NINA RUSKA’S EYES trail the man decked out in his commander’s uniform as he stalks sourly past the unit’s workstations; he doesn’t expend the slightest effort to greet the police officers toiling at their desks. It’s almost one p.m., and Erne has been preparing a new press briefing for the brass.
Nina drums her fingers against her desk. She watches as Mikael pours himself a cup of hot water in the kitchenette, shovels two big spoonfuls of instant coffee, then drops them on the surface of the water.
“It’s better if you put the coffee in first,” she says.
“Bullshit. If you put the coffee in at the end, it has time to air before it gets wet and mixes with the water. The result: a delicious cup of instant coffee.”
“You don’t believe that yourself.”
“What I don’t believe is that you really care which order I put the coffee and water into my cup.”
“Apparently some people aren’t capable of following even the simplest recipes,” Nina says as Mikael sits down next to her.
“I’ve been thinking,” Mikael says, stirring his coffee.
“Apparently about something other than making coffee?”
Mikael glances around surreptitiously and lowers his voice: “I’ve been thinking it would be fun to actually be together.”
“Really?”
“So we wouldn’t have to sneak around anymore. I mean, damn it, we can’t even go to a movie together.”
Nina puts a hand on Mikael’s thigh. “I thought sneaking around was the fun part.”
“It was. For a hot minute. Everything gets old after a while.”
“Even me?” Nina pulls her hand back and shoots Mikael a look of exaggerated outrage.
“Even you. Yes, if I have to spend one more Christmas party watching Ahonen try to hit on you. I’m not man enough to watch that from the sidelines. I want to own you. I want to say you belong to me and kick Ahonen’s butt if he tries something anyway.” Mikael whispers these last words in Nina’s ear.
“Own me? What sort of goddamn caveman are you?” Nina says, pulling back from Mikael. His warm breath on her ear has sent the blood surging through her veins and set her heart pounding.
Mikael takes her hand and places it back on his thigh. “I want you.”
“And I don’t want to lose my job.”
“I could give a rat’s ass. I can become a motorcycle cop. You can keep this job.”
“Why are you bringing this up now, Micke?” Nina lets her hand slide down his thigh to the knee. Squeezes it the way she knows he likes.
“I don’t know. Maybe this witch case has put me on my guard. The world is such a sick fucking place. I want you close to me. I want to take better care of you.”
“I don’t need anyone to take care of me. I have a black belt in judo.”
“That’s just it. I want to be the only one you put in a lock.”
“I’m going to pin your butt to the mat if you don’t watch yourself.” Nina can’t help it; a smile spreads across her face. “We can talk about it later.”
“When?”
“After this case is solved.”
“OK. That was a promise,” Mikael says, and pulls back from Nina when her phone beeps.
“Showtime. We get to watch a video.”
“Of what?”
“The parking lot at Savonlinna Hall.”