Read Online Behind God's Back by Harri Nykänen - Free Book Online Page A

about Lapland: the weather, the night frosts, the autumn colours. As we curved onto Ring Road III, Roni said: “What was it you wanted to ask me about?”
    â€œYour father was afraid of something. He had stayed home from work for three days because of it. Did he discuss it with you?”
    â€œYeah, that’s what Mom said. At first I thought he was just sick. I wouldn’t have gone to Lapland if I had known… It wasn’t until Mom called that I found out that something else was going on, but Dad wouldn’t say what.”
    â€œWhen did you leave for Lapland?”
    â€œFour days ago. The company owns a cabin at Pyhä. I always go up fishing there this time of year with a couple of buddies. I didn’t see any reason to make an exception this year, because I hadn’t taken my vacation yet and there was nothing special going on at the office.”
    â€œWas the timing of the trip your idea or your father’s?”
    â€œMine, because it had to work for my friends too. But I discussed it with Dad, of course. He was fine with it.”
    Roni’s phone rang. “It’s Mom.”
    â€œFeel free to answer.”
    Roni took the call and talked with Ethel for a second.
    â€œâ€¦ I have to get off. I’ll be there in just a minute.”
    Once the call ended, I pressed on. “There must be a good reason for your father’s murder. Do you have any idea what it might be?”
    â€œIsn’t it obvious? Anti-Semitism. I heard he got a threatening letter at work.”
    â€œYes, we heard about that, too, and went and met with your staff. We don’t believe that the letter has anything to do with the murder.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œWe have our own information, but we can’t discuss it yet.”
    â€œIn that case I have no idea…” Roni looked disappointed. Evidently anti-Semitism would have been an agreeable motive for the murder. Anything else meant complications.
    â€œThe perpetrator was very methodical. That implies that the motive was not something random. Could the firm’s finances have anything to do with the crime?”
    â€œI don’t know what you’re talking about. We’re in a bit of a tight spot at the moment, like thousands of other companies, but it’s nothing more than that. Our debt load is relatively low compared to our assets and net worth.”
    â€œYour father wanted to take out a new loan in Finland and pay off the Estonian loan. Why?”
    â€œIt was some bee he got in his bonnet. We couldn’t have got a loan any more cheaply here than from Estonia.”
    â€œSo you were opposed?”
    â€œIt would have been six of one, half a dozen of the other.”
    â€œHow did you end up taking a loan from Estonia in the first place?”
    â€œWe received an offer when we started planning construction of the new building.”
    â€œFrom whom?”
    â€œMax Oxbaum. I happened to mention to him at some event that Dad wanted to build new offices for the company. Max said that he represented an Estonian finance company and could arrange a loan. It was all above board.”
    â€œWere you opposed to the construction project?”
    â€œNo. It seemed like a good idea at the time. I might feel differently now. But no one else predicted the recession, either.”
    â€œCould your father have taken out another loan under the table?”
    â€œNot a chance. And why would he?”
    â€œSay, some personal reason, and then maybe he left the loan unpaid?”
    â€œNo,” Roni snapped. “Like I said, the company and Dad had assets. Why wouldn’t he have realized his assets instead? I’m pretty sure most people would rather pay a debt than die.”
    â€œYou’d think so.”
    We stopped at a traffic light. Stenman glanced back. “When did your father intend to retire?”
    â€œBy sixty-four at the latest, in other words a little under two