Prologue: December 1997 in Helsinki, Finland.

As I recount the fateful events that changed my life, the emotions of dread and fear return to me. I will attempt to provide the details of my life-changing experience the best that I can recall. It all began when I was working at Radio Finland’s news desk.

“Maksim, I have a story that will make big news in Finland,” Harri exclaimed, calling on his cell phone.

“What is it?” I asked.

“They all have been found dead!” Harri announced.

“Who has been found dead?” I inquired.

“The four Finnish United Nations peacekeeping troops who were reported missing several months ago. Their remains were all found in Kosovo province, Yugoslavia.”

“Does anyone know who killed them?” I asked. This is the first I’d heard about it. I felt sympathy for the families of the soldiers in Finland, but knew I had to focus on the details of this important news story.

“No. A farmer found human remains in his field and reported it to local authorities who then reported the information to the United Nations Headquarters in Sarajevo.” Harri explained.

“Thanks for the breaking story. Email your report to me and I will talk to you on air in an hour,” I said. Harri was a reporter at Radio Finland who had become the Balkans correspondent based in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo.
I hung up the phone. I was very nervous and a little excited. This was my first big story as a contract radio journalist for Finland’s news service. I began typing furiously, trying to compose the breaking story in time for the next newscast. I walked into the broadcast booth with my radio copy in hand 45 minutes later and sat down. With the copy lying next to me, I moved close to the microphone in nervous anticipation. The on-air light outside the booth flashed red.