Read Online Cold Trail by Jarkko Sipila - Free Book Online

images today.”
    “ Could be that some eyewitness caught the license plate and they wouldn’t even need photos,” Takamäki said, before changing the subject. “Where are we with the escaped convict?”
    “S uhonen and I were out looking for him all evening. Went to the father’s house, but got nothing. Well, we did find out that relations between father and son probably weren’t the warmest. The brother indicated the same about their relationship, too. After murdering his wife, Timo Repo was shut out by his family.”
    “W ell, he can’t make it on his own out there. He’s going to need help. He probably doesn’t have any money,” Takamäki said.
    “S uhonen and I were thinking the same thing. We agreed I’d go visit the Riihimäki police and check out those old preliminary investigation reports, see if maybe we can find some names there. Suhonen will work the prison angle.”
    “G ood,” said Takamäki. “Any new cases last night?”
    “N othing serious. A couple of assaults out east at Itäkeskus, but the precinct will handle them. Couple of cars disappeared, a few B&Es, nothing out of the ordinary.”
    “Y ou need some extra hands to help you with the Repo investigation? I could free up Kohonen and Kulta. They’ve almost got the railway station homeless case wrapped up.”
    “I don’t think so. Let’s see how things start rolling here. If we find any names in the old documents or the prison, then maybe.”
    Takamäki walked to the door. “Okay. Let’s have a status check at two.”
    “I f the rat stays in his hole and doesn’t move, it’s going to be pretty hard to find him. Should we use the media to smoke him out?”
    “W e’ll take a look at two.” Takamäki thought for a moment. “What do you think, should I make sure the Espoo police picked up those images from Sello?”
    “I ’m pretty sure they’ve got it under control.”
     
    * * *
     
    Takamäki deleted an email from the National Police Board reminding staff of the communication guidelines, thanks to some hapless sergeant who had given a lecture at some school. According to the new, stringent regulations, no officer was to make a public appearance without a written request detailing the purpose and message of the visit delivered in advance to the National Police Board.
    Takamäki couldn’t get the Sello surveillance images out of his head; he had to call. The mall switchboard connected him to the head of security currently on duty.
    A male voice grumbled into the phone, “Aho.”
    “L ieutenant Takamäki here,” Takamäki said, intentionally omitting Helsinki Police.
    Aho suddenly sounded like a security guard whose sights were set on the police academy: “What can I do for you, sir?”
    Takamäki held a brief pause. “Something pretty simple, actually. There was an accident yesterday evening over on the side of the mall facing the railroad. A cyclist was hit by a car.”
    “R eally? There wasn’t anything in the papers.”
    “W ell, the injuries weren’t very serious, but now we’re tracking down the driver, who fled the scene.”
    “S o you’re looking for surveillance footage.”
    “R ight,” Takamäki said. “There’s a little uncertainty here as to whether someone has asked for it yet.”
    “N ot today, at least,” Aho said. “I’ve been here all morning, and of course I can check yesterday’s log, too.”
    Takamäki could hear Aho tapping at his computer.
    “N ope, the images haven’t been picked up. I mean, no one has even requested them.”
    “S o you have the footage?”
    Aho backtracked. “I’m not sure about that. I’m just saying it hasn’t been turned over.”
    Taka mäki began to see why the guy hadn’t made it into the police academy and probably never would. Nevertheless, he kept his voice as steady and relaxed as possible.
    “Y ou think you might have a minute, buddy, to check and see if you guys have the footage there? It happened around 7 p.m. yesterday on the railroad side of