Buddha seemed interested in the latest developments in the Vaterland case. ‘Looks like the trail leads towards East Prussia?’
‘You already know?’
‘Lamkau is from East Prussia, which is where he gets his Luisenbrand; the dead man from Dortmund is an East Prussian, likewise our man in Wittenberge.’
‘Him as well?’
Gennat pushed a thin file across the table. ‘August Simoneit. Police registration documents from Wittenberge.’
‘Requested by Fräulein Ritter,’ Rath slipped in. ‘They got here quick.’
‘Official mail.’ Gennat slapped the file cover with the palm of his hand. ‘The man came to the Elbe in September 1924. From Marggrabowa.’
‘You mean, Treuburg.’
‘That’s right. Treuburg. I see you’ve done your homework.’
Rath omitted to mention Detective Chief Inspector Watzke’s help. ‘Everything seems to point to Treuburg,’ he said instead. ‘According to his driving licence, Herr Lamkau lived there before moving to Berlin.’
‘So, that’s why you went back out to Tempelhof?’
‘Yes, Sir. I wanted to question the widow on her husband’s past. Lamkau and Wawerka must have known each other from Treuburg, and this Simoneit is clearly the third in the trio.’
‘Let’s hope there isn’t a fourth.’ Gennat stirred his coffee. ‘We need to find out what connects these men. It could be our way to the motive.’
‘I think so too, Sir.’
‘If all three were in Treuburg less than ten years ago, that’s where you should begin.’
‘I’ve already spoken with our colleagues there. None of them have police records.’
‘You’re not seriously proposing to leave inquiries to that bunch of amateurs! The Treuburg Police!’
‘I can hardly transfer my whole team to East Prussia! Fräulein Ritter is working undercover in Haus Vaterland at your behest, Sir. Meanwhile Lange and Gräf are still looking for this tubocurarine, which might prove just as important.’
‘You don’t have to decamp there en masse.’
‘We’re not exactly overcome with resources as it is.’
Gennat looked annoyed, but before he could say anything there was a knock, and Trudchen Steiner appeared in the doorway. ‘The inspector is here now, Sir.’
‘Tell him to come in.’
The superintendent didn’t bother to say which inspector should come in, but the discussion on East Prussia and the make-up of the Vaterland team appeared to be over. It was soon clear why. In the door frame stood the figure of Harald Dettmann.
‘Let’s skip the introductions,’ Gennat said. ‘Please take a seat, Herr Dettmann.’
Dettmann did as bidden, and threw Rath a hostile glance.
Who’s been squealing now, you arsehole, Rath thought, placing his cup back on its saucer. It made him feel more battle-ready.
‘I asked Herr Dettmann here to submit his final report on the Tiergarten case,’ Buddha began. His face gave no indication of what he was thinking. ‘So that he can commit fully to the Phantom investigation.’
Gennat looked at Rath, but the inspector preferred to remain silent. By now he knew Buddha well enough to appreciate this must be serious. Even so the force of Gennat’s ire took him by surprise.
‘What were you thinking, rendering an important report – the work of two or three days, no less – illegible like that?’
‘I didn’t mean to.’
Dettmann sprang to his feet, scarlet with rage. ‘You didn’t mean to? Of all the brass neck!’
Rath remained calm. He knew Dettmann was already in the red. ‘There was this inkwell. It was very precariously placed… I’m truly sorry.’
‘Herr Dettmann, please take a seat,’ Gennat said. ‘Let’s discuss this like grown men.’ He turned to Rath. ‘What were you doing in Dettmann’s office in the first place, Herr Rath?’
‘The Phantom investigation,’ Rath said calmly. ‘My colleague here had taken on my old case, and I wanted to…’
‘That’s a bare-faced lie!’ Dettmann shouted. A look from Gennat was enough to make him see reason.
Rath was now ahead on points. ‘I wanted,’ he continued, ‘to offer my support. But I’m afraid before I could do so… well, you know the rest. Herr Dettmann was so incensed that I was barely able to get a word in.’
‘What? The cheek of it! He’s just manipulating the facts to suit his own agenda.’
‘Inspector Dettmann! I must ask you to control yourself. You’ve already told me your side of the story, now let Inspector Rath tell his.’ Buddha turned to Rath again. ‘Inspector, if things happened the way you say they did, then I must say I’m surprised you didn’t offer to help clean up. After all, you were responsible for this mishap. You should have apologised.’
‘I did, in fact, if memory serves,’ Rath said. ‘Even so, I chose to leave Herr Dettmann’s office after he launched the inkwell at me.’
‘Is this true?’ Gennat asked.
‘It’s all lies. Inspector Rath had no intention of apologising, let alone helping me to clean up. Or…’ He gave Rath a fierce look. ‘…rewrite the report.’
Rath was unmoved. ‘I’ve no objection to our enlisting Forensics, Sir. I’d be willing to bet there are still traces of ink on the door.’
‘I think we’ll leave Herr Kronberg out of this one,’ Gennat said. ‘Let’s settle this among ourselves. Now, Herr Dettmann, did you throw the inkwell at Rath here?’
‘Yes, but…’
‘Good,’ Gennat said, and Dettmann fell silent. ‘You’ve both had a chance to tell your stories. Now, I’d like you to shake hands and make peace. This is Homicide, not some kindergarten.’ Neither inspector made any move to offer the other his hand. ‘Do I make myself clear?’
Rath stood up, and at length Dettmann, too, laboured out of the worn upholstery. The men shook hands. Dettmann’s eyes flashed with rage, but he said nothing. Rath withstood his furious gaze and offered a friendly smile.
‘I’d like to apologise again for my clumsiness.’
Dettmann said nothing, but his handshake grew firmer, and became almost painful as he looked daggers at his rival. Suddenly, he let go, murmured a goodbye and left the office.
Rath was about to follow suit, when Gennat held him back. ‘I haven’t finished with you, Herr Rath. Take a seat!’
Gennat scrutinised him closely, stirring his coffee while Dettmann left the outer office. ‘I hope you don’t expect me to believe that story.’
‘Sir, it’s the…’
‘For God’s sake, man, don’t give me that rubbish!’
Rath gave a start as, for the second time that afternoon, the normally composed Gennat raised his voice. He couldn’t remember Buddha ever shouting like this. ‘You think I don’t know when someone’s playing me for a fool? There are plenty who’ve sat here who can lie a damn sight better than you. So, how about you stop telling tales!’
‘I…’
‘You gave Dettmann the official version, but now I’d like to know what really happened.’
‘I’m sorry, Sir.’ For once, Rath was contrite. ‘You’re right. I did it intentionally.’
‘All because I took the case away from you and gave it to Dettmann? I have my reasons, believe me.’ Gennat shook his head. ‘I just hope your next act of revenge isn’t to set my office on fire. Or indeed the whole building.’
‘The Phantom wasn’t the reason.’
‘Then what was it? If there can ever be a reason for doing something like that!’
‘I’m afraid I can’t speak about it.’
‘Well, you better had, otherwise things could get pretty nasty around here.’