They all nodded emphatically.
“Ready for anything. That’s not an easy task. If you’re in a situation, think about Korpela, Kahma and Jyrkkä. Korpela was taking care of the firm’s business when a traitor ratted him out to the cops. He took one with him.”
“Kahma and Jyrkkä were in the same boat. Prison or death were their alternatives. They weren’t afraid of the decision. We must honor that.”
Larsson couldn’t take this any further, since he himself had been in the same situation a year and a half ago. A gun in his hand, he had stared down the barrel of a S.W.A.T officer’s submachine gun. He could have raised his weapon and gone the way of Korpela, Kahma and Jyrkkä, but chose prison by dropping his piece. That was then. No longer would he be subdued.
“If one of us is locked up, we’ll take care of his wife and children. If his family doesn’t have money for rent, food or kids’ hockey, we’ll help. The brother in prison would do the same for you.”
“There will be no lies among us. If you fuck up, take the responsibility, and don’t pass it to a brother. We will not steal from each other. No empty promises-keep your word. If you have a dispute with a brother that can’t be settled otherwise, bring it to me. Nobody will talk to the cops, under any circumstances.”
“Any questions?” Larsson asked before continuing.
Nobody spoke. Larsson scanned from one man to the next, his gaze resting on each man long enough for them to feel it.
“If we stick to these principles, things will go well. Now for a few announcements,” Larsson said in a more relaxed voice.
“Our president is doing life in Turku. If you happen to be going that way, make sure to drop by. From experience, I can tell you that the place is dull as hell. The inmates are pent up in tiny cells and friends are few and far between. But if you do go there, keep it clean-all conversations are recorded, and, of course, wind up with the pigs.”
The audience sat silently, listening to Larsson’s address.
“The same applies, of course, to all of our other brothers across the country. Niko has a list of who is locked up where. If you have nothing else to do, then you should hit the road and go see your brothers. You all know visitations have to be worked out with the Gestapo in advance. It’s not a good idea to just show up and pound on the door of the brig.”
Some tense chuckles rose from the crowd.
“I’ll be meeting one-on-one with each of you in the coming week so we can discuss how I can help you in more detail, and how you can help the brotherhood. Be direct and honest with me about any possible problems.”
Larsson’s voice rose once again. “You are all my brothers and I’ve got your backs, just as you’ve got mine and every other brother’s.”
The speech ended and the men applauded.
* * *
Suhonen was sitting at his usual seat on the window sill in Takamäki’s office at the VCU. The detective lieutenant was at his desk; Sergeant Joutsamo sat on the other side.
“Wasn’t this case already transferred to Narcotics?” asked Joutsamo.
Suhonen had briefed them on the events of the last couple of days, except for his meeting with Salmela.
“Come on now,” said Suhonen. “Our unit knows the Skulls best. We’ve been going at it with them for the past three years. You should know, of all people,” he added.
Takamäki scowled at the undercover cop. Three years back, Joutsamo had shot and killed a Skull named Mika Kahma when the burly gangster had charged her. Takamäki had been there, too. In the same clash, a S.W.A.T. team sniper had dropped Raimo Jyrkkä, one of the gang’s leaders.
“Yes, I know them,” Joutsamo said. “As we all do. Complete shitheads.”
Neither Takamäki nor Suhonen had anything to add to that assessment.
“But,” she continued, “As far as I’m concerned, we don’t have the resources to go after them now. Unless we can let the routine cases slide, we just don’t have enough personnel. I’d go after Larsson and his goons right now with a horse and a six-shooter, but I just have too much paperwork.”
“I don’t doubt that,” Suhonen said.
“These aggravated assaults, rapes and so-called ‘routine cases’ are burying us. The cases are backed up so badly that some may never be solved, since we can’t even tend to the basics.”
“When is Kirsi due back?”
“Next week,” Joutsamo replied. Police work paid little, but the vacations were long. This, in turn, hobbled the team’s ability to strike quickly. Kirsi Kohonen, a veteran officer in Takamäki’s group, had worked through the summer, delaying her month-long vacation until October. Now she was in Australia riding horses.
Suhonen was quiet. He had been the one to recommend the Australian adventure, having taken a several-month sabbatical there a few years ago. He had no qualms with Kohonen. People could do whatever they wanted on their vacations.
“Well, Kirsi will be back soon-that should help.”
“But we don’t have the resources to take on the Skulls unless Karila can shift our whole unit onto the case,” Joutsamo continued.
Captain Karila was Takamäki’s boss, the head of the VCU.
“If we’re on the right track, he’ll give us some slack,” Takamäki remarked.
Suhonen cut in from the window sill. “Anna is right. This is a Narcotics case, at least in principle. But we have an opportunity to make it something bigger. Felony extortion is clearly within the VCU’s mandate.”
Joutsamo turned to look at him. “Do you have someone in the scope who’s willing to testify against the Skulls for felony extortion?”
“Well,” Suhonen backpedaled. “Not yet, but it’s a possibility.”
“I’d like to hear the whole story here,” Joutsamo said, visibly irritated. “It’s a little frustrating to discuss resource allocation here as an outsider when the facts are being withheld from me.”
Takamäki turned back to Suhonen.
“Relax, Anna,” said Suhonen, a strained calm in his voice. “You know how these gangster cases go. If we had an obvious crime, it’d be easy: Take down the suspect and wait for a confession.”
“Quit the bullshit, Suhonen. I don’t have time for it.”
“Well, then why don’t you go solve those train station beatings and let us have a conversation.”
“OK, peace,” Takamäki intervened. “I can’t have two of my best cops bickering like this.”
Joutsamo spoke up again. “We’re not bickering-it’s a matter of priorities. What do you want us to investigate? You have to resolve this, Kari. If you actually turn us loose on the Skulls, I’ll promise to shoot half of them before they ever make it to court. In the meantime, I don’t want to see a single stabbing, beating or back-seat rape case.”
Suhonen thought it best to keep his mouth shut.
The VCU officer responsible for allocating cases across the various units appeared at the door. He was in his forties and wore a flannel shirt.
“Listen, Kari. I’ve got a seventy-eight-year-old woman, found dead. Based on the report, no crime suspected. She died at home, so just a routine cause-of-death investigation. I’ve been calling it out here in the hallway, but nobody seems interested. So what now? It’s your unit’s turn.”
Takamäki looked at Joutsamo and Suhonen.
“Nobody interested?” Takamäki wondered. “Hell, I’ll go myself.”
The case officer raised his eyebrows.
“What, you don’t think a detective lieutenant can handle a dead grandma case?”
Takamäki stood up and marched out. Suhonen and Joutsamo glanced at one another. From the hall, they could hear Takamäki asking him, “Where can I find a crime scene bag?”
* * *
The meeting at the Skulls’ compound continued.
“Anyone have any issues?” Larsson asked, his eyes wandering over the crowd.
“Something your brothers can help with?”
Nobody answered. The VP’s gaze stopped on Osku, the short one with a goatee.