Charly was contrite. ‘All the more infuriating that she gave me the slip.’
‘No, no,’ Lange appeased her.
‘If Alex really did witness the murder the killer might have seen her too.’ Lange nodded. ‘Then she’s in danger.’ Lange nodded again. ‘Do you have a suspect?’
‘A sergeant from the 127th precinct, but I fear we won’t get him without a witness statement. It’s a difficult thing, accusing a colleague of murder.’
‘You think they’d believe Alex in court?’
‘We have other evidence,’ Lange said, ‘but it’s no use without a witness.’ The waiter arrived with the menus. ‘It’s on me. Homicide will pick up the tab.’
Charly ordered a mineral water before the waiter disappeared. They looked at the menu.
‘I saw her,’ she said after a while. ‘She was scared stiff. Do you think it’s possible he’s the officer who chased her?’
‘Absolutely,’ Lange said, and couldn’t help but smile. ‘For all the good it did him. This Alex must have claws, or at the very least a knife.’
‘Is the man still on active duty?’
Lange nodded. ‘Didn’t even want to take sick leave.’
‘Why have you summoned me here, Herr Lange? I’d like to know before I order anything.’
‘Two things. I know you’re looking for the girl. Keep going. Try to find Alexandra.’
‘Why should I?’
‘Because Superintendent Gennat was hoping you’d still be interested.’
‘OK,’ she said. ‘I’ll help you, but under one condition.’
‘Which would be?’
‘You have to promise to protect Alex.’
‘Her cooperation will mitigate her sentence.’
‘I’m not talking about that. I can’t just hand her over to you, that won’t work. If she comes in, it will be of her own accord. And if she decides to go, then you have to let her.’
‘What am I supposed to say to the public prosecutor? I did question a witness, but unfortunately she gave me the slip?’
‘It’s that or not at all. I don’t want to be responsible for anything that happens. If she’s killed, for instance.’
‘Do you really think she’s in that much danger?’
Charly nodded. ‘Yes, I do.’
Lange took a sip of mineral water and appeared to consider. ‘OK,’ he said finally. ‘You have my word. I’ll protect the girl.’
Charly stubbed out her cigarette. ‘Two things, you said. What’s the second?’
Lange pushed a copy of a personal file across the table. ‘Keep an eye on this man, as best you can.’
Charly opened the file and stared into the face of Sergeant Major Jochen Kuschke. ‘That’s him. That’s our suspect.’
‘I can’t tail him around the clock,’ she said.
‘You don’t have to. So long as he’s on duty, we’ll have him in our sights; he isn’t walking the beat alone. We want you to look out for him in the evening. If you can manage, that is – the search for Alex takes priority.’
‘Why me? What about J Division?’
‘He doesn’t know your face. With Warrants he might suspect something; perhaps he knows the odd officer there. We don’t want to take any risks.’
The waiter arrived to take their order. She decided not to worry about the cost.
As she stepped out of the U-Bahn on Frankfurter Allee an hour later, Charly was still thinking about her meeting with Andreas Lange. Superintendent Gennat had put the young assistant detective onto her because he needed allies in his bid to prosecute a Prussian police officer for murder. Ernst Gennat was Charly’s great hero, perhaps even her role model; so naturally she had agreed. Especially since, through Lange, he had offered her something in return. A position as police cadet, to be taken up in summer 1932, before the conclusion of her legal preparatory service, with the prospect of a senior role at the Castle.
For that, she’d gladly call it quits with Weber; it was better than making a timid request for half a year’s unpaid leave which he would most likely refuse, if only to torpedo her joint project with Heymann. He wouldn’t be able to reject her resignation.
Charly wasn’t sure that she hadn’t been bought. Still, she was only carrying on what she had already started: looking for Alexandra Reinhold. So why did the offer make her feel so uneasy when, a year from now, she’d be a CID cadet?
Because somehow it didn’t feel right.
There was too much secrecy. Although, at least she could be sure that nothing would happen to Alex. Lange had promised. She just had to make sure she found the girl before Warrants did.
In Kopernikusstrasse she stood for a moment before entering the stairwell. This time, she knew, she’d make it inside.
As she hoped, Martha Reinhold was home alone and recognised her straightaway.
‘It’s you,’ she said. ‘My husband isn’t here. I’m sorry you’ve made the trip for nothing.’ She tried to shut the door of the flat but Charly wedged her foot in the crack.
‘No matter, Frau Reinhold,’ she said politely, pushing the door open and stepping into the narrow corridor. ‘I just wanted to have a quick look around.’
Martha Reinhold didn’t protest. Charly went to the kitchen-cum-living-room, where a wooden door led to a little cubbyhole next to the stove and sink.
‘What is it you’re after? Martha Reinhold had followed her, but her resistance was broken. When Charly sat at the kitchen table, she sat too. ‘Didn’t my husband tell you that he’s cut all ties with his family? That he no longer has anything to do with those Communists?’
‘Alex isn’t a Communist, is she? Has he cut ties with her too?’
Martha Reinhold was silent. She seemed to be one of those people capable of withholding the truth, but incapable of telling a lie.
‘When did you last see Alexandra, Frau Reinhold?’ Charly asked. ‘She was here, wasn’t she? Maybe she still is?’
‘No!’
‘But she was here! The last time I called she was in the flat, am I right? Your husband deliberately laid a false trail with that business about his parents?’
‘How am I supposed to know?’
‘Was Alexandra here or not?’
Martha Reinhold began nodding. First slowly, then quicker.
‘So she was here.’
‘I told Helmut it wasn’t on, while police were out looking for her.’
‘I’m not from the police, Frau Reinhold. I know Alex is afraid of the police. I want to help her. There are some dangerous people looking for her.’
‘Helmut can never know I betrayed his sister.’
‘Don’t worry, he won’t. I wasn’t even here. All I want is for you to tell me where I can find Alex. Where is she hiding?’
‘If only I knew. She’s been with us the whole time, since Tuesday. But…’ She fetched a crinkled piece of paper from her apron pocket and unfolded it. ‘I found this on the kitchen table when I got back from shopping today. Helmut still doesn’t know; he’s away on a job and won’t be back until tomorrow.’
I’m sorry, the note said in scrawled but legible handwriting. You’ve both helped me a lot. Thank you for everything. I won’t forget it. But I have to keep moving, there’s still something I have to take care of. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be OK. Some day I’ll return the favour, I promise. Alex.
‘You don’t have any idea where she went?’
Martha Reinhold shook her head, and Charly believed her. She thought there was a touch of relief there, and not just on account of her confession. Martha Reinhold was glad to be rid of her criminal sister-in-law.
‘I don’t think it’s her style to fit in with other people,’ she said. ‘I knew she’d be gone soon, but Helmut…’ She looked at Charly. ‘I think he wished she could stay forever. It was almost like having his family back. And now… now they’re scattered to the four winds just like before.’