Jarkko Sipila - Nothing but the Truth

“Well, that’s pretty obvious,” snorted Mari. Laura sat beside her, watching quietly.

Takamäki was unfazed by the comment. “Unfortunately, we have no proof of that. We made little progress on the investigation overnight, but we’re expecting some results from the crime lab today, among other things. But these have to do with priorities two and three. Right now we should talk about number one.”

“What about it?”

“How to protect you,” said Takamäki. He had decided not to give her any choice in the matter. “We’re going to have to move you two out of this apartment.”

“Move?”

“Yes. Whoever is threatening you obviously knows your address, so it’s not safe to stay here.”

“So where? And for how long?”

“There’s a safe house in Kirkkonummi. You’ll get your own room and Laura will have a private tutor. I’ll talk personally with your employer about the situation. I can’t say how long it will be, probably a matter of weeks, but at least until the threat against you has been eliminated.”

Lehtonen was quiet. “And what if you can’t

do that?”

“Then we’d have to look for a more permanent solution. We could relocate you to another city. Of course, we’d assist you in finding housing, schools and employment. But I doubt it will come to that.”

Lehtonen looked to Joutsamo. “What do you think?”

“I think the safe house sounds like a good idea.” Of course, Joutsamo had little choice but to say so.

Takamäki went on. “Of course, this is entirely voluntary. We can’t force you to go.”

Mari turned to Laura. “And what do you think?”

Laura shrugged. It was unlikely her English test had any bearing on the matter. “I guess it’s okay.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do,” said Mari. “When do we leave?”

“As soon as your bags are packed. They’ve got washing machines and bed linens there, so you won’t need any. Pack any personal hygiene items, clothes, school books and reading material.”

Mari nodded.

Takamäki turned back to Joutsamo and handed her a packet of papers. “Go through these with Mari and Laura before they leave. The squad downstairs will take them, but you should go along.”

* * *

Their bags were packed within half an hour.

“I really don’t know about this,” said Mari as she paused at the kitchen door. Joutsamo was sitting at the table with the packet of papers Takamäki had given her.

“It’s what’s best for you and Laura. It’ll also give us a little more freedom to concentrate on the case.”

“I suppose,” said Mari. “What’s with the papers?”

“These are instructions that I’ll need to go through with you and Laura.”

Mari called for Laura.

“These are just some general dos and don’ts. First off, under no circumstances should you reveal your location to anybody. That’s the most important rule. Not to friends, not to anybody. And no texting,” said Joutsamo, glancing at Laura, whose eyes betrayed her alarm. “Once at the safe house, you’ll be known as Mari and Laura Virtanen.”

“Virtanen?” said Mari.

“Yes. No need to change your first names. You may not leave the safe house without an escort. Not to the store, not to the newsstand. Nowhere alone. If you want to buy something you’ll have to fill out a form at the front desk, they’ll purchase the items in bulk.”

Joutsamo continued down the list. “All contact with the outside must be kept to a minimum. If your location is compromised, you’ll be moved right away. Let’s see…then I have what looks like an American list of safety measures. Not sure if this is any use to you, but since my orders are to go through them, that’s what we’ll do.”

Lehtonen didn’t say anything.

“Says here that women tend to sit in the driver’s seat for a while before they start the car. That’s an opportune time for attackers to strike by opening the driver’s side door. So what you should do is lock the doors and leave promptly.”

“I don’t have a car,” said Lehtonen.

“Right,” said Joutsamo, continuing down the list. “Let’s see…if once you’re in the car, a man somehow surprises you and demands to be driven somewhere, do not obey. You should drive straight into a wall and then escape on foot. Your seatbelt and air bag will protect you, but the attacker in the back seat will be stunned by the impact.”

“What if he’s in the front seat and has an air bag?”

Joutsamo ignored the comment. “Then it says that you should check the vehicle beforehand, as well as the surrounding area. If a lone man is sitting in an adjacent vehicle, you should not go near your car. If there’s a van parked on the driver’s side, you should enter your car through the passenger door, because an attacker might be waiting behind the sliding door of the van.”

Both Lehtonens were silent.

Joutsamo kept her eyes on the paper. “No stairs, only take elevators.”

“That seems a bit paranoid,” said Mari.

“Better paranoid than dead,” said Joutsamo.

* * *

Corrections Officer Salo rapped on Korpi’s cell door with his billy club. Already the previous evening, Korpi’s cellmate had filed for transfer to the protective ward, so Korpi was alone inside. Not having been placed in any programs yet, he got to lie around in his cell.

Salo had brought two additional guards along in case of any trouble. He didn’t wait for Korpi to open the door, just swung it open. Korpi was lying on his bunk, apparently asleep.

“Let’s go.”

“Where?” said Korpi, his eyes still closed.

“Get up.”

Korpi sat up on the edge of the bed. “Huh. Three of you, eh? Where we headed?”

Salo sighed and glanced at the paper in his hand.

“Based on prison ordinance eighteen, section five, paragraph one, the warden has ordered that you be placed in solitary confinement.”

“I don’t recall just now what the wording was in that paragraph,” said Korpi. “Perhaps you could refresh my memory.”

Salo read off of the paper. “Says here: ‘An inmate may be kept in isolation from the rest of the prison population if such is necessary to prevent the inmate from seriously endangering another’s life or well-being.”

“So whose well-being have I seriously endangered?”

“Doesn’t say here.”

“Then I’m not going anywhere.”

Salo glanced at his partners. “Korpi, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. The end result will be the same: you in solitary.”

Korpi just lay back on his bunk without a word.

“Have it your way,” said Salo, and he radioed for more backup.

“Should we put him in cuffs?” asked one of the backups.

Salo nodded. “Hands and feet.”

The three guards set upon the struggling Korpi. One of them pinned Korpi’s hands and upper body to the floor while the others cuffed his ankles. Then they tossed him onto his belly, wrenched his hands behind his back and slapped the cuffs around his wrists.

FRIDAY, 1:20 P.M.

KAARELA, NORTH HELSINKI

Suhonen lay in the same ditch as he had three months earlier. Then the soil had been wet, but now it was frozen, albeit mostly devoid of snow. To stay dry, he had spread a military style rain poncho over the ground, which was now thawing from the warmth of his body.

Suhonen was wearing a parka, snowpants, boots and a thick, dark stocking cap. He also had a backpack, camera and a few birding field guides. Although it was unlikely that anyone else would be out here in the woods, the birding enthusiast disguise had come in handy on many occasions.

His camera was equipped with a telephoto lens, useful because it also functioned as a telescope. Legally, his actions could be viewed as electronic surveillance, but since he never took any pictures, there was never any proof.