Page 131 of Hidden in Memories
Here I am,he wants to shout.Help me!
But all that emerges is a muffled groan.
It doesn’t matter how hard he tries, it is impossible to make himself heard.
105
The softly undulating mountain landscape acts mostly as a bitter reminder to Hanna of her own inadequacy. The pressure is too great. She doesn’t want to contemplate the beauty of nature when the situation is so challenging.
She feels as if she has been leaning forward and staring at the images from the drone for an eternity. They are almost certain that it is Filip who is tied up in the bar on the top floor. However, they cannot determine what state he is in.
There has been no sign of Erik Mogren, but the thermal imaging camera indicates that there is another person in the building, not far away from Filip.
“We have to establish contact with Mogren,” Hanna says. “We can’t wait for the negotiators from Östersund.”
Daniel pulls his hat down over his ears. “I suggest you start talking to him in the meantime. I’m sure you can get him to listen better than I can.”
Hanna stares at her colleague. “I have no training in this kind of thing.”
“At least you studied psychology at university.”
True, but none of her textbooks have prepared her for this. There are 150 trained police negotiators in Sweden, and Hanna is not one of them.
“You can do it.” Daniel sounds completely convinced.
“I’m not sure.” Hanna can hear the tremble in her voice. The smallest misstep could have fatal consequences—it is a terrible responsibility to take on.
“You’ve got the necessary skills,” Daniel assures her. “Believe me. You’ll do a much better job than anyone else.”
He puts his arm around her shoulders and draws her close. For a few seconds she allows herself to relax, leaning against him and feeling the warmth of his body.
“You’re the best cop I know,” he adds quietly. “You’ve got this, Hanna.”
When he lets go she is calmer, more confident. He believes in her ability, so she must do the same.
She closes her eyes, tries to remember what she has read about negotiating in a hostage context. It is important to create trust by showing empathy and listening actively. This requires the ability to put yourself in the other person’s position.
The goal is to ensure that no one gets hurt, which means you must assume you are approaching a person in crisis.
At the same time, Erik Mogren is acting rationally in his own eyes, so she will have to try to alter his behavior of his own volition. By building up trust it is possible to create an atmosphere in which he will be ready to listen to the suggestions of others.
Slowly she turns her head and looks up at the bar and the bank of shining windows.
Filip is in there, tied to a chair. She really wants to believe he is alive. She has to proceed from that assumption.
She takes out her phone.
Filip’s life is in her hands.
106
The phone rings out, but Erik doesn’t answer. Hanna tries again, and again.
“I need to be able to call out to him,” she says to Daniel.
Within minutes a megaphone has been produced. Hanna positions herself behind a tree so that Mogren will be able to hear her, but she won’t be exposed to danger. They have to assume he is armed—the gun cupboard in his home was empty.
She raises the megaphone to her mouth and shouts as loudly and clearly as she can.
