CH 6 Part 1 :Mysterious Deaths in Finland
Written by Kavya and Concept by Sidhant First go to previous blogs if you have not already....
The cold Finnish night was thick with the kind of silence that only the deep forests of the Nordic countries could muster. Mr. Soto and Mr. Absko, standing just outside the darkened woods, turned to face the figure emerging from the shadows. A tall, beautiful lady, draped in a long coat, with radiant blonde hair framing her face, walked toward them with a purposeful stride. As she raised her hand to her waist, a badge gleamed in the pale light, drawing their immediate attention. Her presence was commanding, and there was something about her that radiated both knowledge and authority.
"I am Detective Cloe," she introduced herself, her voice calm but decisive. "This case has similarities to several others—mysterious deaths that have occurred in Finland in the past 15 days. This, the fifth incident in the last 10 days," she sighed heavily. "And I suspect there may be more."
Detective Cloe turned to Absko with a look of familiarity, as though they had met before, and addressed him directly. "Mr. Absko, you will recall that someone of great importance died under similar circumstances. The matter is quite serious, and we need to move quickly." She paused and then continued, "Traces of the same poison were found in the air surrounding all of these incidents. It’s a chemical called rendeb—an aerosol that's rapidly lethal, even in small quantities."
As she spoke, Cloe reached for her phone and showed them a photograph—a close-up of a golden coin. It depicted a man wearing a unique turban. Soto and Absko exchanged a glance. The image, clipped from newspapers or documents, had been found at every scene.
"Any thoughts?" Cloe asked, her eyes narrowing as she regarded both men.
Absko opened his mouth, hesitated, and then stopped himself. He looked to Soto for a cue. Soto, ever the thinker, took the initiative.
"It’s a representation of Waaq," Soto said slowly, his eyes now scanning the photo on his phone. "An ancient god in the Cushitic languages, particularly among the Oromo and Somali people in Africa." As he spoke, he quickly searched the term on the internet and showed the result to Cloe.
Detective Cloe took a careful look at the image on the screen. The match was startling. But why would an African god be connected to these deaths in Finland? The question lingered in the air, unsolved for now, a piece of a larger puzzle that didn’t yet fit.
Cloe’s voice interrupted their thoughts. "A clue has been deciphered, but it hasn’t led us anywhere—yet."
It was growing late, and despite the mystery at hand, both Soto and Absko were clearly tired and hungry. Just as the chill from the Finnish air seemed to seep into their bones, Cloe's voice softened.
"Mr. Daniel will take you to your cottage. You've had a long day, and I think you deserve a taste of Finland," she said with a smile, as though trying to ease the tension in the air.
Soto nodded, excusing himself to pay his respects to Mr. Handa, vowing to help uncover the truth behind the mysterious death of his wife, Aika’s mother. With that, he and Absko followed Daniel to their cottage.
They were led to a quaint, wooden structure perched beside a shimmering lake. The warmth from the fire outside greeted them as they entered, and Absko, grateful for the warmth, was provided with a thick coat. Dinner was served soon after—traditional Finnish dishes: Kaalikääryleet (cabbage rolls), Hernekeitto (pea soup), Viili (yogurt), Perunamuusi (mashed potatoes), and Lihapullat (meatballs). Both men, famished from the day’s long travel and investigation, devoured the food eagerly.
When they had finished, Daniel returned to escort them to the local police bureau, where Cloe was waiting. Soto had an idea he was eager to share with her.
