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I did not dare go to the secret room. I went out by a dif-
ferent elevator and walked to the streetcar stop. I took the
Number 6 to St. Paul’s Church and walked the last part,
though the wind whipped my beard and blew my coat hem
over my ears. For God’s sake, why hadn’t I left well enough
alone? Why did I want to help Merja and Petri? And above
all—
how
could I do so?
6.
Merja tried her best to keep up the usual flirting, although
we both knew it was fake.
“Here’s my list for Santa,” she said coquettishly, extending a
folded piece of paper to me.
Twelve fifteen at the men’s over-
coats. Hope you know what you’re doing. P
I wasn’t sure I did. That’s why I had turned to Tommy H.
for help. Because Jansson had long been under police
observation, Tommy H. had been eager to work with me.
He’d gotten me the needed three thousand from the snitch
fund. It was in my coat pocket, wrapped as a gift.
Petri was waiting for me at the time we’d agreed on. I gave
him the package and moved aside. Tommy H. and two
other plainclothes police were in the store watching what
would happen.