The Red King of Helsinki

by Helena Halme

  ‘The boy said he wants to come to the Council?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And the woman, what’s her name again?’

  Iain sighed, ‘Maija.’

  ‘She says her daughter was playing in the snow? Playing?’

  ‘Yes.’ Iain shifted uncomfortably in his light wooden chair. His buttocks would go numb if he was forced to stay put for any longer. He’d been sitting in the office for the best part of the day. First waiting for the Colonel, then sitting opposite him, going over and over the events of the last day. ‘Mr Linnonmaa had telephoned her and told her this story. Now she’s convinced that Pia is not involved in anything untoward, especially not drugs. I think that cover is blown, Sir.’

  ‘Yes, yes.’

  The Colonel was silent again. Iain wondered what he was thinking. Perhaps he was plotting another improbable story to tell Maija. The drug story made Iain look like an idiot. It had also hurt both the women and lost him valuable credibility. Iain watched the Colonel’s grey face behind his slowly moving fingers. From now on he would deal with the women in his own way.

  What he found out in Stockholm was playing on his mind too.

  ‘I was wondering…this business in Stockholm.’

  ‘Yes?’

  Iain hesitated. The Colonel scrutinised him.

  ‘You knew it would be him?’

  After a brief silence, the Colonel said, ‘Yes.’

  So Iain was just sent to confirm what MI6 already knew.

  ‘And the secretary at the Embassy?’

  The Colonel bit his bottom lip. He stared at Iain over his glasses.

  ‘Iain,’ there was smile, ‘I was very glad you spotted that article. Well done.’

  The Colonel kept eye contact with Iain. It was uncomfortable, but Iain was determined to get some answers.

  Finally the Colonel continued, ‘She was Kovtun’s secretary.’

  Iain didn’t say anything. He didn’t want to show how shocked he was. Two bodies already, both women. How many more would there be before HMS Newcastle sailed?

  He glanced at the Colonel, who was now pacing the room. Iain knew he was impatient at having to wait. Iain, on the other hand, seemed lately to spend his life hanging around waiting for things to happen, unable to protect or help anyone. That morning he had followed Pia to school, taken the tram back to the Council and was now again waiting for the Colonel to speak. He presumed there was someone outside the school keeping an eye out for the children. But he couldn’t be sure. Iain no longer trusted the Colonel. He suspected an assignment in Helsinki was a low priority in the Colonel’s busy working life. As far as Iain could see it was all going terribly wrong. At least he was sure it was taking more of the Colonel’s time than had been anticipated in London. Iain couldn’t ask, but he kept wondering how they’d come to recruit Kovtun. He was violent – a murderer – and unpredictable. He behaved as if he owned Helsinki. Perhaps that was the key. The Russian had been providing vital information. But was this worth it for the Royal Navy, and to London? Worth all these innocent people getting hurt?

  ‘What about Kovtun?’ Iain asked. ‘He seems to be keeping an eye on the flat.’

  ‘Yes,’ the Colonel said. He walked to the end of the room and peered outside. ‘I just think he’s getting nervy. Must have seen you go in and out and wants to make sure you’re not, you know, messing things up for him.’

  This was the limit. Iain knew for certain the Russian hadn’t spotted him once. There was more to it than even the Colonel knew, but Iain couldn’t quite put his finger on what.

  ‘Sir,’ he said, but before he could continue, the Colonel said, ‘At last! They’re here!’

  * * *

  Mrs Cooper brought the two youngsters into the room. This time Pia looked more relaxed. She was holding the boy’s hand. Iain examined his face. He had open features, fairly attractive, he presumed. His hair was not exactly blond, but sandy coloured and unruly. He looked uncomfortable in his body, as boys of that age often did, not quite used to their long limbs. But his face displayed no unease. He looked straight at Iain, and then nodded towards the Colonel.

  ‘And who’s this, another spy?’

  Mrs Cooper stopped at the door. The Colonel looked up and put his hand up to her. She left the room, silently closing the door.

  ‘Sit down,’ the Colonel said in English, ‘I hear you wanted to see what this place was like?’

  ‘Yeah, sure I did.’ The boy’s English was remarkably good, though his accent was more American than British, but then that was the influence of the television here.

  ‘I have it from good authority that you did in fact make an unannounced visit to our premises two nights ago. Is this true?’

  Heikki looked straight at the Colonel. ‘I might have done.’

  ‘What were you looking for?’

  No answer.

  The Colonel leant over the table and put his face very close to the boy’s.

  ‘Now young man, people’s lives are at stake and we are not playing games here. Do I make myself clear?’

  ‘Heikki, just tell them why you came,’ Pia said to the boy in Finnish. He didn’t look at her, as if he hadn’t heard a word she said. Pia glanced at Iain.

  ‘That’s right, Pia, we do not want Heikki to be in danger,’ Iain said, also in Finnish. Just in case the boy’s English wasn’t as good as it appeared.

  Heikki looked at both Pia and Iain in turn. Then he faced the Colonel again. His English faltered a little at this point. As Iain understood it, he’d just been curious when he saw Pia coming out of the building. When Iain asked him how he’d got in – and out – of the Council, he grinned and said, ‘I like to open locks.’ Pia looked shocked.

  The Colonel sat back in his chair. He held the boy’s gaze. Without moving his head he said, ‘We need to talk to Pia alone.’

  ‘No’ the boy said. He took hold of Pia’s hand again, but she pulled it back.

  ‘It’s OK, Heikki, you go on.’ Pia said in Finnish. ‘I want to talk to Iain and the Colonel alone.’

  ‘The Colonel?’

  Pia turned her face away from the boy and Iain suppressed a smile. Heikki looked at each one of them in turn. Mrs Cooper must have been standing outside, waiting and listening, because as soon as Heikki got up the door opened and she led him away.

  * * *

  Pia couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. Why hadn’t Heikki told her about being in the Council right after their first date at the Happy Days? She bit her lip when she remembered the night before. How, after her mother had left them alone in the kitchen, Heikki had kissed the bruises on her wrists. ‘I told you to be careful, silly,’ he’d said. Pia had told him absolutely everything. The relief she’d felt at not being alone in the middle of the whole mess had been overwhelming, as was not having to face the two men on her own this afternoon. Especially when she’d tried phoning Anni and her number had been engaged. And then Anni still hadn’t showed up at school this morning.

  ‘Where’s Anni?’ she asked the Colonel in English.

  ‘We don’t know,’ The Colonel answered. Pia looked over to Iain. His face was stern.

  ‘Pia, what have you told Heikki?’

  Pia looked down.

  The Colonel sighed. ‘In that case can I ask that you tell us everything as well then, please?’

  ‘I don’t understand anything,’ Pia said. Suddenly tears started running down her cheeks. She thought about the KGB man, Anni, her chance to win the Friendship Trophy. Iain looked at her and eventually Pia calmed down. She told them about being held by Kovtun and what Mr Linnonmaa had said about Iain.

  The Colonel listened with a grave face. At times he shot a quick, unfriendly glance at the Admiral. Pia felt almost sorry for him.

  When Pia had finished the Colonel sat in silence for a moment.

  ‘Thank you, young lady,’ the Colonel said finally. ‘You mustn’t worry, everything will be alright. Iain will let you know what to do.’

  The wo
man in the tight skirt appeared at the door again and showed the Colonel out. Pia sat with Iain for a while longer. The woman brought them tea with biscuits. Iain started talking to her in Finnish.

  ‘Are you OK?’ he said. His eyes looked kind.

  ‘Yes,’ Pia lied.

  ‘I know we haven’t told you much. But it’s for your own good.’ Iain reached across and took hold of Pia’s hand.

  Pia pulled her hand away, ‘You told my mum I’m on drugs.’

  Iain moved further away from her in his seat.

  ‘I know,’ he said, looking down at the floor between his feet.

  There was a silence. All Pia could hear was the faint noise of the traffic from the street below them. Iain lifted his eyes to Pia. ‘I have no excuse for what I did. All I can say is that it was to protect both you and your mother. You see, the less you know the less danger there is.’

  ‘But it didn’t work, did it!’ Pia felt a surge of anger. She had been dodging questions about Iain while Kovtun had threatened her and hit her!

  ‘I know, and believe me it wasn’t my fault.’ Iain hesitated and continued, ‘I know it’s not fair.’

  Pia looked at Iain. He seemed genuine and she couldn’t help but trust Iain.

  He was speaking again, ‘I also think you shouldn’t tell Heikki any more than you have. It will only be dangerous to him, too. Same goes for your mother.’

  Pia looked at Iain. ‘What if I do tell, everything to everybody?’

  Iain stared at her.

  Suddenly Pia felt strong. She was fed up with playing games. Whatever the British security forces, the KGB and Anni’s father were fighting over, it had nothing to do with her! Or Anni! Why should Pia be the piggy in the middle, being told nothing, but still suffering the consequences? She wanted her old life back, be a normal teenager, go to school, be in love with her boyfriend, go out with Anni. Win the Friendship Trophy. She held Iain’s gaze.

  Iain sighed. He looked around the room and said in a low voice, ‘OK, you win. But you must promise not to tell anyone, and I mean anyone at all. Not even your teddy bear.’ He was deadly serious and Pia promised. She felt the hairs at the back of her neck stand up.

  ‘Vladsislas Kovtun is about to defect to the West. We are here to help him do that.’

  12

  The doorbell to Leena’s flat rang straight after she’d got home from school. As if whoever it was knew her movements. She put the shopping in the little alcoved kitchen and took off her overcoat. The bell rang again, impatiently. Leena went to answer the door. No doubt it was the unpleasant caretaker with some new house rule or other.

  ‘Vadi!’ Leena went to embrace the man, but Vadi pushed her away and walked straight into her living room.

  Leena followed him, ‘Can I take your coat?’

  Vadi paced the room from one end to the other, filling the space with his long black coat and large boots.

  ‘Or a drink, I have Koskenkorva?’

  ‘We have problem!’ Vadi’s eyes were dark. For the first time since meeting him, Leena felt a little afraid of the man. He was passionate – so very passionate – but even when he was telling her off for doing or saying the wrong thing he’d never looked as angry and dangerous as he did now.

  ‘Well, let’s just have a tiny, weeny drink and I’m sure…’

  Vadi started pacing the room again. Leena slid into the kitchenette and poured two large glasses of neat vodka. He downed the drink in one and Leena went quickly to fetch the bottle. Vadi poured himself another glassful and said, ‘Your girl, Pia, she a big, big problem.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘She has very bad friends.’

  Leena looked at Vadi. He finally sat down in one of her comfy chairs, but was still wearing his overcoat. He leaned back with his long legs apart and looked at her with the kind of intensity that she’d only seen in his eyes when he was undressed.

  ‘She’s friends with Anni, you know, the girl whose father is a diplomat, apart from her…’

  ‘No, no, not at school, you stupid woman.’

  Leena sat a little more upright in the other of her comfy chairs. There was no need to insult her; that she would not take from any man. She looked down at her hands. ‘I will help you, I said I would, but there’s no need to be rude.’

  Vadi was silent for a while.

  ‘Ah,’ Vadi said, and after a while, still looking at Leena, he again said, ‘Ah.’

  They were both silent for a long while, Leena thinking of how she’d got herself involved in this. She looked at Vadi who also seemed to be deep in thought. He was calmer now. Suddenly Vadi got up and knelt down next to Leena. ‘You not stupid, Vladsislas stupid.’ He took hold of Leena’s chin and kissed her. She closed her eyes. There was a taste of vodka on his velvety lips.

  ‘The man Pia meets, I worried. You know this girl, Pia, she very nice,’ Vadi said and looked down at his hands. ‘She remind me of my daughter.’

  Leena knew how much Vadi loved his daughter. She’d seen it in Moscow, even if she hadn’t known his relationship to her then.

  ‘My very beautiful Alyona,’ he said quietly and stood up. Vadi flung his coat onto the bed and settled his large frame in front of Leena, ‘This is why I want to protect your gymnast girl!’ He stared intently at Leena.

  ‘Oh Vadi,’ Leena said.

  Vadi took Leena’s hand and led her to the bed. He pulled her top and jeans off and entered her swiftly; his black eyes on her the whole of the time.

  * * *

  Afterwards, Leena thought about Vadi’s daughter. He’d been very secretive about her mother. Leena didn’t know if she was dead, or not around for some other reason. Surely a mother would have a problem with what Vadi planned? She looked at him. Vadi was already out of the bed, pulling on his shirt. She needed to approach the subject gently, from another direction.

  ‘So who is this man Pia is friends with?’

  Vadi flashed his eyes at Leena, ‘He very, very bad. But Pia with him all the time!’

  ‘But it’s OK. She has a mother after all. Her mother won’t let her…’

  ‘It no good, no good for girl! No good for Tournament!’

  ‘I don’t understand,’ Leena said, though she was afraid of questioning Vadi too much.

  ‘He English pig! He want sabotage Tournament!’

  Suddenly Leena had an idea, ‘Do you want me to talk to him?’

  ‘No!’ Vadi came over to the bed and placed Leena’s hands between his, ‘you must not talk to him!’

  ‘Of course not, I promise.’

  ‘Leena, you must watch this girl, Pia. Make sure she keep away from the man, OK?’ Vadi was now looking at her bare breasts, his face less serious. Leena pulled the sheet closer to her body, but leaving enough flesh for Vadi to admire. He bent over and kissed Leena’s neck. ‘You beautiful Finnish woman,’ he said. ‘Remember. Keep close to Pia, yes?’

  Leena smiled and nodded. She could not resist this man. She watched his muscular back as he got dressed and wondered if she’d dare to approach the subject of the mother of his daughter.

  ‘Vadi,’ she began.

  ‘What?’ Vadi snapped.

  The moment had gone.

  Five minutes and Vadi was out the door.

  * * *

  Heikki was waiting for Pia outside the Council entrance. He looked cold. He had his school bag flung across his back and was stamping the ground to keep warm. He looked sheepish. Pia wasn’t sure whether she was glad or angry to see him. Iain had confused her. Why would the British want a man like Kovtun? And what did Kovtun have to do with Anni’s father? And why was he keeping an eye on Pia? Iain hadn’t been able to give her any answers. She’d have to find out what was going on herself.

  She walked slowly towards Heikki. It was already dark, but the fresh snow was shimmering against the street lights. Suddenly she felt a shiver. She put her hands in her jacket pockets and looked around. No Russian that she could see. Iain had promised to keep an eye on her from a distance. He’d
said he couldn’t be seen with her too much, especially if Kovtun was following her. He’d told Pia to be very careful who she spoke to. Pia was afraid for herself but even more afraid for Anni. Pia knew Iain had finally told her all he knew, but had the Colonel? Pia wasn’t so sure the Colonel didn’t know exactly what was going on between the Russian, her and Anni’s family.

  Pia was wondering how she could get to talk to the Colonel without Iain knowing about it, when she saw a tram approaching. She wondered briefly whether she should run for it and leave Heikki there. Instead she decided to confront him too.

  ‘Why didn’t you tell me you’d been to the Council?’

  ‘Dunno,’ Heikki said, kicking at the snow with his boots.

  Pia saw they’d still make the tram. She took Heikki’s hand. ‘Come with me.’

  They found two seats together. Pia looked at her watch; it was well past six. Her mum would just have to get used to her being out a bit later. At least she no longer believed the story about the drugs. She looked at Heikki sideways. ‘Do you want to help me?’

  ‘Yeah, of course.’ Heikki said. He took Pia’s hand and added, ‘I’m sorry about not telling you…’

  Pia had her lips on Heikki’s mouth before he could finish the sentence. She slid her arm around the inside of his down jacket. She hadn’t spotted anyone remotely Russian in the tram, but you never knew who was listening.

  ‘Mmm, I liked that, but what was it for?’ Heikki said when Pia pulled her lips away from his.

  ‘Nothing,’ Pia said, looking ahead and smiling. How easy it was to distract men!

  When they were at Anni’s stop, Pia got up and hurried Heikki out of the tram.

  In the cold, Heikki turned around and said, ‘What’s got into you?’

  ‘C’mon, I want you to come with me.’

  Pia started walking down Kasarminkatu and up Tehtaankatu, past the Soviet Embassy. She walked briskly, hoping Heikki was following her. She glanced around; there was no one else on the street.

  Heikki caught up with her and asked, ‘Where are we going? To get to your place shouldn’t we have gone the other direction?’