Page 30

2019

The police station is empty. Alex shakes the locked door, upon which a notice has been pinned. Back in thirty minutes.

He’s leaving the porch when he sees Patric.

Patric frowns at Alex’s obvious frustration.

‘There’s an ice hockey match on the lake,’ Patric says. ‘Jonas and Janic are down there.’

‘I can’t get hold of Agatha,’ Alex says. ‘I need her. Urgently.’

‘Have you tried her mobile?’

‘Of course I’ve tried her bloody mobile,’ Alex says. ‘I’ve been trying it and trying it. She must have it on silent or something.’

Now, Patric looks very concerned.

He’s about to say something, when a car pulls up beside them.

It’s Lassi.

He rolls down the window and stares out at Patric and Alex.

‘You need to rein in that goddamn trainee of yours,’ Lassi says.

‘Excuse me?’ Patric replies.

‘You heard me. What I do with my business is my business, you hear me? She’s been down at the council offices, breaking into my office, snooping about.’

‘What have you been up to in the council?’ Patric asks.

‘That’s not the—’ Lassi stops abruptly. ‘Tell her to stay the hell out of my way. I’ve done nothing illegal.’

Lassi glares at Alex.

‘And I’d nothing to do with your bitch of a sister’s death, either.’

Lassi speeds off before Alex can lean in and grab him through the open window.

Patric stops Alex from running after the car.

‘Leave him,’ he says. ‘Agatha has obviously unearthed something and he’s pissed about it. She’ll deal with him.’

‘But where is she?’ Alex asks. ‘And why do you look so worried?’

Patric has started walking but he turns and answers Alex.

‘Her sister turned up last night,’ he says.

‘Luca?’ Alex asks. He knows what this means and he’s instantly worried for Agatha, too.

‘Yes, Luca.’

Patric pulls out his phone, takes off his mitten with his teeth and dials a number.

He speaks in Finnish but Alex can hear him addressing somebody called Becki.

When Patric hangs up, his face is pale.

‘Are the kids okay?’ Alex asks.

‘The kids are fine,’ Patric says, but he still looks distressed.

‘Where is she?’ Alex says.

‘She’s gone up to Miika’s. On her own.’

Patric resumes walking in the direction of his car, parked across the street.

Alex doesn’t even ask– he falls into step beside him.

Agatha and Luca make their way out the back of Miika’s house and move fast around the edge of it.

Agatha hasn’t told Luca what’s happening but her sister seems to sense the danger they’re both in; she’s following Agatha’s every move, as wordlessly and silently as possible.

They stand at the side of the house, breathing in the cold air, flakes from the light snowfall landing on their faces.

Agatha hears the screen door on the porch close and it’s then that she and Luca rush around the front of the house towards her car. They both jump in: Agatha reaches for the ignition.

And finds there is no key.

‘He’s taken the key,’ she whispers, far calmer than she feels.

In her head, she’s screaming.

Why the hell would he take the key?

Because he doesn’t plan to let us leave, Agatha.

‘My car,’ Luca hisses. ‘I have my keys.’

As evidence, she produces them from the pocket of her puffer jacket.

The two women jump out of Agatha’s car and into Luca’s.

Agatha has a passing thought– this heap of junk?– but dismisses it.

Until Luca turns the key and the car won’t start.

‘Jesus Christ, how did you even follow me up here?’ Agatha asks.

‘It just takes a few goes. . .’

Luca is about to turn the key again when Agatha grabs her wrist.

‘No,’ Agatha says. ‘If you keep trying to start it, he’ll hear, and if we can’t get it going. . .’

‘What do you want to do? We could surprise him, knock him out. I’ll be a distraction– you could creep up, pull your gun. You have a gun, don’t you. . . ?’

Agatha tunes her sister out; she thinks fast.

She has the drawing book in her pocket. How long before he realises it’s gone? Not long after he can’t find them in the house, she imagines. That’s why he let her search the house alone that time. Because he knew it was in the drawer beside him, while he sat at the table. That book means everything and he’ll know that Agatha will understand that.

‘We hide,’ Agatha says.

They get out of the car.

With one quick look at the house, Agatha grabs Luca’s hand and they run towards the sheds.

‘The forest,’ Luca urges.

Agatha doesn’t answer, she just keeps pulling her sister. She doesn’t want to be in a gun battle where she can’t sight her opponent. She also knows that she only has her service revolver and no idea what sort of weapons he owns.

She needs to be able to see him. If they’re behind cover in a shed, she can keep an eye on him when he enters and, before he can spot her, she can train her weapon on him. Plus, in the shed, she can phone for help. She can feel her phone buzzing on silent in her pocket; her battery and reception are fine. She can call for back-up.

They just need to wait it out until she can either contain him or get help to track him if he runs.

The women enter the nearest shed. It’s filled with equipment hanging from the ceiling. Some of the more modern culling machinery; several ancient, rusted scythes and axes.

‘Fuck me,’ Luca says, staring around, eyes wide.

Agatha silently agrees.

They’ve inadvertently chosen the slaughter shed.

‘Over here,’ Agatha says, pointing to a corner filled with shadows.

It will give her a good vantage point for the door and she knows there’s no other way into this shed.

The metallic smell of blood is strong in her nostrils as they take up position.

Luca knocks over an old pair of snowshoes; the large tennis racket-type soles clatter on to the ground. Both women wince, but Agatha knows the sound is louder for them; that nobody outside would have heard it like that.

‘Agatha,’ Luca says.

‘Shh,’ Agatha hisses.

‘No, I have to—’

‘Luca, can you shut the fuck up and just let me do my job? You shouldn’t even be here.’

‘But I am and I want you to say that you believe me. I didn’t come to see Olavi. I haven’t been in . I’ve missed you, you know. We’re still sisters. My therapist says I can’t keep carrying guilt for the things I did but I do have to accept that I did them. I am sorry I hurt you—’

‘Christ, I believe you!’ Agatha snaps. ‘Now, be quiet.’

Luca looks like she’s about to resume her pleading, but one look from Agatha and she nods obediently. And suddenly Agatha does believe her sister, even that she’s on medication, because the old Luca wouldn’t have followed Agatha into the shed. She’d have waited for Miika to come out of the house and charged at him. Old Luca would have run at Miika to see what he would do.

Agatha returns her gaze to the door. She takes out her phone, cutting off a call from Alex in the process. Why does he keep calling her? And now Patric. Agatha cuts him off, too.

She dials Janic: it rings out. She tries Jonas next. The same thing.

‘Fuck,’ Agatha whispers, quickly typing a text to her deputy.

She draws her gun. They can’t stay hiding in here. What if he doesn’t come in?

She’s quietly panicking, trying to figure out what to do next, when the shed door opens.

Agatha turns off her phone so he won’t hear the buzzing of anybody returning her call.

A man’s frame blocks out the light, but from his silhouette Agatha can see he’s carrying a rifle.