White Night

by J J Marsh

  He whipped around and caught hold of the sleeping bag before the waves made yet another attempt to snatch it. He unzipped it, rolled Samu out and onto the tarpaulin, clipped it onto the winch and lifted his head to the gap high above. He fumbled with his Maglite and pressed the light twice. Nothing happened. He tried again, suppressing his panic. No response. Where the hell was Aleksis? There was not enough time for Theo to climb to the surface and drive the minibus himself. He looked behind him to see the curled form of Valpuri washing out to sea. With a violent curse, he splashed after her and grabbed the hood of her fleece. He carried her in a fireman’s lift back to the aperture and faced the fact he could not save both these people. He wasn’t even sure he could save himself.

  A bitter sob escaped him and he placed a hand on the first rung of the metal ladder. The extra weight of the girl across his shoulder made every step agonising and he constantly adjusted his balance. After four heaves upward, a grinding sound forced him to halt. With small jerky movements, the winch dragged the tarpaulin towards the surface. Its progress was painfully slow and its cargo swung in the air like a body of a hanged man. Aleksis had followed instructions and a comatose Samu was out of the sea’s reach. Just. Theo released a long ragged breath and continued his progress. Hand up, foot up, change grasp on Valpuri’s jeans, hand up, foot up.

  They were on the final third of the ascent when Theo spotted the approaching disaster. As the winch dragged the tarpaulin higher, the wind and gravity began to swing Samu’s cradle in a wider and wider arc. Each time it swung left, it came a few centimetres closer to the metal ladder. At its current trajectory, in another three steps it would hit them. If he stopped where he was, carrying the limp body of Valpuri Peura, the heavily laden tarpaulin would hit the metal ladder instead of them. Whether that would cause enough damage to knock them from their precarious perch into the roiling sea below, Theo could only guess. His only other option was to climb faster, at the risk of losing his grip on the ladder or on Valpuri. Even if he could escape a direct blow, the tarpaulin would smash into the ladder, potentially tearing it from its foundations.

  He stopped, staring at the imminent threat as if it were the blade of a guillotine. His body screamed in protest; the tendons in his forearms burned, the pain in his shoulders and neck transformed his muscles into lumps of concrete and his exhausted thighs trembled like a weightlifter. All he could do was wrap one arm, knee and ankle around the ladder and hope he could hold on.

  The tarp swung closer, black, malevolent and merciless. On this sweep, it reached an arm’s breadth from the ladder, scraping against the cave wall. Theo cringed, only too aware that there was only one layer of canvas and heat blanket between unforgiving stone and a fragile human body. He clutched his arm tighter around Valpuri’s legs, repeating the same words over and over again.

  “I won’t let you go. I won’t let you go. I won’t let you go.”

  The tarp reached its opposite peak and began its lethal return journey. Theo wanted to close his eyes but forced himself to stare at their nemesis, an unstoppable natural force.

  And then it halted. The tarp dropped around two metres, no longer swinging from side to side but spinning in a slow rotation. The winch held solid but immobile, leaving Samu in mid-air. Fear and adrenalin pulsed through Theo’s body and although he wanted to cry with relief, it wasn’t over yet. He unwound himself from his defensive position and continued his slow, torturous climb.

  Water shot up in a jet to his left and Theo saw the cave had now flooded, forcing surf into a spout beside them. The furious sea extended one last vengeful finger to try and claim them as its own. Six rungs left and he would be at the surface. He would carry Valpuri to the minivan, take over from Aleksis and winch Samu to the surface. This could still be OK. Six more rungs. His grip was slippery as every part of his body was soaked by sweat, rain, seawater and tears.

  Sudden illumination shone into the blackness. Torches, voices and flashing blue lights told him the cavalry had arrived. Hand up, foot up, change grip, hand up, foot up, hands grasping his armpits, hands lifting the girl’s weight from his shoulder, hands easing him onto solid ground, voices saying things he couldn’t understand. His body began trembling to an extent he could not control. But it wasn’t over. He had to get to the minibus. The cave was flooding and Samu was still dangling over the waves, fragile as a canary in a cage.

  Chapter 38

  If there was one thing Beatrice hated, it was being relegated to the role of bystander. She wasn’t wild about being on the front line either, but at least she had a better view. She stood beside Astrid, holding her helmet and drawing her hood up against the rain, trying to make sense of what was happening around her. Huddles of people were sharing information and officers in wet weather clothing ran in various directions. Much as she wanted to stamp her metaphorical foot, she had no jurisdiction here and simply had to wait.

  Detective Sahlberg spotted her and did a double take. He held up a hand as if to say he would be with her in a moment. Mollified, she waited until the man had done his job. He finished his conversation and marched towards her, his face thunderous. A series of shouts drew all heads towards a spot further down the coast. Faintly, but unmistakably, a vehicle was flashing its lights. Emergency staff scrambled to their respective vehicles and Sahlberg pointed towards a plain sedan, motioning for Beatrice and Astrid to get in. She didn’t need asking twice, beyond relieved to escape the driving needles of constant rain.

  The police vehicles crawled along the tracks towards the flashing lights at a pace Beatrice found intolerable yet understood. Screeching in there like the Dukes of Hazzard could potentially endanger whoever was calling for help. She checked her phone one more time with every expectation of no news from Theo. She was right.

  Sahlberg’s car pulled in behind the semicircle of vehicles surrounding a rundown-looking minibus, whose lights were no longer flashing. Two uniforms were speaking to a person in the driver seat. He or she was invisible to Beatrice as the bus’s headlights remained on full beam. She reached for the door handle, impatient to know what was going on. Sahlberg looked over his shoulder and shook his head.

  “No. You two can’t go out here until we assess the situation. Too risky. Sorry, but I have to keep everyone safe. Stay in the car, please.” He zipped up his waterproof jacket and heaved open his door. Beatrice squinted through the rain, trying to guess what was going on. Thankfully, Sahlberg’s driver kept the wipers going at full speed, clearing a view of the scene.

  Sahlberg and one of the uniformed officers helped a slight-framed person from the driver seat and the other uniform took his place. A flurry of activity erupted, paramedics and police personnel making their way cautiously but with purpose towards the cliff edge. Leaning as far as she could, Beatrice peered into the confusion, willing Theo to make an appearance. Eventually her frustration got the better of her and she opened the door. Instantly, the wind blew it shut. The driver raised his eyes to the mirror.

  “Detective Sahlberg said you stay here. You must stay.” With the touch of his finger he locked the doors.

  She clenched her fists but would not, could not argue. Then into the police headlights strode Sahlberg. He and the driver exchanged a sharp conversation through the wind, Sahlberg indicating towards the bus behind them. The driver unlocked the doors and got out. Beatrice watched as he struggled against the wind and climbed into the driver’s seat of the minibus.

  “What were they saying?” she asked Astrid.

  “The bus has a winch and someone’s on the other end. They need an experienced driver to pull it out of the cave.”

  Sahlberg gave the driver the thumbs-up, who dipped the headlights and moved the bus forward, just a short way, then paused as if awaiting feedback. Sahlberg spoke into his police radio and guided the driver forward with slow movements of his hand. Two medics ran past to the left of Beatrice, carrying a stretcher. Her curiosity would wait no longer. She exited the car, holding on to the door as if her life depended
on it, then let Nature slam it shut with enough force to rattle teeth.

  Never in her life had she experienced winds so forceful it felt she was being physically punched. Afraid of losing her balance, she squatted against the patrol car and reconsidered her plan of moving closer to the cliff edge. Until she saw Theo.

  Paramedics were hunched over two people; one inert, one protesting and gesticulating towards the cliff edge. She scuttled across the brush and rocks, her footing unsteady, but her focus on her injured assistant. Was the other teenager on the end of the winch?

  Before she could get close enough, a police officer blocked her path.

  She protested, yelling. “I need to speak to Theo! I’m his boss!” but the man shook his head and directed her backwards. She retreated to stand beside Astrid, followed by the first group of paramedics carrying someone whose body, but thankfully not head, was covered in a silver sheet. Another pair of uniforms guided Theo in the opposite direction. Beatrice crouched behind the ambulance, protecting herself from the wind. Nothing made any sense until she saw half a dozen officers forming a human chain as the bus winched something the shape of a walrus out of the cave and onto the cliffs above.

  Paramedics and police officers battled the weather, leaning against the wind and struggling towards the package at the end of the winch. The cluster of high-vis jackets blocked Beatrice’s perspective entirely. She released an unladylike curse and stood up, coming face to face with Theo.

  They stared at each other for a moment, both blinking against the wind and rain lashing their faces. A burly man in paramedic’s gear tried to move him on but Beatrice ran into their path, throwing her arms around Theo’s neck.

  “Are you hurt? I was so worried! What happened? No one is telling me anything and it’s driving me mad. Theo, are you all right?”

  He reached up a hand to clasp her wrist. “I think so. It was pretty bloody dodgy but I managed to get Valpuri out. Beatrice, find out what’s happening with Samu. I have to go in the ambulance, but I can’t rest until I know Samu is OK. Will you let me know? Please?”

  “Of course I will. Go, get treatment, get better and I’ll join you as soon as I can. Go, Theo, you’re an absolute hero.”

  He succumbed to the insistence of the officer, who guided him into the back of the ambulance. The paramedics slammed the doors. She watched the flashing lights creep in the direction of the main road, wiping away the water on her face, unsure if it was spray or tears.

  It was one in the morning when one of the doctors came to find her. She couldn’t cope with sitting in the relatives’ room with Samu’s mother and the Peura family, so found herself a cushioned bench in another corridor while she waited for news.

  “Excuse me, are you with Mr Theo Wolfe?”

  Beatrice’s eyes opened like lighthouse shutters. She hadn’t even realised she’d fallen asleep.

  “Yes, he’s my assistant. Can he fly?” She opened her mouth and shut it again, confused by her own question. “Sorry, I mean is he fine?”

  The doctor gave her an uncertain smile. “Yes, he is fine. He needs rest and fluids for twenty-four hours but we can release him on Saturday morning.”

  “Saturday? That’s too ...” Beatrice swallowed and closed her eyes. “Can I see him?”

  “You can visit Mr Wolfe tomorrow. I mean, later today. Visitors’ hours are from ten till twelve. I must go now.”

  “Doctor, just one more thing. Theo was involved in an incident with Valpuri Peura and Samu Pekkanen. I’m not a relative but can you give me any information as to their state of health? I promise you I’m not a journalist! And neither is Theo.”

  The doctor rubbed her nose, a weary gesture. “I understand, but this is a police investigation. I have instructions to update you on the situation regarding Mr Wolfe. That is all. The doctor treating those young people has already spoken to the family. If you want to know their state of health, it’s better if you ask them.”

  “I can inform you on that topic.” Sahlberg stepped out from behind a coffee machine.

  The doctor took the opportunity to escape, a look of relief crossing his face.

  Sahlberg’s face was weary and his clothes crumpled after the evening’s drama, but the haunted expression he’d worn since the first time they met was absent. He hitched up his trousers and sat beside her. “Samu Pekkanen is on a ventilator to assist his breathing. He is out of danger although further tests will be required to ascertain whether the attacks caused any permanent damage. Valpuri Peura is responding well to treatment for dehydration and minor injuries. She will stay under supervision for the next couple of days and go home at the weekend.”

  “Thank you. I’m so relieved you found them.”

  “Correction: we found them. Your advice was helpful and without Mr Wolfe, things would have been very different. You should get some rest. As I understand it, you plan to return to the UK at lunchtime. I will need to take a full statement from you and your colleague. Perhaps we could do that later this morning?” He looked at his watch. “Let’s say eight o’clock and afterwards a driver will take you directly to the airport.”

  “That would be ideal, but I’m not sure the hospital will release Theo so early. They told me they need to keep him in for twenty-four hours.”

  Sahlberg yawned and stood up. “Come back here for eight am. We can complete the formalities and I will make sure you both catch your flight and get out of the country.”

  He made it sound like they were being deported. “That’s very kind of you. But I’d rather not go back to the hotel. You see, I think someone is following me.” She explained the sightings of the big blond and how he had entered her room.

  Sahlberg’s concentration snapped into focus. He found something on his phone and showed it to her. “Did he look like this?”

  It was the same man, in a black and white still from a video camera. “That’s him!”

  “He’s also the one we’ve been looking for in connection with the murder of Juppo Seppä. The fact he is following you does not make me happy. I will arrange a hotel room somewhere else and send an officer to collect your suitcases.”

  “Thank you, Detective Sahlberg. You are very kind.”

  “Efficient, that’s all. Goodnight.”

  Chapter 39

  Yet again, the ring tone on her phone kicked off a good hour before her alarm. After four hours’ sleep, Beatrice’s mind was mush. She scrabbled for her glasses so she could read the name on the screen.

  “Hello, Astrid, is everything all right?”

  “Yes, perfectly fine. I just arrived at the office and wanted to check on you and your friends.”

  Beatrice scrunched up her eyes in disbelief. Arriving at the office at seven am? She gave a précis of what Sahlberg had said and thanked her again for going above and beyond the call of duty.

  “I can’t say it was a pleasure,” Astrid replied, “but you did offer me an opportunity to do some good. Thank you and I wish you a safe trip home.”

  “What about you? Can you collect your bike today?”

  “Yes. Karoliina’s driver is taking me out to Malmen this morning. Look at the weather. It’s a lovely day for a ride.”

  When Astrid rang off, Beatrice padded across the carpet to look out of the window of the budget hotel window. Helsinki’s innocent blue skies and glorious sunshine could fool a person into believing the previous day’s weather tantrum had been nothing more than a dream. If the storm had passed, there should be no impediment to her and Theo flying back to London. A fact which would please Detective Sahlberg just as much as them.

  To Beatrice’s great annoyance, there was an infestation of journalists outside the hospital. Bristling with microphones and cameras, they scuttled across the visitors’ car park to accost her the moment she got out of her taxi. There was no question of making a graceful dash through the automatic doors, head bowed, muttering no comment, because she had to help the taxi driver lug two suitcases from the boot.

  When she finally got
inside the building, the first person she saw was Sahlberg, looking pointedly at his watch.

  “You try battling your way through a forest of microphones and cameras while people yell questions at your face!” she snapped.

  He gave her an incredulous look. “I did.”

  “While carrying two suitcases?”

  He did not reply but signalled to a uniformed female officer who took charge of Beatrice’s luggage. Then he strode away down the corridor in the direction of Accident and Emergency. Beatrice gave the back of his head an evil stare but fell into step behind him.

  Theo was awake when they entered the room and greeted her with a huge smile. Forgetting her professional pose in front of Sahlberg, she ran across the room to clasp his hands and kiss his cheek.

  “How are you? Where does it hurt? Is anything broken?”

  “The X-rays show no broken bones, just severely strained muscles. I had my breakfast two hours ago and now I’m keen to get out of here. What’s the news on the kids?”

  Beatrice looked to Sahlberg.

  “Samu is conscious and the medical team believe he will make a full recovery. Valpuri is still weak but will be released tomorrow. Your doctor tells me you are doing well enough to be discharged. Once we take your statements, I will escort you and Ms Stubbs to the airport to catch a flight to London.”

  Theo let out a deep sigh and closed his eyes. Then he opened them and fixed Sahlberg with a serious expression. “What about Aleksis? What happens to him?”

  “This is why I need your statement. Risto Vanhanen and Ursula Saari have been charged with abduction and obstruction of justice. We believe Aleksis and Tuula were manipulated by the older couple and do not wish to place them under arrest. Your testimony will be essential in proving their true intentions. Are you willing to give a statement?”