Kratoski, maximum security prison (Siberia, Russia)

The SUV moved through a cold, damp landscape. I could see the signs pointing to the city of Kratoski, a ghost city located in the depths of Siberia, flashing by. While we were going through the desolate region, the Consul of the United States, who was accompanying us, reminded us our mission: escort the Duke to the airport from where he would take a flight to one of his castles in the UK.

Charles, who was sitting between Agent Chang and I, followed closely on his laptop the updates and reports from the various intelligence agencies that supported this operation. I looked out of the window and saw, right in the middle of nowhere, a black spot that send chills down my spine, reminding me how close we were to the Duke. Apparently, I was the only one who gave importance to this messenger of the devil himself. The SUV fell into a hole hard enough to make us jump in our seats. When I looked out again, the spot was gone.

I took out my guns and checked the safety.

"Inspector, put away your weapons. There's enough testosterone here to transport the Duke safely to his castle," commented Agent Chang, clearly irritated and finally shaking off her unflappable mask.

"We'll see, Agent Chang, we'll see."

"Where are they taking those prisoners? "Charles asked.

To our right, we could see a group of men in chains, wearing a neon yellow uniform and climbing into a truck that was surrounded by a contingent of heavily armed guards.

"They're going to the mine of Strominsky, one of the largest uranium mines in Russia," answered the guy in the passenger seat, a young sergeant of the Russian Army.

Astonished, Charles leaned back in his seat.

The driver announced that we finally arrived. The group of SUVs passed, one by one, through a huge gate and stopped at the sentry box, where two guards with machine guns stood guarding the entrance, impassive even though the temperature in this winter desert was below 140F. After they let us through, we finally caught sight of the grim grey buildings that formed the prison, and just in time, because the blizzard that had been nipping at our heels let loose, raising swirls of snow and turning everything white. I didn't care about the dreadful weather, though. The bloody Duke was within my grasp and this time, I would not let him escape alive.