‘It’ll all come out when Warrants bring her in.’
‘I can’t shake the feeling that’s exactly when something terrible will happen.’
Rath looked at her in disbelief. ‘Have you been reading tea leaves again?’
‘You’re such an ignoramus!’
‘I’m just realistic. I’m starting to feel you’re getting carried away by all this. You’re not her mother. Believe me, she’s a shrewd customer. She doesn’t need your help.’
Charly fell silent, but it was a baleful silence.
The lights of night-time Berlin flitted past. Only when they were labouring through the construction site bottleneck on Jannowitz Bridge did she open her mouth again.
‘Pull over there,’ she said.
‘Pardon me?’
‘Let me out past the bridge.’
‘What’s the matter?’ Rath switched on the indicator and did as bidden. He turned the engine off.
‘Nothing’s the matter. I just can’t talk to you about this. You’re not taking me seriously, and I can’t stomach it right now. I want to be alone!’
Rath sighed. ‘Charly, of course I’m taking you seriously. But you’re a lawyer, not a Samaritan.’
‘If you don’t want to help, I’ll do it myself. Now, please let me out.’
Rath could see from her face that she meant it. She had put her wet shoes back on. He opened the door and climbed out of her way. Kirie was surprised to find herself placed on the wooden seat, only to watch both master and mistress exit the vehicle.
‘If that’s really what you want,’ Rath said, suddenly realising how furious he was. ‘Then it’s the perfect end to a lousy evening!’
‘Just what I was thinking,’ she said, buttoning her coat. ‘At last we agree on something.’
‘Can I at least drive you to Spenerstrasse?’
‘No, thank you. I’ll take the S-Bahn.’
She hesitated a moment before heading to the station, and he didn’t know whether to give her a goodbye kiss or not. While he was still umming and ahhing, she made up her mind. ‘Good night, Gereon,’ she said.
That was something, at least, but her back was already turned by the time she said it. She pressed her handbag in front of her chest and moved quickly towards the S-Bahn station. It, too, was a massive construction site, like so much in this city.
Rath stayed where he was but gazed after her. It all seemed unreal. He wanted to chase after her, but pride paralysed him. Let her go! Hopefully she’d miss her train. Someone as pig-headed as Charlotte Ritter had to suffer the consequences.
Kirie gave a bark. The dog didn’t seem to understand what was happening either.
Rath slid across the wooden seat towards her. ‘Looks like we’re back in Luisenufer for the time being. Alone.’
It wasn’t far to his flat from Jannowitz Bridge, and the Hanomag made it without breaking down again. He couldn’t help thinking of Charly as he drove, the way she disappeared inside the train station and how he had stared after her, unable to move. He should have shouted something: ‘Please don’t go!’ or ‘Piss off then!’
Either would have been honest.
What was wrong with her? What was wrong with them? It wasn’t just tonight that had been ruined; it was the last few weeks, ever since Cologne. Yes, things had gone badly there, but not badly enough to poison the atmosphere for weeks on end.
At Luisenufer he stayed in the car, staring through the windscreen into the night. That stubborn, fucking woman! He slammed his fist against the steering wheel, so hard that Kirie, who was crouched quietly on the passenger seat, gave a start.
He got out and took the dog by the lead, getting rid of his solitary, wet shoe in one of the metal rubbish bins. The clatter of the lid echoed in the inner courtyard. He climbed the steps quietly, bare feet sticking to the wood. In the rear building all was still; he didn’t seem to have wakened anyone. He was all the more startled, therefore, when the telephone rang as he opened the door.
Could it be Charly hoping to make peace? Admitting what a stupid quarrel it had been? His mood brightened immediately. Leaving Kirie in the kitchen he hung up his coat, pitter-pattered over the cold floor to the telephone, and took up position on the warm living room carpet. He let it ring one more time before picking up.
‘OK, you’re right. It wasn’t a crackpot idea,’ he said, charmingly. ‘Can I still come over?’
‘That won’t be necessary.’ It was Johann Marlow.
‘Do you realise what time it is? Most people are asleep.’
‘If you had got in touch, I wouldn’t feel obliged to disturb you.’
‘I’ve only just got home. I was on the job until now.’
‘You were in Amor-Diele yesterday, Krehmann said.’
‘That’s right. I learned a few interesting things there too. I’m surprised you didn’t tell me.’
‘You were in a rush to leave my car.’
‘You already knew that Rudi the Rat had disappeared…’
‘He’s probably sleeping it off somewhere with one of his girls.’
‘And who’s to say Hugo Lenz isn’t doing exactly the same thing?’
‘I know he isn’t.’
‘Did you send for Goldstein?’
‘Who?’
‘An American contract killer. The Pirates seem to think he was engaged by Berolina. And that Rudi Höller was his first victim.’
‘Inspector, if that was the case I’d have told you long ago. I don’t know this Goldstein of yours.’
‘I wish I could believe you.’
‘Why shouldn’t I play with an open hand? I’d only be hindering you in your work. You do work for me after all.’
‘Supposing someone else hired the Yank? Someone out for Berolina and the Pirates at the same time?’
‘I can’t think who that might be. Who would be delusional enough to take on two Ringvereine at once?’
‘Perhaps you should have a little think about that,’ Rath said. ‘One more thing: Krehmann said Hugo Lenz had a girl.’
‘Come to Venuskeller, and I’ll introduce you to Hugo’s little friend myself.’
‘Now?’
‘The evening’s only just begun.’
‘It’s a little tricky. My Buick’s in the garage.’
‘Which garage?’
‘In Reinickendorf, the arse-end of nowhere. Arse-end’s about right for its employees too.’
‘Then come tomorrow, let’s say at twelve. Leave the car to me.’
Marlow hung up. That was no suggestion. It was an order.
45
She was still furious. For half the night she had lain awake wishing him to hell, while at the same time longing for his presence beside her. She went to the window and looked out at the day’s first dismal rays of sunlight as they groped their way timidly towards Spenerstrasse.
It was quarter past seven according to Gereon’s alarm clock on the bedside table. She swept it aside, and it landed with a clatter on the wooden floor. That was no good either.
Her rage had surfaced again in the S-Bahn, gnawing away at her on the journey home, and continuing into the night.
The worst thing was that she didn’t even know why she was so angry, or at whom. Gereon, possibly, but just as likely herself. Ultimately, it was the silence of the last few weeks that had fuelled it, and this silence wasn’t just Gereon’s, but her own.
She no longer trusted him, no longer knew what he thought about her and her work. Did he take her seriously, or acquiesce just to keep her onside? What did he want from her, damn it?
Once you’re married, you won’t have to work anymore. Those were his mother’s words, but Gereon had said nothing in response. Was it because he felt the same way?