‘Way behind it,’ continued Ullrich. ‘We did a pretty good job… by “we” I mean the Polizei Hamburg organised-crime division and the BKA… we succeeded in dismantling the Vitrenko operation in Hamburg. And, of course, you and your team were central in flushing Vitrenko out. However, there were a couple of elements that we didn’t get. We believe that Vitrenko is rebuilding his power base in Germany.’
‘Vitrenko is still in Germany?’ Maria’s complexion bleached paler.
‘Not necessarily,’ said Turchenko. ‘As you know, Vitrenko is a master at building complex command structures that separate him from the activity yet which maintain this powerful personal loyalty to him. It is possible that he is running things remotely. He certainly is not in Hamburg and may even be orchestrating things from abroad. Perhaps even from back home in Ukraine. But yes – my money is on him being somewhere in Germany. And I am here to find him.’
‘We’ve also ascertained that his operations are no longer focused on Hamburg or any other single German city,’ said Ullrich. ‘Instead, Vitrenko is using a network of “niche” organised-crime activities to build a power base. Last time he sought to take over all organised crime in Hamburg. Now his aim seems to be to control key lucrative activities across the Federal Republic. Among these is people trafficking, specifically for the sex trade.’
Maria looked perplexed. ‘But we took out most of his key men – the so-called “Top Team”. Who is he using now to build his power base?’
‘Just as before, he is using ex-Spetsnaz troops. The best he can source. And, as before, they are bound to him personally. But he has reinvented himself – and his operation. This latest incarnation of Vasyl Vitrenko is, if anything, even more shadowy than the last.’ Ullrich pointed to the picture in Fabel’s hands. ‘For all we know, he may not even look like that now. It’s perfectly possible that he has a new face. A new face and a new life somewhere completely different.’
‘So how can we help?’ Fabel asked with little enthusiasm. He felt surrounded by ghosts unwillingly summoned up with the mention of Paul Lindemann’s name immediately before the meeting. For someone who had studied history, Fabel was beginning to hate the past and the way it kept returning to haunt him. It was van Heiden, who had so far contributed nothing to the conversation, who answered Fabel’s question.
‘Actually, it is Senior Commissar Klee who can help. Frau Klee, I believe you have been carrying out a… well, I suppose the best way to describe it is as a background investigation into this girl’s death. We need to know everything you have found out so far.’
‘I told you to leave that alone, Maria,’ Fabel said sharply. ‘Why did you go against my orders?’
‘All I did was a little asking around…’ She turned to van Heiden and told him about her meeting with Nadja and what she had been told about the ‘Farmers’ Market’. ‘That’s as much as I’ve been able to find out. It just seemed that no one was doing anything about these people traffickers.’
Markus Ullrich walked over to Maria and laid out a series of large photographs on the desk before her as if he were dealing cards. They showed Maria in the street talking to prostitutes, in clubs talking to barmen and hostesses. Ullrich laid the last photograph on top of all the others as if it were his trump card.
‘You know this girl? Is this “Nadja”?’
Maria stood up. ‘Have you been keeping me under surveillance?’
Ullrich laughed cynically. ‘Trust me, Frau Klee, you’re not important enough to warrant surveillance. But we do have a long-established, very complex and very expensive surveillance operation focused on the activities of this Ukrainian gang. And lately it’s been difficult to carry it out without you barging your way into the picture. Literally. Now, Frau Klee, do you know this girl?’
Maria sat down again. She nodded without looking at Ullrich. ‘Nadja… I don’t know her surname. She is helping me. As much as she can, anyway. She was close to Olga…’ Maria corrected herself. ‘I mean Magda.’
‘As you can see, Frau Klee’ – van Heiden picked up the thread – ‘someone was doing something about these people traffickers. We had the entire operation, with the help of BKA surveillance experts and with the cooperation of our Ukrainian colleagues, under the closest scrutiny. It is a major operation aimed at locating and capturing the very man who injured you so severely. And you have compromised the whole operation.’
‘What is more’ – Ullrich stabbed a finger at the picture of Maria talking to Nadja – ‘you have probably cost her her life. We have no way of knowing what has happened to her. She has disappeared from our radar – immediately after she spoke to you.’
‘I have to point out,’ said Maria, ‘that I handed over all my notes on the so-called Olga X case to the organised-crime division. I also told them of my concerns that there was a major people-trafficking ring involved with the case, if not directly with Olga’s – or should I say Magda’s – death. I would have thought it prudent for you to have advised me at the time that you were actively investigating them. Then-’
‘Senior Commissar Klee,’ van Heiden interrupted her. ‘You were instructed by your commanding officer to hand everything over to LKA Six and to have no further involvement with the case. Your interference may have cost a young woman her life and widened the gap between our investigation and its ultimate aim of locating and capturing Vitrenko.’
Maria’s expression hardened, but she remained silent.
‘With the greatest respect to our colleagues at LKA Six and the BKA,’ said Fabel, ‘I have to point out that the only people who ever came close to capturing Vitrenko were myself and Frau Klee. And Frau Klee nearly paid for it with her life. So, although I admit that it was irregular for her to pursue her investigation solo, I believe she is due a little more respect as a professional police officer than is being shown here.’
Van Heiden frowned but Turchenko spoke before he had a chance to respond.
‘I have read the file on what happened on that night, and I am aware of the great courage displayed by Frau Klee, yourself and the two unfortunate officers who lost their lives. It is my duty to track down Colonel Vitrenko and I am grateful for all that you have already done. I am ashamed that my country produced such a monster and I promise you that I am totally committed to bringing Vasyl Vitrenko to justice. I am, so to speak, passing through Hamburg as I follow his trail. I would be most obliged if I could ask any further questions that come to mind during my stay here.’
Fabel examined the Ukrainian. He had the look of an intellectual rather than a police officer, and his quiet, determined manner and the perfect but stilted and accented German with which he spoke seemed to invite trust.
‘If we can be of help, of course we shall,’ said Fabel.
‘In the meantime’ – Ullrich spoke directly to Maria – ‘I would be obliged if you could supply a full report on your dealings with the missing prostitute and anything else you have discovered.’
Fabel and Maria made to leave.
‘Before you go, Herr Fabel…’ Van Heiden leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on the desk. ‘Where are we with these two scalping murders?’
‘We know that the woman found at the first scene is not directly linked to the murder and forensics are trying to find out to whom the hairs left behind as signatures belong. There is a possibility – but at this stage it is only a possibility – that the victims might have been selected because they were gay. We’re currently checking that out. Other than that, we are pretty much without any strong leads.’
Van Heiden’s expression was one of expected disappointment. ‘Keep me informed, Fabel.’
Fabel and Maria did not exchange a word until they exited from the lift.
‘My office,’ said Fabel. ‘Now.’
As instructed by Fabel, Maria closed the door behind her after she entered his office.
‘What the hell is going on, Maria?’ Barely contained anger stretched Fabel’s quiet tone taut. ‘I expect this kind of behaviour from Anna occasionally, but not from you. Why do you insist on keeping things from me?’