NINA TURNS UP the heater as the car crosses the bridge between Herttoniemi and Laajasalo. The tension between the couple in the backseat is palpable; it’s like an enormous iceberg that refuses to melt despite global warming. Nina looks at the teary woman in the rearview mirror. It’s incomprehensible to her that a psychiatrist would not only enter into a sexual relationship with a schizophrenic patient, but would also help that patient steal lethal drugs from her place of employment. Regardless of what happens, Emma Luoma’s career in medicine is in all likelihood over. The marriage is tougher to predict. But things don’t look so good in that department either.
Nina glances at the navigator on her phone. She’s supposed to meet two vans of SWAT officers armed to the teeth at the Neste service station in Laajasalo. The convoy will continue from there to Koponen’s presumed hideout, with Emma Luoma showing them the way. They’re taking no more risks. From now on they’re going in hard.
Erne’s name appears on the phone. Nina removes the phone from its stand; she doesn’t want to use the hands-free function with the Luomas listening in the backseat. “Hey, Erne, I’m almost at the rendezvous.”
Aside from one oncoming Defense Forces van, the road is deserted.
“Can your passengers hear me?”
“No.”
“Good. We have some new information. The water utility found a spike in consumption in Kaitalahti. A few days ago they turned on the taps and went to town. It’s some sort of summer cabin, and it’s in Maria Koponen’s name. Based on the Maps street view, the structure’s profile is a match: stone foundation, narrow windows at ground level. We got a blueprint from the city. The cabin has a big basement, and it’s on the water.”
“Fuck.”
“It has to be the same one our good doctor is taking you to.”
“It does. But should we still confirm?”
“What I want you to do is leave the Luomas with a police escort at the service station. We’ll go in with the SWAT team and raid the cabin at Kaitalahti, and if we don’t find anything there, we’ll reassess the situation. It’s better not to bring civilians if it turns out to be a crime scene.”
“Roger.”
Nina glances in the rearview mirror again. The doctors are now holding each other’s hands. Forgiveness is a formidable power. Especially in moments like this, when chaos is on a rampage, drowning sorrows and troubles that would otherwise feel overwhelming.