The Rabbit Hunter

Joona sits down on the chair and takes the file with his cuffed hands. The plastic creaks as he leans back. As he reads he notices that the Prime Minister keeps checking his phone.

Joona skims the report from the crime scene, the lab results and the interview with the female witness in which she says she heard the killer say that Ratjen had opened the door to hell. The report concludes with graphs of telecom traffic and Sheikh Ayad al-Jahiz’s command that western leaders should be tracked down and their faces blown off.

‘There are plenty of holes,’ Joona says, handing the folder back.

‘This is just a preliminary report. A lot of test results are still missing, and—’

‘Holes that were left on purpose,’ Joona interrupts.

‘I don’t know anything about that,’ the Prime Minister says, slipping his phone back in the inside pocket of his jacket.

‘Have there been any other victims?’

‘No.’

‘Is there anything to suggest that more attacks are planned?’

‘I don’t think so.’

‘Why the Foreign Minister?’ Joona asks.

‘He was pushing for coordinated European action against terrorism.’

‘What do they achieve by killing him?’

‘This is a clear attack against the very heart of democracy,’ the Prime Minister goes on. ‘And I want the heads of these terrorists on a fucking plate, if you’ll pardon the expression. This is about justice, about putting our foot down. They cannot and will not frighten us. That’s why I’m here, to ask if you’re prepared to infiltrate Salim Ratjen’s organisation from inside prison.’

‘I assumed that. I appreciate your faith in me, but you have to understand that I’ve built up a life in here. It wasn’t easy, because people are aware of my background, but over time they’ve learned that they can trust me.’

‘We’re talking about national security here.’

‘I’m no longer a police officer.’

‘The Security Police will have your conviction quashed and you’ll get conditional parole if you do this.’

‘I’m not interested.’

‘That’s how she said you’d react,’ the Prime Minister says.

‘Saga Bauer?’

‘She said you wouldn’t listen to any offer from the Security Police … That’s why I decided to come in person.’

‘I’d be more inclined to consider the job if I didn’t think you were withholding vital information from me.’

‘What is there to conceal? The Security Police think you can help them identify Salim Ratjen’s contact on the outside.’

‘I’m sorry you wasted your time,’ Joona says, then gets to his feet and starts walking towards the door.

‘I can get you pardoned,’ the Prime Minister says to his back.

‘That would require government approval,’ Joona says, turning around.

‘I’m the Prime Minister.’

‘As long as I feel I’m not being given all available information, I’m going to have to say no,’ Joona repeats.

‘How can you claim to be unaware of what you don’t know?’ the Prime Minister asks, obviously irritated.

‘I know you’re sitting here even though you should be in Brussels for a meeting of the European Council,’ Joona says. ‘I know that you gave up smoking eight years ago, but now you’ve suffered a relapse, judging by the smell on your clothes and the mud on your shoes.’

‘Mud on my shoes?’

‘You’re a considerate man, and because your driver doesn’t smoke you got out of the car to have a cigarette.’

‘But …’

‘I’ve noticed you checked your phone eleven times, but you haven’t answered any messages, so I know there’s something missing, because there was nothing in that report I read that indicates there’s any real urgency.’

For the first time, the Prime Minister looks lost for words. He rubs his chin and seems to be thinking hard.

‘We believe we’re dealing with a number of planned murders,’ he says eventually.

‘A number?’ Joona repeats.

‘The Security Police removed that from the report, but there seem to be three murders planned, at least to start, and the next one is believed to be planned for Wednesday. That’s why it’s urgent.’

‘Who are the likely targets for these attacks?’

‘We don’t know for sure, but the information we do have suggests precise and well-planned executions.’

‘Politicians?’

‘Probably.’

‘And you think one of them might be you?’ Joona asks.

‘It could be anyone,’ the Prime Minister replies quickly. ‘But I’ve been led to believe that you’re our best option, and I’m hoping you’ll accept the job. And if you do actually manage to discover information that helps stop these terrorists, I’ll see to it that you get your old life back.’

‘You can’t do that,’ Joona replies.

‘Listen, you have to do this,’ the Prime Minister says. Joona can tell that he’s really scared.

‘If you can get the Security Police to cooperate fully with me, then I promise to identify the people responsible.’

‘And you understand that it has to happen before Wednesday …? That’s when they kill their next target,’ the Prime Minister says.

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