Life Deluxe by Jens Lapidus Read Free Book Online Page B

make a connection with someone in the underworld—JW—who, in turn, would hopefully lead him to the people who used JW’s services. Torsfjäll said it was unique for a police officer to go in and assume the role of a screw.
    Actually, the inspector claimed, it was the first operation of its kind in Sweden. It was important that his colleagues didn’t run into him as a CO and wonder if he was working extra or was just being weird. So Hägerström had to be fired officially from the police force, preferably with a certain amount of publicity involved. Only one person in a special unit within the Department of Corrections was informed about the project—all to minimize the risk of leaks. But Torsfjäll said the only people who actually knew that the operation involved Martin Hägerström specifically were his direct superior at the Stockholm County Police, Superintendent Leif Hammarskiöld, and himself.
    The advantage of the setup was that since Hägerström would be playing a corrections officer, there was less risk of suspicion. It would’ve been another thing entirely if his mission had been to play a criminal. Few criminals would trust a former cop who suddenly tried to be like them—but things were different with a screw. Torsfjäll also didn’t wantto give him a new identity—it would be too easy to bust. All it would take was for a police colleague to come to the penitentiary and recognize Hägerström.
    Some might think it strange that a fired police officer would choose to become a corrections officer. But honestly, there weren’t that many other potential jobs for a former cop.
    It ought to be watertight.
    Torsfjäll and Hägerström had met once more after their meeting last week. Hägerström wanted additional information in order to make up his mind.
    Torsfjäll explained the motives behind the operation. JW was very likely one of those responsible for a huge money-laundering system. Several hundred Swedes might be involved. But unfortunately, the police didn’t know much more than that. JW apparently ran a smooth operation.
    Torsfjäll went over how Hägerström would be prepped for the assignment: what he had to research and study, who else worked on the staff at the penitentiary, how he should play the game, how the dismissal would take place. The latter: the fact that Hägerström had been fired had to be known widely enough that JW learned about it.
    Hägerström wondered if he wanted to do this thing at all. It was exciting. It was definitely a challenge. But it was undoubtedly very risky. Torsfjäll had been clear during their previous meeting: the fact that it wasn’t listed anywhere that Hägerström had a child was a good thing. Still: to get away from the Police Department for a bit was enormously tempting. What was more, he was certain that he would do well as a double agent.
    Torsfjäll finished his run-through. “Just so you know: You are not a police officer anymore. You are a corrections officer with an assignment. You have to act on your own without immunity. Is there anything about that that doesn’t feel right to you?”
    Hägerström thought it over briefly. He would still be a cop, after all, but in secret, and Torsfjäll promised that he wouldn’t take a hit financially. He went over the different challenges that might come up. It would probably be a matter of smuggling in a cell phone or two and bringing out information. Maybe bringing in a few ounces of weed or a few grams of amphetamines. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be a matter of bringing weapons in.
    “I assume that’s part of the standard procedure?”
    Torsfjäll smiled. His teeth were unnaturally white. “The standard procedure? There isn’t any such thing for this situation, I’m afraid. But I want you to start tomorrow. You have to learn everything there is to know about this JW guy.”
    Once again the big question: Should he really do this? Hägerström thought it over. He had wanted to be a police officer his entire