Lazarus

‘You do know I’ve spoken to Jurek Walter, don’t you? More than you have, actually,’ she reminds him.

‘But back then you were merely a tool for him, a Trojan horse—’

‘OK, fine,’ she says, raising her hands to get him to stop.

‘Saga, listen to me … if you stay, you’re going to see him again.’

‘That’s just an idea you’ve got into your head,’ she says.

‘You don’t have to listen to me, but I can’t go without giving you three pieces of advice first.’

‘I’m listening.’

She leans against the doorframe and folds her arms over her chest.

‘One … don’t try to talk to him, don’t try to arrest him, don’t worry about any ethical considerations if there aren’t any witnesses – you need to kill him at once, and make sure he’s dead this time.’

‘He’s already dead.’

‘Two … remember that he isn’t on his own, and that—’

‘If your theory’s correct,’ she interrupts.

‘Jurek’s used to having a brother who would obey him like a dog … these murders mean he’s recruited an accomplice – and that means he can be in more than one place at the same time.’

‘Joona, that’s enough now,’ Saga says.

‘Three,’ Joona goes on. ‘If what can’t happen happens anyway, you need to remember that you can’t make any agreements with him, because they’ll never work in your favour … He won’t let go, and with each agreement you make with him, you’ll end up deeper in his trap … Jurek will take everything from you, but it’s you he wants to get at.’

‘I want you to leave now,’ she says, and looks him in the eye.

‘Maybe that would be just as well.’