Mia Krüger crossed the street again and entered a courtyard. It was a long time since her last visit, but the place was still there. The green door without a sign, hidden away in an invisible corner of the city. She knocked and waited for someone to open it. They had decided to offer a reward now, the girls’ families and their supporters. Munch and Mia had been against it – it would only increase the number of time wasters, telephone calls, block the lines for people with important information – but after consulting their lawyers they had decided to go ahead with it nevertheless. The police could do nothing to prevent it. Perhaps they might even benefit from it. Maybe the right amount of money would entice someone out from the shadows.
A small hatch opened in the door and a man’s face appeared.
‘Yes?’
‘Mia Krüger,’ Mia said. ‘Is Charlie there?’
The hatch was shut again. A couple of minutes passed, then the man returned. He opened the door for her and let her in. The security guard was new; she hadn’t seen him before. A typical choice for Charlie: a bodybuilder, big with a square body, tattooed biceps bigger than her thighs.
‘He’s down there.’ The man nodded, pointing further down the room.
Charlie Brun was standing behind the bar with a big smile on his face when she appeared. He hadn’t changed. Perhaps a tiny bit older and his eyes a little more weary, but as colourful as always. Heavily made up and wearing a bright-green sequin dress with a feather boa around his neck.
‘Mia Moonbeam.’ Charlie laughed, and came out from behind the bar to give her a hug. ‘It’s been absolutely ages, how the devil are you, girl?’
‘I’m good.’ Mia nodded, and sat down.
There were only a six or seven men in the club, most of them wearing women’s clothing. Leopardskin-print trousers and high heels. White dresses and long silk gloves. At Charlie’s, you could be anyone you wanted to be; no one cared. The lighting was soft. The mood relaxed. A jukebox in the corner played Edith Piaf.
‘You look terrible,’ Charlie Brun said, shaking his head. ‘Do you want a beer?’
‘What, you finally got a licence to serve alcohol?’
‘Tut-tut, girl. We don’t use words like that here.’ Charlie winked at her and pulled her a beer. ‘Do you want a small one or…?’
‘What’s a small one in this place in the daytime?’ Mia smiled, and took a sip of her beer.
‘It’s whatever size you want it to be.’ Charlie winked again and wiped the counter in front of her.
‘Sadly,’ he continued, ‘the place isn’t buzzing as much as it used to. We’re getting old, or least Charlie is.’
He flung the green feather boa around his neck and reached for a bottle on the shelf.
‘How about a Jäger?’
Mia nodded and took off her knitted beanie and leather jacket. It was good to be indoors where it was warm. Hide from the world for a while. She had hung out at Charlie’s back in the days when the investigation into her had been all over the media. Mia had discovered this place by accident and felt at home immediately. No prying eyes. Tranquillity and security, almost a second family. It seemed a very long time ago, in another life. She didn’t recognize any of the men wearing ladies’ clothes sitting in the booths over by the red wall.
Charlie found two glasses and poured them each a Jägermeister.
‘Cheers, darling. Good to see you again.’
‘Likewise.’ Mia smiled.
‘Goes without saying you don’t look a day older,’ Charlie said.
He cupped Mia’s face in his hands and studied it.
‘Those cheekbones, girl. You shouldn’t have been a police officer. You should have been a model. But seriously, how about embracing healthy living, for the sake of your skin? And you are allowed to put on a bit of make-up every now and again, even though you’re a girl. Right, I’ve got it off my chest. Mamma Charlie always tells it like it is.’ Charlie winked and smiled faintly.
‘Thank you.’ Mia smiled, and knocked back her Jägermeister.
It warmed her all the way down her throat.
‘Could we have a bottle of champagne over here, Charlie?’
‘What have I said to you about shouting, Linda?’
Charlie was addressing a man at one of the tables. He was wearing a pink minidress, ankle boots, gloves and a string of pearls. He might be in his forties, but he moved his body and his arms like a fifteen-year-old girl.
‘Oh, come on, Charlie. Be a dear.’
‘This is a respectable establishment, not some Turkish brothel. Do you need fresh glasses?’
‘No, we’ll use the ones we already have,’ giggled the man whose name was Linda.
‘No class.’ Charlie sighed and rolled his eyes.
He fetched a bottle of champagne from the back room and brought it to the table. Opened it with a bang, to the delight of the men-girls, who clapped and cheered.
‘Right,’ Charlie said when he came back. ‘I thought we’d lost you?’
‘Rumours of my demise have been greatly exaggerated,’ Mia said.
‘A bit of rouge, a touch of foundation and I would agree.’ Charlie giggled. ‘Oh, that was naughty of me. What a naughty girl I am!’
Charlie Brun leaned over the counter and gave her a big hug. Mia had to smile. It was a long time since she had been hugged by a bear in women’s clothing. It felt good.
‘Was I being naughty? You look absolutely gorgeous – you do! A million dollars.’
‘That’s quite all right.’ Mia laughed.
‘Two million.’
‘That’s enough, Charlie.’
‘Ten million. Another Jäger?’
Mia nodded.
‘So what’s up,’ Charlie asked when they had both emptied their glasses.
‘I need your help,’ Mia said, and produced a photograph from the inside pocket of her jacket.
She slid the picture across the counter. Charlie put on a pair of glasses and held the photograph close to a candle.
‘Ah, Randi.’ Charlie nodded. ‘I had a feeling you were involved. Tragic story.’
‘Was he one of your customers? Sorry, I mean, was she?’
Charlie took off his glasses and pushed the photograph back across the counter.
‘Yes, Randi used to come here.’ He nodded. ‘From time to time. Sometimes she would come often, then several months would pass before we saw her again. Roger was one of those who – well, how do I put it? – wasn’t comfortable with who he was. I think he tried really hard not to be Randi, but you know what it’s like, he couldn’t help himself. He had to get very drunk in order to let himself go. Sometimes we had to ask Randi to leave when she started bothering the other guests.’
‘Any idea why?’
‘Why he jumped?’
Mia nodded. Charlie heaved a sigh.
‘No idea. It’s a tough world out there, that’s all I can say. It’s hard enough to be normal. It’s even tougher when society wants you to be one person while your body tells you something else.’