Free Cold Courage by Pekka Hiltunen Page B

departments with balls. If you’ll pardon the expression.’
    ‘Other publications compete in the same market. And they have women,’ Carol Penn observed.
    From the look on Thomas’ face, it was apparent that he felt the interview had just turned into an interrogation.
    ‘Could you describe your collaborative relationship with the magazine’s advertisers?’ Robert Cansai asked, changing the subject.
    Thomas latched on to the question with obvious relief. Lia, on the other hand, let loose a torrent of rage at the video display.
    ‘Male chauvinist wanker. He’s going to pay for this.’
    ‘That won’t be possible,’ Mari said. ‘I’m just sad I can’t put this online. This would be sure to go viral. Posh boss badmouths employees smiling all the while. And to top it off he implies women aren’t cut out for hard work.’
    At the conclusion of the interview, Thomas received an opportunity to share his views on the future of the media business, thus lulling him into thinking that the meeting had gone well.
    When Carol Penn announced that the interview was over, Thomas looked relieved.
    ‘What happens from here depends on our client,’ Penn said. ‘If they select you for the group of final candidates, we will be in touch within two weeks. If you aren’t chosen, we won’t trouble you any more. However, I will say that we receive similar assignments from media corporations relatively often. These interviews never go to waste.’
    Matt Thomas thanked them, seeming satisfied. Then he stood up, shook hands conscientiously with both interviewers and left.
    Mari shifted the video connection back to the lobby. They waited quietly until Thomas returned downstairs in the lift and walked to the reception desk, returning his visitor badge and exiting. His steps were faster now than when he had arrived.
    He’s hurrying back to work. He’s going to go back to the office as if nothing ever happened.
    ‘Thank you,’ Lia said to Mari. ‘I don’t know how you did this, and I don’t know what I should think about it. But thank you.’
    ‘You’re welcome. You should get back to your office too,’ Mari said.
    Lia nodded.
    ‘And you can’t tell anyone about this,’ Mari said. ‘Not a living soul.’
    ‘I understand,’ Lia said.

11
    Lia had difficulty concentrating on her work.
    The experience had been disconcerting. Hearing someone express so directly things that were usually whitewashed was rare. Suddenly the little community at
Level
looked completely different, and her own future was not feeling particularly rosy any more.
    Even more disconcerting was Mari’s role in all of it. She said she did this ‘for work’. What work was that – luring people into staged job interviews?
    Mari had carefully arranged everything in a perfectly planned information-gathering operation.
    Who is she really? And who are the two interviewers?
    She rang Mari.
    ‘We have to meet again today.’
    ‘Of course. Do you want to come here?’
    ‘I’ll be there sometime after six.’
    ‘Call me when you’re downstairs. The front door is locked at five.’
    Sam, who was sitting next to her, had heard Lia’s call and looked curious.
    ‘Was that the same Mari we met at your birthday party?’
    ‘The very same.’
    ‘She was a bonny lass. Do you think I could call her?’
    ‘Sorry, Sam, but she has a boyfriend. Has had for a long time.’
    Lia didn’t want Mari any more mixed up in her work life than she already was.
    It was already seven o’clock before Lia made it back to Bankside. Mari met her at the doors to the Park Street office building and again led them to the blank top-floor door.
    ‘Come right in. Now I can give you the grand tour.’
    Mari showed Lia from room to room, and Lia was astonished to realise that the place occupied almost the entire floor. The conference room they had used during the day was one of the smaller spaces. Altogether eight rooms made up the suite.
    Of these, the three smallest looked like