Langdon and Sasha Vesna reach Sasha’s small, tidy first-floor apartment, where the air smells of Russian Caravan tea and two Siamese cats, Harry and Sally, greet them. Sasha mentions Dr. Brigita Gessner gave her the cats and an American movie poster, underscoring Sasha’s closeness to her late employer and her loneliness.

While Sasha prepares tea and Langdon uses the bathroom, Langdon privately fixates on Katherine Solomon’s disappearance and considers calling the Four Seasons. Langdon stops himself, fearing ÚZSI surveillance after their flight from the authorities, and instead focuses on the plan to wait for Michael Harris to take them to the embassy.

Back in the kitchen, Sasha sets out three cups for herself, Langdon, and Harris, then goes to the bathroom. In the sudden quiet, Langdon notices Sasha’s phone and again weighs contacting the hotel, but remains uncertain where Katherine is and whether the hotel is being watched.

A sharp knock at the door jolts them both. Sasha checks the peephole and sees nobody, but a small slip of paper has been pushed under the door; she retrieves it and, shocked, tells Langdon the note is for him.

After reading, Langdon panics and rushes outside into the snow in his socks, shouting demands into the empty entryway: “Who are you?!” and “What have you done with her?!” From nearby shadows, the Golěm watches, satisfied that the message has provoked the intended fear and will likely drive Langdon to go alone to an isolated location.