Holger parked the light blue Lada opposite a hulking grey structure and gently woke Tatjana. It was overcast, and darkness had descended quickly. Tatjana stretched uncomfortably, and it was clear that she was still not fully rested. Holger was high on endorphins at the thought of being on the trail of Kaare, and he squinted as he observed the building on the other side of the street. It was set back on a large plot surrounded by bushes and trees bordering the dimly lit street. The dense vegetation meant that most of the front garden lay in darkness, and the rest was lit only by a shaft of cold blue moonlight. That made it difficult to get a good impression of the lay of the land. There were lights on in the building, which radiated something ominous, and instinctively Holger moved uneasily in his seat. With no time for a recce, we’re running a considerable risk, thought Holger, but shook off the fear and checked his watch for the third time. 22:15. He also checked the signal on his NMT and GSM mobile phones for the umpteenth time.
‘There’s bloody GSM coverage here; you’re really improving here in Russia,’ he said under his breath. 337
The luminous display imposed a strangely reassuring feeling of not being alone in this eerie place. A telecoms mast nearby ensured connection to Denmark.
‘It’s correct. This is the place,’ whispered Tatjana. ‘I’ve just checked the address in the Yellow Pages, and the film studio is registered here.’
Yellow Pages, the latest capitalist advance in Russia, Holger thought and nodded as he made sure the ceiling lights were switched off. He then handed Tatjana the pistol and motioned them to leave the car.
It was a windy night, and Holger shivered while Tatjana confirmed that the pistol’s safety catch was off before carefully tucking it into her jacket pocket. Holger looked her intensely in the eye. No words were needed. It was time for action. Tatjana nodded to Holger, and slowly they headed across the road and into the moonlit garden. The pale light made the garden look more uninviting, and as they continued up the garden path to the house, the shadows created by the vegetation looked like monsters. They both knew that their imaginations played tricks with their minds, but they still had to stop every now and then to establish that it was merely shadows they were seeing. As they neared the building, Holger could feel his muscles tense. He didn’t know what, or whom, was in the building. Holger just hoped that they would uncover something connected to the kidnap video. Judging from the experience with the editing technician in Moscow, anyone inside would almost certainly be armed.
Holger ushered Tatjana carefully into the shadow and whispered to her to split up and head separate ways around the building. They were to recce as best they could in preparation of gaining 338access. Although Tatjana was uneasy about going alone, she accepted the reasoning behind his instructions.
‘Stay safe,’ he whispered, embracing her before disappearing silently amongst the long shadows cutting through the garden.
Tatjana took the pistol from her pocket and felt less vulnerable. She took a deep breath and ventured tentatively out of the shadows’ darkness and down the building’s side. Afraid of stumbling over something in the dark, she slid her feet slowly over the grass. Thank God I changed the high heels for something more practical, she thought as she progressed along the building. She could feel her heart pumping and briefly held her breath, fearing that her pulse might give her away. Cautiously, she leaned against the wall and wiped a trickle of sweat from her brow. Once more, she suppressed the suffocating fear closing in on her from the long black shadows in the garden. She continued slowly along the wall towards an extension by the house. As she drew closer, she could see that it was an external oil tank. She stopped, listening for any signs of life. The building was quiet, but a room on the other side of the tank was lit. Hesitantly, she raised the pistol and tip-toed to the open window. A loud noise boomed from the street as an old lorry drove by, and she shook as her heart skipped a beat. Get that muffler fixed, she thought as she got her pulse rate under control and continued towards the lit window.
Everything was still eerily quiet, and no sounds indicated that the room was occupied. The window was furnished with slats, and slowly Tatjana craned her neck to get a view inside the room. She could see some photography equipment – ready for recording. A single light in the corner. The rest of the room lay in darkness. At the back of the room was a wooden pillory. She could not see 339anybody inside but stood on tiptoe for a better look. She could now see an open door on the far side of the room. Where does it lead? She manoeuvred herself further in front of the window. To get a better look. She was absorbed in getting all the details of the room. Totally absorbed, she missed the man behind her until he grabbed her mouth. Tatjana could not see him, but he held her in an unshakeable grip. She had dropped the pistol and tried to kick him in the shins but missed. She felt utterly helpless, and fear gushed through her like a tidal wave. Everything happened so fast. The man dragged her along the wall, and her rational mind told her to scream; to resist, but fear paralysed her. Powerless, she was dragged to the front door and into the house. Inside, the man relinquished his grip and took a pump-action shotgun from a rack. Tatjana collapsed on the floor as her fighting spirit oozed out like the blood of a deer shot in the heart. As he cocked the pump-gun, she turned instinctively to face him for the first time. He was as large as a bear, slovenly wearing a pair of worn, grey flannel trousers and a filthy wife-beater shirt. The man stared at her and signalled with a menacing shotgun jab for her to head further into the building. Into the studio. Tatjana felt hysteria swell inside her. She repressed it. It was all about gaining time, gathering her thoughts. Finding a way out. But her brain would not listen. Tatjana was petrified. I just hope Holger hasn’t been spotted!