high or drunk and they took her to the station now according to the constables Neiman  told them to put her in a Cell but then later at the hearing they changed their story said  Neiman had never seen her they'd acted alone it wasn't a sound for myself and the guard on duty  thought she was asleep much later the night guard discovered she was dead so when someone's

got  diabetes don't they carry a card or something yes they do and Maria had a card in her handbag but  she was never searched so the card was never found what did Neiman say the hearing what did he  have to say just that he'd never seen her so the two constables and the guard had to take  responsibility for the whole thing they got off with a warning Jesus yeah and Eric's son  how did he react to all this he fell apart what branch of the army was Eric son in  um artillery is it the Bane that yo

u're thinking of yeah because anyone can buy one  of those things five krona from army surplus Martin Beck had never been terribly impressed  with the run but it had never occurred to him that the feeling might be mutual while  Martin Beck was reassessing his view of a narun a young Constable called Christian son  was buying licorice in a newspaper from the kiosk outside haga Terminal the young Constable  was blissfully unaware that trouble was walking towards him trouble in the form of a vagabo

nd  called the rump his name had been given to him for obvious reasons this part of his Anatomy was  so large it made his head arms and legs look like afterthoughts he wore too long overcoats three  suit jackets four pairs of trousers and five waistcoats which meant a good 50 Pockets full  of coins and never in denominations larger than tenura the last time that Christian's son and  kavant had arrested him he had been carrying 2231 Ura pieces 4782 Ura pieces and one ten are  a piece in 43 Pocket

s every single coin had to be counted there rump adored having his coins  counted and the search had taken seven hours I don't want any trouble with you today just  be on your way will you be on my way be on me why did you hear that there's no need  for any uh trouble bloody bastard Pig I've insulted you yes I'm better than Noah yes if  all the good people on Stockholm well if you just move along he's putting his hands on me or  should I say Trotters ah you lordy fattest pig what's he doing he j

ust got in the car it's  nothing to do with me I insulted him I didn't in front of the public witness how could you be  so stupid it's not my fault oh is this my fault I think you're gonna have to take me down the  station aren't you hey you can't say I didn't cooperate where'd you want to go we're a station  obviously you can't hey call her head down to put a coffee on what if I pay you that's bribery it  is in coins not much 650 is the deal 6.50 and you have to take me to sit tuna Garden to th

e off  license fine we can't just drop you off outside the offline I know that I'll drive to the park  again you can walk the rest of the way oh Jesus this video was uploaded to the channel  Thinking Out louder please like comment and subscribe to The Thinking  Out louder Channel thank you turned into the park alongside the Eastman Institute the trees were bare  and the park was sad and empty I'll drive a bit further into  the park get rid of him quietly use your whistle if you see another patro

l car  okay pick up outside the Eastman Institute okay foreign Institute was an open space with a fountain  in the middle next to the Fountain was a black Volkswagen parked so badly and  illegally that even a policeman as lazy as Christian's son was forced to react  he was almost at the car when he heard a short sharp crack and felt something  hit him like a hammer in the right knee close by in the hospital car park Colbert  said what the hell what get in the car oh God Lawson drove as fast as h

e could along  the narrow Drive between the Maternity Ward and the Eastman Institute guided as he  was by correct assessment of direction and distance they soon arrived at the  fountain where a policeman lay unmoving [Applause] [ __ ] is he dead  How Will I Know looks dead foreign and Colbert got out of the car they heard  another shot Larson's Chinese fur hat flew off his head and landed on the steps of the Eastman  Institute and in two huge leaps he flung himself up eight steps and pressed him

self against the  stone wall to the left of the entrance on a bullet had grazed his scalp and the womb was bleeding  copiously his new kid jacket was ruined Colbert meanwhile had threw himself back into the car and  jumped into the back seat he could see gunwald Larson flat up against the wall and apparently  wounded and he knew he had to get out of the car so we kicked open the right door and held himself  out of the left three shots were fired at the right door but Colbert was already gone gra

bbing  the handrail and throwing himself up the steps you die is that a yes or no at this moment a  patrol car emerged from Vasa Park drove right up to the Fountain and Constable cavant got out  of the car with his pistol looking dumbfounded it's a grunt so that makes the other one Chris  Johnson what the hell are those two morons doing here what are they even doing in this District why  would anyone want to shoot them why does everyone want to shoot another question come on stop cover  where th

ere is no cover please stay in the car stay in the car and get shot in the car I've got  no protection whatsoever out there what's he doing vant got to the Fountain and reached out to touch  Christian the two rifled bullets struck him less than a second apart the first in the back of the  neck the second between the shoulder blades cavan fell on top of Christian's son he didn't make a  sound Jesus Christ look the girl the little girl wait we've got to go and get her wait 's gonna  get shot just

wait will you for her to get shot he hasn't fired if he was gonna fire she's gonna  see two dead bullies but she's not gonna get shot she's running away she's running she's okay thank you thank you thank you I don't know God  probably no amazing thank you because it just saved your life you would have run  out there and got a bullet in your head hello hello anyone who can hear me this area is  dangerous please take cover this area is dangerous what are you doing what do you think I'm doing break

ing and entering exactly how  are you think this door is old it's because you've had so much  practice what getting Doors Down the first thing they did was find a phone this is gun Valdosta there's a Madman in the  building at dalagata and 34 he's shooting from the roof or the top floor with an automatic  weapon and there are two dead constables a lot of them might be alive what one of them might  be alive what they should know that one of the policemen might be like the fountain in front  of th

e Eastman Institute you need to block off Darla Garten and best managarten from noriban  toyets to Karl balisbergen and odengarten from Odin plan to sang to Eric's plan you got that and  don't send any patrol cars to Darla gartan and no one in uniform either will assemble that Odin plan  yeah Odin plan where are you going find a balance he returned with the hand towel from The Gents  toilets tied round his head you look terrific how come you didn't get sure luck yeah and speed I'm  like a panthe

r yeah you're just like a panther fat Panther you're not exactly skinny yourself what  kind of gun have you got I'm got a gun Ah that's right I forgot you're a pacifist sort of well  I always thought you were a bloody idiot I know [Music] while Colbert and Larson were being shot at  in Darla Garten Beck and run were drinking tea in sagotorp I was just saying to  my wife when we heard the car that you gentlemen made very good time I wasn't sure  my directions were very good well it wasn't difficu

lt to find you no well that's right  you're policeman so you know your way around Orca got another city very well do  you take milk inspector I'm sorry with your tea oh um black is fine thank  you what about you uh yeah milk please um what time did orca leave here last night well  we don't really know do we mother and I thought he might stay the night it's his birthday today so  we thought he'd stay but he must have left after we've gone to bed does he have a car yes what may  what color has he

been in an accident no no no it's nothing like that it's a black Volkswagen  quite old I don't know the registration do you need the registration no that's fine thanks what  time did you go to bed what time did we go to bed in about 10 30. 10 30 yes yes almost certainly  about then has something happened to him please do tell us if something's happened um no this  is just routine honestly just a routine inquiry to rule them out to really matter what sorry  we're not really at Liberty to say I me

an if you could just answer a few more questions  we'll get out of your way sorry of course that's okay it's fine um can you just tell me a  bit about what he's doing at the moment where he works that sort of thing well he's still repairing  lifts he's been doing that for a year now well and what was he what was he doing before that  well before then he used to drive a taxi and before that he was a night Watchman and  when he was here last night uh what did he talk about did he did he seem all r

ight he  didn't say much but he never does anymore they took his daughter away uh I'm sorry they  took his daughter who took his daughter the Child Welfare board why we offered to take her of course  we did but they said we were too old better for her to live with strangers when did this happen  they came and got it the day before yesterday um was he very upset about this last night well  he was but he didn't talk about it but you're new of course that's what it was they said that his  depressio

n that's what they called it Depression had what was it an injurious effect on the child  an injurious effect on the child and they wrote to his old Department to a policeman asking for a  reference to his character his character exactly and this policeman wrote some kind of letter  apparently it ruined his chances of keeping her do you know the name of the policeman inspector  Neiman the same one who who let his wife die you haven't eaten anything there's there's  biscuits there's this cake I h

ave a piece of cake oh good thank you you're welcome  did orca make any phone calls last night phone call yes did he call anybody at any  time I don't know orcas welcome to use the phone whenever he wants to oh we were watching  television and we had the volume pretty high so he could have made a call I suppose  in the hallway while we were in here why are you asking these questions your son's  a very good shot I hear oh Walkers won a lot of trophies we don't have any of them here but you  shoul

d see how many as it is please he's still got his room here but he keeps most of his things at  his flat do you know what guns he's got too many you should sell them really he's so short of money  do you know what kind of guns a Mauser rifle and a pistol Family International and uh and what  an American automatic rifle anything else well this is old carbine from when he was in the Home  Guard I think that's still in his room upstairs but he's no good now those carbines were never  very handy and

now the ball is so worn down would you mind if we take a look uh at the  room oh I suppose that'll be all right it was not a great deal in there oh  well it might be a bit of a mess I haven't dusted in there this week Mr Erickson  LED them up a wooden staircase to an attic room of course it was nicer when he was a boy it  wasn't a Shabby and it had all these things in it oh we've worked hard all our lives and we  tried to bring him up as best we could but everything went wrong for him on the ta

ble  was a magazine open at a crossword puzzle Martin Beck looked down and saw that something  had been written in the margins of the page nine names arranged in three groups the first  three were Stig Neiman haraldhut Martin Beck go downstairs what's wrong uh we'll be right  down just to just uh give us a minute [Music] what yeah where does your son  live on dollar Garden 34. [Music] look Jesus call stromgren or whoever the hell's  there give them the number here and tell them to find Colbert a

t Mount Sabbath get Colbert to  call us okay yeah [Music] moments later Rune came running back up the stairs and before he'd even  opened his mouth Beck knew that the catastrophe he'd been waiting for all day that actually  happened we could sneak out through one of the windows onto Vassar park that's a 20-foot  drum we only break a leg or two I don't want to break a leg neither do I but I don't want  to get shot in the head yeah I've already been shot in the head it's just just a graze it is  i

sn't it yeah a Grace from a bullet ambulance is here the ambulance drove up to the Fountain  two paramedics got out and loaded two policemen onto stretchers they moved calmly the only sign  of nerves was when one of them looked up towards the nine-story building on the other side of  the street and no one was shot look at that it's definitely just policeman he doesn't like  yeah I know how we can get out really surgical gowns what hanging on the wall Larson put on  the largest surgical gown he c

ould find it was very tight across the shoulders Colbert tried  another one it was very tight across the stomach baby is the word you ready Christ  we look ridiculous you're ready yes they walk down the steps and past the ambulance  crew who had just lifted cabante onto the first stretcher Colbert looked down at the Dead  Man's face he had once done something notable what was it caught the man who murdered those  girls the park murders in 1967. that was it when Larson and Colbert reached Odin pl

an they  found it swarming with police cars more and more people were arriving from every direction but  especially up out of the Metro two fire engines and a police helicopter completed the picture  the new superintendent malm was apparently in charge you look absolutely Dreadful thank you sir  where's Martin I have no idea anyway this case calls for a specialist what kind of specialist  specially trained operatives I understand you've just come from the scene that's right and how  would you as

sess the situation I'd say there's a crazy bastard on a roof shooting police and  with an automatic rifle I think part of the time he's inside a flat sometimes he's on the roof  but can I make a suggestion what is it that we get out of here and head for the Gas Works on  tour starts right so it'll be quiet and this is bloody insane can helicopters land there in the  car park all right all right gentlemen I've had an idea let's regroup to the Gas Works area on  toscato by the time Martin Beck and

Aina Rune reached horse Garten it was 1 30 and everything  seemed to be pretty well organized we think Eric's song If it's we're assuming it's a rick so it  sounds like a fair bit go on well we believe he's armed with an American Johnson automatic  rifle and an ordinary Army model semi-automatic rifle both with telescopic sights a Johnson  automatic what it weighs less than 15 pounds it's very easy to handle and it's as good as a  machine gun oh great that's great news oh and um he's got a homi

ly Target Pistol he gets better  and better doesn't it and with the Mauser he can it allows at 600 meters with good visibility  and just a little bit of luck he can hit a man at a thousand right all right but we don't need to  worry about that now don't we no why is that then because the Specialists are here the Specialists  were two young men with Comprehensive training in hand-to-hand combat and surprise attack their  faith in their own ability was infectious one of them was a redhead named Le

n axelson his  smile had a sort of hard one self-assurance that was very likable and they both seem  Brave capable and far more intelligent than the average policeman the plan out  of attack is seductively simple seductive ly the man on the roof will first be put out  of action by a concentrated rain of tear gas cartridges and grenades then the two helicopters  will fly in low and set the two Commandos down on either side of the criminal since he will  already be incapacitated by the guests I'll

save that then well he's not going to  listen to me is he can you two shut up ten minutes later a loudspeaker van was driven through the hospital grounds almost  within sight of the roof [Music] I don't know you Mr Erickson and you  don't know me but I can give you my word as a professional that it's all over  you you and our resources are Unlimited you will now have 10 minutes to  surrender of your own free will there was no response gunvald Larsen was perhaps  in the best position to observe

what happened next he had gone up onto the roof on the nearby  bonier building and was lying behind the parapet when the tear gas started he stood up and  watched through binoculars the one with the red hair axelson was being lowered onto the roof  from the helicopter two feet from the ground he lifted his face guard and began to put on his  gas mask a shot was fired bulletproof clothing does not of course protect the face Len axelson  was shot between the eyes the helicopter hovered uncertainly

and then flew away with axelson's  body swinging in the air for the first time Larson caught a glimpse of the man on the roof  a tall man in some kind of overall and a gas mask the man fired directly at the second  helicopter with his Johnson automatic the helicopter Swept Away towards varsa Park wobbled  and lost altitude there was a thunderous crash as it fell into the park and lay there for  several moments before erupting into flames [Music] superintendent malm appeared to be in shock I'll 

have to ask for military assistance military assistance what else can we do what can the Army  do bomb the building did you know that this is orca Ericson's birthday hell of a way to celebrate  why don't we set up the police Orchestra in the middle of the street come to play Happy Birthday  and then drop a poisonous birthday cake on the roof from the one helicopter we've got left be  serious last night I am being serious you know this is a one-man job what it's a job for one  man and who's that

man me you yes I'm afraid I compliment that well with respect at this stage I  don't think it's your decision to make sorry hang on a minute Martin how exactly did you come to  this conclusion I just I just think it's the only way yeah that's not very Illuminating how do you  plan to do it get into one of the flats below and then go out through a window facing the courtyard  the window under the balcony on the North and go up with a grappling ladder that might actually  worked it sounds awfully

risky yes it does Martin Martin listen to me you don't have to do this on  your own do you feel guilty responsible what what the hell would he feel responsible I mean none  of this is your fault I know that no I don't think you do I think you feel horrifically guilty  that a man like Neiman even existed on the police force then he got away with so much and that you  did nothing to stop him but what could you have done we really haven't got time for this have  we all this psychology no we don't

I just think this needs to involve as few people as possible I  mean enough people have died I said we should get in permission inside the building yeah you didn't  say it very loudly though did you we need to get Ericson onto the upper roof on top of the north  Penthouse well how do we get him there gotta do something to draw his attention all right if we  sent a fire engine down that Narrow Street he'd have to get up on the roof I don't want any fire  anymore no we can use the police that are

already in fireman's uniforms okay good if they stick  close to the walls he can hardly get it unless he's got a hand grind I'll have to make a hell  of a noise and you'll have to be hellish quiet he entered the building on Darla Garden 15 minutes  later he carried with him a light metal ladder and a shortwave radio during his many years as a  policeman Martin Beck had often asked himself if he was a coward and the older he got the more  certain he was of the answer yes he was a coward when he r

eached the top of the stairs he opened  the apartment door with a key that Colbert somehow produced at the same time one of the fire  engines siren whaling swung around the corner he glanced around the flat and wondered for  a moment who lived there he opened the window at the back of the building and assembles  the ladder hooking it onto the rail of the balcony three meters further up a deafening  Bellow of the fire engine went on through it all a narun was 500 meters away and over  20 stories

above the ground at the top of the bonniere building run run can you hear me  what can you see there's still nothing [Music] yes yes wow now he's up there on this side he's  lying down but just as Martin Beck was climbing his metal ladder it's something terrible  happened a fuse flew in the fire engine and the siren cut out in the following silence the  bar of his pistol hit the ladder with a clang stop [ __ ] when Beck heaved himself  up to the roof he found Eric's on waiting what did he have t

ime to  think about only that it was too late the bullet struck him in the middle of the  chest like a sledgehammer [Music] [Laughter] what happened run what the  hell just happened [Music] hello run what happened I  don't know what can you see what did you see before he came out to the edge of the roof I gave mine  the signal and then then what the siren stopped and right after that did you see Martin no no  one what about now there's no one there no one at all [ __ ] what Savannah for the chur

ch Tower  he thinks if maybe you can see back really where apparently he's lying on the North balcony  overlooking the yard is he alive is he alive I think so you think so he's obviously injured but  the man thinks he saw him moving we've got to get him down he should never have gone up there on his  own you were all for it 20 minutes ago okay all right look uh you can't get back and I'll go and  get Ericsson how would you do that I'm gonna blow the door down and storm the roof with the inside 

but I'm not gonna try and do it on my own who are you going to stay with it don't worry about that  just go and get back the sooner you get him off that balcony the sooner I can blow up the building  okay you're not really gonna blow up the building okay gentlemen I need two men volunteers okay wait a minute just listen I don't want  anyone who thinks it's their Duty or anyone who fancies themselves a great shot and wants  to impress everybody the chances of getting Builder better than any of yo

u can drink what  are you talking about do you want then anyone who wants to take a chance at getting shot what  anyone who thinks that might be fun are you insane I'd like to come along who are you my name's Holt  her ad Hult fine Holt that's one what about me who are you my name's bolene are you a policeman  I'm a plumber where'd you come from I live here in the building okay that's fine too serious  last one can someone get him a gun actually uh I prefer to use my own I'll only be a minute  i

t's in my flat okay be quick I'll be right back I must object I absolutely object what exactly  do you object it's illegal to use a member of the Republican in an official operation  well then let's call it unofficial then we'll be fine what bolene was back in less  than a minute with the gun in his hand a .22 Colt Huntsman with a long barrel and 10 rounds  in the magazine fairly soon they were all set okay you two are going to take the South entrance  and I'll take the north when you've lit the

fuse run down at least one flight of stairs preferably  two can you do that Paul yes okay good and one more thing what if either of you two kills him  up there then whoever does it'll have to answer for it later even if it's in self-defense even  then as soon as Colbert entered the apartment he saw the open window and the metal ladder hanging  outside he thought he was prepared for the worst but when he heaved himself up to the balcony  and saw bet lying bloody and lifeless oh Jesus Martin Mart

in please oh good thank you okay  okay I'm gonna get you down okay yeah we'll do it together yeah okay everything's gonna be fine  completely totally totally fine gunwald Larson had six seconds left when he discovered that he'd  committed the worst oversight of his career he was looking at the fuse he was supposed to light  when he realized he had no matches instead he had to hold the muzzle of his gun against the fuse  pull the trigger hope he didn't shoot himself and then run like hell when th

e iron door lay flat  on the landing where it belonged Larson was able to climb onto the roof he saw Eric's on at once  standing with his back to Larson his interest apparently occupied by the first explosion in the  South half of the building gunvard Lawson put one foot on the guardrail facing the street and landed  on the penthouse roof Ericsson turned his head and saw him [Music] the distance between them was  only 12 feet Larson had the man in his sights and his finger on the trigger but he

didn't shoot  then baleen fired it was a fine shot his view was largely blocked by Larson and nearly managed to  put a bullet in Erickson's left shoulder from a range of more than 60 feet Erickson sank to  the ground then halt slammed the flats out of his pistol into the back of Ericsson's head and  the man was knocked unconscious blood began to stream from his head hot lifted his gun to hit  the man again stop pass it off what happened to you what do you mean why didn't you shoot because  I cou

ldn't what why I felt sorry for him Pauline have you got a license for that gun um a license  have you got a license no well in that case you're probably in a bit of trouble but I thought  are you gonna help me do what carry him down [Music] in the Abominable man by my hueval and per Valor  Martin Beck was played by Stephen McIntosh and Colbert by Neil Pearson Larson was played by  Ralph einerson run by Wayne foskett and Miranda by Adrian Scarborough malm was played by Nick  murchie Holt by Sean

Baker Mrs Neiman by Christine Absalom and Stefan Neiman by Matthew Watson Mrs  Erickson was paid by dynastab Mr a Rickson by John Rowe clant by Sam Alexander Christianson  by Don Julie and the rump by Robert Blythe the doctor was played by Michael shelford beaudill  by Greta dungeon Pauline by Rick Warden and the records department Woman by Joanna Brooks other  parts were played by Ben Crowe Paul Stonehouse and David sedden the narrators were Leslie Shaw and  Nicholas cleaves the Abominable man

was dramatized for radio by Katie hymns original music was by  Elizabeth Purnell and the director was Mary Pete [Music] thank you