an allocation for the Zalachenko club. But, as you know, there are a number of hidden funds controlled by the chief of Secretariat and chief of Budget that I have no access to."
The Prime Minister nodded grimly. Why did Sapo always have to be such a nightmare to administer?
"The second part is: who is involved? And very specifically, which individuals should be arrested? From my standpoint, all these questions depend on the decision you make in the next few minutes," she said to the P.M.
Edklinth was holding his breath. If he could have kicked Figuerola in the shin he would have done so. She had cut through all the rhetoric and intimated that the Prime Minister himself was responsible. He had considered coming to the same conclusion, but not before a long and diplomatic circumlocution.
"What decision do you think I should make?"
"I believe we have common interests. I've worked at Constitutional Protection for three years. I consider this office of central importance to Swedish democracy. The Security Police has worked satisfactorily within the framework of the constitution in recent years. Naturally I don't want the scandal to affect S.I.S. For us it's important to bear in mind that this is a case of criminal activity perpetrated by a small number of individuals."
"Activity of this kind is most definitely not sanctioned by the government," the Minister of Justice said.
Figuerola nodded and thought for a few seconds. "It is, in my view, essential that the scandal should not implicate the government - which is what would happen if the government tried to cover up the story."
"The government does not cover up criminal activity," the Minister of Justice said.
"No, but let's assume, hypothetically, that the government might want to do so. There would be a scandal of enormous proportions."
"Go on," the P.M. said.
"The situation is complicated by the fact that we in Constitutional Protection are being forced to conduct an operation which is itself against regulations in order to investigate this matter. So we want everything to be legitimate and in keeping with the constitution."
"As do we all," the P.M. said.
"In that case I suggest that you - in your capacity as Prime Minister - instruct Constitutional Protection to investigate this mess with the utmost urgency," Figuerola said. "Give us a written order and the authority we need."
"I'm not sure that what you propose is legal," the Minister of Justice said.
"It is legal. The government has the power to adopt a wide range of measures in the event that breaches of the constitution are threatened. If a group from the military or police starts pursuing an independent foreign policy, a de facto coup has taken place in Sweden."
"Foreign policy?" the Minister of Justice said.
The P.M. nodded all of a sudden.
"Zalachenko was a defector from a foreign power," Figuerola said. "The information he contributed was supplied, according to Blomkvist, to foreign intelligence services. If the government was not informed, a coup has taken place."
"I follow your reasoning," the P.M. said. "Now let me say my piece."
He got up and walked once around the table before stopping in front of Edklinth.
"You have a very talented colleague. She has hit the nail on the head."
Edklinth swallowed and nodded. The P.M. turned to the Minister of Justice.
"Get on to the Undersecretary of State and the head of the legal department. By tomorrow morning I want a document drawn up granting the Constitutional Protection Unit extraordinary authority to act in this matter. Their assignment is to determine the truth behind the assertions we have discussed, to gather documentation about its extent, and to identify the individuals responsible or in any way involved. The document must not state that you are conducting a preliminary investigation - I may be wrong, but I think only the Prosecutor General could appoint a preliminary investigation leader in this situation. But I can give you the authority to conduct a one-man investigation. What you are doing is therefore an official public report. Do you understand?"
"Yes. But I should point out that I myself am a former prosecutor."
"We'll have to ask the head of the legal department to take a look at this and determine exactly what is formally correct. In any case, you alone are responsible for your investigation. You will choose the assistants you require. If you find evidence of criminal activity, you must turn this information over to the P.G., who will decide on the charges."