Primordial

Chapter 31

The low music and dull conversation melded together in a gray miasma. It fit perfectly with the fog that filled Superintendent Rinne’s head as he propped his elbows on the bar and inwardly fumed. What was he going to do about Pieter Lehtonen? What could he tell Adalina, worrying herself sick at home? And that damned Holloway, what about that fool? This wasn’t how things were supposed to operate. He was the authority here.

The bartender poured another measure of brandy and slid the glass across the scratched surface.

“Thanks, Timo,” Rinne said, without looking up. He swirled the spirit around and imagined a whirlpool sucking Holloway’s ship down into the depths and taking the arrogant American along with it.

“What’s on your mind, Paavo?” Timo leaned against the bar and gave his usual polite smile. Whether or not he actually cared about what was bothering Rinne, who could say? The man was good at his job, and he listened to his regulars’ tales of woe without complaint.

Rinne shook his head. “Rich foreigners and their illegal activities.”

Timo’s brow furrowed. “Illegal? Isn’t that the sort of thing you’re required to do something about?”

“There’s nothing I can prove yet,” he admitted, “but they’re up to something.”

Timo nodded, leaned one elbow on the dark wood, and leaned a little closer. “They claim to be making a nature documentary. What could be illegal about that? Lack of proper permits?”

“You said it yourself,” Rinne barked, gesturing with his glass. “They ‘claim’ that’s what they’re up to. But I’m sure it’s more than that.”

“Hold on a minute.” Timo moved away to serve another customer. As he returned, the public smile leaked off his face. “They were in here not long ago, asking a lot of questions,” he said. “They wanted to know about one of their number who had gone missing.”

Rinne took a swallow of brandy, enjoyed the fiery sensation in his throat. He hoped its heat would dissolve the mist that clouded his thoughts. “They came to me about that too. No one seems to know where the man is. I think they know more about it than they’re letting on.”

“And what about Pieter?” Timo asked. “Has he come back yet?”

Rinne scowled and shook his head. “The last time he was seen anywhere, it was by me when I sent him out to investigate their boat. He never returned.” He wasn’t sure why he had admitted this to the barman. Guilt maybe? One too many brandies loosening his tongue? But worry was preying on his mind and he needed to set it free. “That compounds my suspicion. Two disappearances in quick succession associated with their crew.”

Timo cupped his chin and gazed at some indeterminate spot in the distance. Rinne waited for the man to say something, to tell him he was correct, but nothing.

“Don’t you think they’re hiding something? Maybe their man was going to spill the secret, so they took steps to silence him.”

“And you think Pieter uncovered that same secret, whatever it was.”

Rinne nodded vigorously. “That exactly.”

Timo was quiet for a moment, and then he leaned forward, close to Rinne’s ear. “I don’t know about any secrets, but they were asking about the creature,” he said quietly.

Rinne looked up, eyes narrowed. He felt as if he’d been suddenly submerged in ice water. The monster. “What about it?”

“All about it. They wanted to know the legends, the stories. I told them to go and talk to Old Mo.”

Rinne hissed. “That crazy bastard.” He absent-mindedly fingered the bruise on his cheekbone.

Timo wagged one finger, remembering something. “And you know what else? They’ve also got that nutter Alvar Laine on their payroll.”

“I know that. Nature documentary! Laine is obsessed with the legend of the lake creature, always has been. They’re clearly monster hunters.”

Timo picked up a rag and began wiping down the bar. “It would seem likely.”

“What else could it be? They may well be making a documentary, but they’re obviously trying to expose things about our legends here. If they’re operating under the pretense of a nature film then perhaps their permissions are not in order. If they’ve lied about their intentions to get the right permits, I can send them away in an instant. Get some peace and quiet back into this community.”

Timo shrugged. “Are they really that disruptive? Why are you so keen to see them gone? What’s the harm in letting them poke around? They aren’t going to find anything, and I’m sure they’re injecting a spot of cash into the local economy.” He stopped wiping and flipped the rag so it hung over his shoulder. “Sounds to me like this is a problem that will solve itself if you just let it alone.”

Rinne opened his mouth to reply, but was cut off by someone shouting his name from the door. He looked around to see Mikael, the town’s other deputy, scanning the bar. When the man’s eyes fell on his boss, he trotted over.

“Sorry to bother you off-duty.” He took off his cap and ran his hand through his thinning hair. “It’s important, though.”

Rinne flapped a hand. “What is it?”

“A visiting fisherman just came in from a day on the lake. Told me he found an empty boat a few kilometers around the shore. He looked everywhere, called out, but couldn’t find anyone. He said he did find some blood on the rocks near the tree line. Quite a lot of it. He showed me photos on his phone.” Mikael lowered his gaze to the floor.

“And?” Rinne asked, already knowing the answer.

“Well, he towed the boat back and I had a look over it. It’s definitely ours. Must be the one Pieter took out.”

Rinne stood, anger flaring up from his gut. “That’s it! These people are most definitely up to something and they must know more about Pieter’s disappearance. And their own missing crew member.” He pointed to the deputy. “Go and gather all the reserves. We need a group organized as soon as possible.”

“A… a group? For what?”

Rinne cracked his knuckles. “We’re going out to that boat and we’re bringing whatever their operation is to a halt right now.”

“You don’t know they had anything to do with Pieter,” Timo said.

“I’m sure of it!”

“It’s getting late…” Mikael began.

“I don’t care!” Rinne turned toward the bar and took out his wallet, intending to settle his bill. He felt a hand on his arm and turned to see a customer, a local man whose name he could not recall, standing beside him.

“Excuse me, Superintendent, but I—”

Rinne glanced at him. “I don’t have time right now. Take your issue to the station.” No one was there at the moment, but it would get the man out of his hair.

“No, no,” the man said, “it’s not my issue, but might be yours.”

“What are you talking about?”

The man flinched, took a step back. “I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. You were discussing that bunch of strangers out on the lake, yes?”

“Yes.”

“One of them was in town a little earlier. The big guy with the black hair? He was asking about where he could purchase livestock.”

Rinne frowned, the idea at odds with anything he might have expected this man to say. “Livestock?”

“Yes. I suggested he go and see Vanhanen up on the hill. He thanked me and headed off. Then about an hour ago, as I was heading in here, I saw him manhandling three trussed and protesting sheep into his tin dinghy, and he headed back out onto the lake.”

Silence descended on the small group for a moment. Rinne shook his head, words failing him. He glanced at Mikael, who shrugged.

“Three sheep?” Rinne said eventually.

“That’s right.” The townsman nodded eagerly. “Is that useful information?”

“I have no idea, but thank you all the same.” Rinne turned to Mikael. “Get everyone together. All our part-timers. I don’t care if it’s dark by the time we’re ready to go, we are taking a team out there as soon as we’re gathered and we’re putting an end to whatever it is that madman is doing.”