Chapter 112
Dusk has begun to fall in Storlien, and the mountain birch trees are casting long shadows on the snow.
Daniel has gone outside to get some fresh air.
Hanna is still in the motor home, having something to eat.
When they sent in the pizza, the conversation was interrupted.
Erik hung up, and they haven’t yet made contact again.
Daniel hopes the food will make the guy feel better, or at least more capable of reaching a rational decision.
One that involves giving himself up.
Or at least letting Filip go.
While Hanna was on the phone, the cloud cover has blown away.
It is now after eight o’clock, and the mountain hotel is bathed in a warm evening glow.
The pink clouds are reflected in the windows of the bar where Filip is being held captive.
For a moment it looks as if the place is on fire, and Daniel gives a start.
Then he realizes it is only the reflection of the burning sunset.
Everyone’s nerves are on full alert since they found out that Mogren has drenched his hostage and part of the hotel with gasoline. The consequences if he fulfills his threat don’t bear thinking about. So that was why he kidnapped Filip instead of killing him outside the restaurant.
He intends to burn the whole place down, and let Curt Wretlind’s last living relative die in the flames.
It is a revenge so horrific that it’s hard to take in.
The sound of an engine catches Daniel’s attention. A police car approaches and stops at the cordon. Tiina is sitting in the back seat.
Under normal circumstances it is best to avoid having a close relative present in challenging hostage situations, but they are desperate. The decision was made to ask Tiina to come here, in the hope of finding other ways to reach Mogren.
Tiina gets out of the Volvo, and Daniel sees that she has brought the dog with her.
“Thanks for coming,” he says, making a huge effort to sound calm.
The police cars and cordons would frighten anybody.
“Have you been informed of what’s going on? That your husband is holding a young man hostage inside the hotel?”
Tiina looks as if she is at the breaking point. Her eyes are red-rimmed, as before.
“Yes,” she whispers.
“Why did you bring the dog?”
“Erik loves Zelda more than anything—probably more than me.” She blinks nervously. “I thought it might be good to have her here.”
Daniel bends down and pats the dog’s head. Erik hasn’t mentioned Zelda during his conversation with Hanna, but according to Tiina she is the apple of his eye.
Interesting.
Could it be possible to divert Mogren’s thirst for vengeance through his beloved pet? He seems to be totally indifferent to Filip’s fate, but what if the dog might make him relent?
In hostage negotiations there is sometimes talk of a black swan, something that can influence the adversary and dramatically alter the whole scenario.
Could Zelda be their black swan?
They can’t afford to dismiss the idea. Everyone cares about something or someone.
By this stage Daniel is prepared to clutch at the smallest straw.
“Sounds like a good idea,” he says to Tiina. “Come with me and we’ll tell Hanna.”