It was a beautiful August day, and Copenhageners with time to spare had packed their picnics early and sought out the city’s green spaces. The kind of sanctuary every built-up city needs, where inhabitants can retreat to the shadows of trees and, for a while, escape the asphalt and the bustle of cars and buses pushing through the main traffic arteries like red blood cells. On a hot summer’s day, Kastellet was such a place, and today it was as if half of Copenhagen had sought refuge from the metropolis. The green ramparts and the old cannons were merely a romantic backdrop for the sunbathers; few remembered their original purpose of denying attacking hordes access to the Citadel.
Holger was sweating when he arrived at the old windmill where Lars Danielson was waiting. Lars had suggested Holger meet him on the rampart, which was far more attractive in the heat than the conference rooms at FE’s old buildings inside the citadel. The sea of people also provided excellent cover for the rendezvous. The green ramparts of Kastellet and the ancient oaks brought back memories of his time at FE, and he enjoyed the view over Copenhagen Harbour and the old cannon emplacements that created a historical setting for the conversation. They started walking along the gravel path once a few courteous remarks had been exchanged. The small talk was merely a cloak for what they both knew was to 194be discussed. The meeting was not a social invitation. But Holger enjoyed playing the game, not pushing the conversation to what it really was that Lars wanted to talk about. Holger smiled at the thought of the telephone conversation. At how Lars had initially praised Holger’s talk at the barracks in order to segue into suggesting they met up. ‘There’s something I want to discuss,’ he said without further elaborating. Holger had felt intrigued by the fact that the meeting would most likely be a door to something secret. So much so that he had rearranged his busy calendar to fit the meeting in.
‘Your background interests me; since you left active service, I mean.’
Holger did not flinch at Lars Danielson’s abrupt change of topic.
‘I seem to be stuck in the system. It’s nice to learn about what goes on outside the wire every so often,’ Lars continued innocently.
Holger had waited for Lars to arrive at what he really wanted to discuss, but the timing caught him out.
‘Spell it out. Why have you brought me here today? Do I really have to ask you with an interrogation lamp in your face, or can we be more civilised about it?’ Holger asked with a wry smile.
‘All right, all right, take it easy. I’m not underestimating you,’ responded Lars Danielson with his eyebrows raised slightly – an unconscious show of disappointment that Holger was no longer playing the game.
‘I can’t tell you everything, but that’s hardly a surprise. Let’s just say, I’m trying to gather information, all right?’
‘Let’s just say, I believe that, but I’m not stupid. I graduated from law school after my internship with you lot. Though that’s no great achievement; you just need an arse large enough to sit on 195for four years. But all right, let’s continue the game,’ said Holger and checked his watch before continuing: ‘I did my time as an articled clerk, qualified as a solicitor eight years ago. Got married to Susanne. Divorced four years ago. Had a daughter. Louise. You know this already, surely. But I’ve still got a contract with the army reserves. To keep in touch. Not because I see myself as a great warrior, and not because I need the money. These days, I earn more than a General, though money is not the be-all and end-all of life. But I think you already know all this, so I take it that’s not the information you’re after. Luckily, there isn’t any imminent threat to Denmark, which means both my namesake at Kronborg and I can sleep peacefully; so, what is it you’re actually looking for?’
Lars Danielson shook his head and continued along the path in silence. Holger knew that he now had to let Lars finish the first act and allow him to reveal his true purpose in his own way.
‘I liked your talk the other day and merely want to get to know you better. And as a friend, pick your brains on a matter.’
‘As a friend? When I was with FE, that word didn’t exist in the vocabulary of the intelligence community. Only partners and sources. What is it you really want?’
Lars Danielson stopped and turned slowly towards Holger before locking eyes with him:
‘All right, yes, I apologise. I should have skipped the small talk. You’re too much of an old hand to fall for that. I spoke with Interpol this morning following my boss’s call. Can we speak confidentially?’
Holger nodded and felt a knot tighten in his stomach. Something was brewing, and his decision to make time for Lars Danielson had been justified.196
‘I ask for help in a very sensitive matter; I would like your assessment. A soldier from the Jaeger Corps, Kaare Strand, has been abducted. We don’t know exactly where he is held.’
‘I’m neither fire-breathing nor bloodthirsty any longer. I actually hate the sight of blood! But as a former Jaeger, I do try to keep myself up to date, so why haven’t I heard about this?’
‘It’s happened within the last ninety-six hours, and we’ve been able to keep it under wraps. But we can’t keep the story from the press for much longer. All our leads end at Aalborg Harbour. A couple of Baltic and Russian ships were docked there and have since left, and there are indications to suggest a Russian connection.’
‘Russia? Unofficial, you mean? The Cold War ended long ago, and we’re even allies in Afghanistan.’
Holger’s mind was at full tilt, trying to work out the full implication of the turn their conversation had taken, but Lars Danielson continued without hesitation:
‘I would like you to make an assessment of the possible scenarios. Using all your civilian knowledge of what’s happening in Russia. And pronto. This situation is already burning a hole in the Ministry’s desk.’
‘Why don’t you do this assessment yourselves at FE?’ asked Holger with affected surprise.
He hadn’t expected this but understood why FE had asked him to do it. No one wanted to take responsibility for a potentially catastrophic matter. He would be the scapegoat if things went south. He felt, however, both flattered and excited at the same time. There was no need to reveal that.
‘I know you have figured out that I’ve asked you to make an assessment no one wants to commit to. A task that could turn out 197to be political dynamite. The upside is that your input will differ from the ones my team would bring. You’re not constrained by the dogma and rules of the institution, and you cannot be sacked for doing this,’ continued Danielson, ignoring Holger’s expressions of deep thought.
Cogitating, Holger nodded absently to buy time while he allowed the information to sink in. A feeling he had not sensed for a long time spread through his body. He needed a little variety to spice up his day-to-day routine of legal problem-solving. And this assignment was both essential and secret. It was heaven-sent. Holger started to walk, and after a while, he stopped again, turning towards Lars Danielson with a grave face.
‘I need to think this through. You do understand that, don’t you?’
‘Of course, but we don’t have much time. I’ll call you later, and we can talk it through this evening over a bite to eat.’
Further conversation was unnecessary, and they parted ways without looking back. Had someone been watching, they would have noticed that – once they had put some distance between themselves – both of them had a smile on their face. But on this glorious late summer’s day, the sun baked down on the ramparts, and the sunbathers were too busy enjoying themselves to notice anything other than their rosé wine.