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couch.
    “Hopefully this won’t take long. I need to visit Noora’s parents, then prepare some sort of press release. I’ve been trying to reach Lieutenant Taskinen. You may know him. His daughter is also a member of our figure-skating association. But Jyrki wasn’t in, so perhaps you can tell me how investigation has proceeded so far. Has the maniac who murdered poor Noora been apprehended yet?”
    Weissenberg clearly didn’t know which of us was higher in the hierarchy, which of us she should address her questions to. I was older and had been doing all the talking, but on the other hand, I was a woman and pregnant. Ever since my belly had started showing, I’d noticed how some people treated a pregnant woman like some sort of half-wit. Maybe a police detective who was pregnant was a strange sight. While Pihko was a man, he was younger and more reticent. He didn’t open his mouth now either, letting me answer.
    “No one has been arrested yet. What do you mean about a press release?”
    “The Espoo Figure-Skating Association and the Finnish Figure-Skating Federation must make an official announcement! The press will be very interested in the death of an athlete of Noora’s caliber. Noora’s parents certainly won’t be able to handle this sort of publicity, so it will be up to me to deal with it.”
    “You would do best to coordinate the content of your press release with the police,” I said sternly. Weissenberg going solo could easily interfere with our investigation.
    “That was precisely what I intended to confer with Lieutenant Taskinen about.” Weissenberg’s voice rang like an icicle falling on metal, and her inch-long nails drummed the table in irritation. I noticed the nail of her right index finger was short but was also coated with polish the color of dried blood.
    “Could we get to the questions please, Officer?”
    I didn’t bother correcting my title, even though she clearly meant to offend. It didn’t matter what she called me; I still had the power to make her life difficult. I began in an accusatory tone.
    “You were one of the last people to see Noora Nieminen alive. I’ve heard the two of you argued yesterday at the ice rink. You didn’t hang around to continue the argument, did you, say, in your car?”
    Pihko took a quick intake of breath, apparently shocked by my interrogation technique.
    The smell of Weissenberg’s perfume intensified, and a genuine, dark color rose beneath her rouge. “Are you implying that I—listen, Officer Whatever-your-name-is, I won’t say another word if I’m treated in this fashion! I won’t speak to anyone but Jyrki Taskinen. I demand that you leave immediately!”
    Pihko drew another breath and with surprising authority in his voice said, “Sergeant Kallio had no intention of accusing you of anything.” Pihko’s eyes flitted to mine as if encouraging me to apologize so we could continue the interview. My pride resisted, but the cop in me won out.
    “I apologize if I expressed myself in a way that could be interpreted as an insult. I’d simply like to hear what your disagreement with Noora Nieminen was about. Could an argument on the same topic have continued with anyone else?” I could feel my own cheeks flush now. I hated groveling like this, but I only had myself to blame.
    Weissenberg hesitated for a moment but decided to accept my apology.
    “The argument had to do with a commercial for Valio. I just arranged a very lucrative marketing contract for the Skating Federation to endorse their dairy products, and Noora, Janne Kivi, and Silja Taskinen were supposed to be the stars. Now that will have to be canceled too. Or at least the script will have to change. Maybe Silja and Janne could . . .”
    I could almost see the money symbols in Weissenberg’s eyes, and I started getting angry again. “Yes, the commercial?”
    “Noora didn’t like the advertising agency’s idea. Valio is coming out with a new kind of frozen yogurt. The idea for