The Man From U.N.C.L.E: The Thief From Moscow

Chapter 21: A Fire Lead To A Kidnap

On the scene of the crime, the house had nearly burnt down. Police officers and agents were crowding around and working on finding evidence. When the U.N.C.L.E. team arrived, Oleg immediately stopped them.

"This is KGB work," he nodded at Illya. "Agent Kuryakin, please join the..."

Before he could continue, Lyudmila Kosygin stepped in and interrupted him. "Finally!" She exclaimed over-dramatically. "Sir, it's fine let these agents through." She firmly told Oleg.

"Miss, they're not part of the KGB..."

"I know, sir. They're privately hired by my father in this case." She clarified, swatting him away. When he left, clearly annoyed, she turned to them with tears in her eyes. "Thank God you're here. They've all been useless and I need you to investigate properly."

Solo patted Lyudmila's shoulder. "Miss, we'll start right away. Agent Kuryakin and Agent Teller have..." As he turned to the other agents, he stopped, realizing Gaby was no longer there.

She was already investigating the ash in the ruins of the house. She beckoned them over to look around with her and she pointed to the ground. "Look at the ash." They all look a closer look at the ash, which in the pale morning sunlight had a rainbow-coloured reflection. "That's petrol." She confirmed. "I used it everyday in the garage. This was no accidental fire."

"Someone set it on fire," Illya nodded in agreement, smelling the ash. The distinct, poignant smell of petrol filled his lungs.

Lyudmila looked at them confused. "But why set the house on fire?"

"Miss Kosygin," Solo started, "were the agents and police on duty when the fire started?"

"Yes, as always."

"And when the fire was lit, what happened?"

"I rushed outside and they tried to stop it. I didn't realize my father was still inside..."

"But he couldn't have been inside, Miss Kosygin." Gaby interrupted. "Looking at how distinct the petrol was in the ash, they must have used a lot of it. The house must have burnt down in less than an hour."

"Yes, in fact, it did." Lyudmila confirmed.

"Your father couldn't have escaped unnoticed either..." Solo thought. "This is definitely a kidnap."

"Of course, but why would you attack with a fire powerful enough to kill him, and then kidnap him?" Illya asked.

Gaby narrowed her eyes as she thought and rubbed her temple. "It wasn't an attack. It was just a kidnap. The kidnappers must have successfully gotten into the house and kidnapped Mr Kosygin before lighting the fire to distract the agents and police so they could easily make a way out..."

"They also knew the fire could've destroyed any evidence." Illya smiled as he figured the truth out. "Any fingerprints or DNA must have been immediately destroyed."

Solo turned to Lyudmila. "Miss Kosygin we'd like to ask more questions about the fire. Would you mind coming back to our hotel with us?"

Lyudmila looked over at the team of police officers and KGB agents, still scratching their heads. "Of course. I have nowhere else to go anyway."

Solo politely extended his arm to her so she could hold it. "We've got the car waiting. Peril will drive." He winked at Illya and smirked.

Illya rolled his eyes. "CIA..." He muttered under his breath. Gaby took his hand and smiled up at him.

As they walked to the car Lyudmila couldn't help but look back. She felt a sense of daunting, as if she was never going to see her father again.