‘Which you no longer are.’
‘It isn’t just your salary we’re financing with our taxes, Inspector. You can’t blame us for Prussia’s liquidity problems.’ Wengler sounded more conciliatory now. ‘Why do you need to know all this? It has nothing to do with Herbert, or your murder inquiry.’
‘A man has to pass the time somehow. But let’s get back to Herr Lamkau. How would you assess his character? I need you to be precise.’
‘Herr Lamkau was one of my most capable employees. Operations manager, as I said, and he kept things here shipshape. No idling on his watch. People respected him.’
‘How about on the streets? Was he similarly… respected?’
‘I don’t know why you’re still on about that. Herbert Lamkau was of impeccable character. People always wag their tongues when someone runs up against the law – even if nothing was ever proven.’
‘Runs up against the law?’
‘You don’t know?’ Wengler shook his head as if to say: a fine inspector, you are! ‘I shouldn’t speak ill of the dead, but you’re bound to find out sooner or later. A few years ago, Herbert Lamkau was accused of selling moonshine as Luisenbrand. To this day, I still don’t know if it was him or one of his employees. Naturally I had no choice but to fire him, to salvage the reputation of our brand.’
‘You assigned him sole distribution rights in Berlin all the same. Wasn’t that reckless?’
‘Oh, I challenged him, believe me, but Herbert swore he had nothing to do with it. I offered him compensation, and he started afresh in Berlin, where no one knew him.’
‘With some success.’
‘With a great deal of success. Thanks to his dedication we’ve achieved market dominance throughout Central Germany.’
‘You’re convinced he was innocent?’
‘Who can look into another person’s mind? Even if he was guilty, I was certain he wouldn’t try again, not after all that fuss. Mistakes like that you don’t repeat.’
‘That’s just it,’ Rath said. ‘Exactly the same thing has occurred in Berlin. Didn’t he pass on Kempinski’s complaint?’
Gustav Wengler was flabbergasted. ‘Kempinski’s complaint? It’s the first I’ve heard of it.’
Now Rath was surprised. If Lamkau hadn’t passed on the complaint, there was every reason to suspect he had been making moonshine again. He placed the photo of Hans Wawerka alongside Lamkau’s driving licence.
‘What about this man here? Do you know him?’
‘He looks familiar. Who is he?’
‘Johann Wawerka.’
‘Hänschen! Of course! He’s changed a bit since I knew him. He was a labourer at the distillery.’
‘And August Simoneit?’
‘Simoneit? He was my top fitter. He kept the distillation plants in good nick, let me tell you. You hardly needed to…’ Wengler paused. He seemed to have a premonition. ‘What’s happened to these men?’
‘They’re dead. Perished the same way as Herbert Lamkau. We think their deaths are linked.’ Wengler gazed, deep in thought, at the smoke from his cigarette. ‘Now I know they were colleagues here at the distillery.’
‘I’m afraid I can go one better…’ Rath was all ears. ‘Wawerka and Simoneit were both involved in the moonshining scandal.’
36
The District Office Cellar Archive was deserted when Rath looked in around twelve. On the reading table was a pile of case files bearing the seal of the Marggrabowa District Court. He leafed through them. All docket numbers ended in ‘24’ – probably an entire year’s worth. Had Kowalski got through them already? How many could there be, in a place like this? He examined the pile, wondering whether he should take a closer look when a voice interrupted his thoughts. ‘Herr Rath! How are things?’
Chief Constable Grigat stood in the door with his legs apart, thumbs hooked on his uniform belt, a broad smile under his shako.
‘No cause for complaint.’
‘I’m on my way to the Salzburger Hof, if you’d care to join me? We could talk over lunch.’
‘Thank you, but I have an appointment already.’
‘Well, then, how about tonight? I take supper in the Königlicher Hof. They have a terrace that gets the evening sun.’ Chief Constable Grigat appeared to structure his day around mealtimes, and to choose his restaurants according to their cardinal point.
‘Perhaps it could be arranged… I’m looking for Assistant Detective Kowalski. You haven’t seen him, have you?’
‘If I understood him correctly, he was on his way to the newspaper office.’
‘Because he found something?’
‘I’m afraid he didn’t say.’
At the marketplace a few men were clearing the remnants of the weekly market: cabbage and salad leaves that lay on the pavement, horse droppings and cowpat. Rath had hoped to park outside the offices of the Treuburger Zeitung, but the space was taken by an Adler sedan. Its owner, a businessman, was discussing advertising rates with a female employee. Rath interrupted. ‘Where can I find Assistant Detective Kowalski?’
The woman nodded towards the back without breaking her flow.
Kowalski greeted him with what, by his standards, amounted to euphoria. ‘You were right, Sir! About the paper, I mean. There was nothing in the files, but here…’
Rath drew a headline in the air. ‘Moonshining scandal,’ he said. ‘The good name of the Mathée firm besmirched. Operations manager and two employees arrested.’
Kowalski looked at the papers in confusion. ‘You already know?’
‘Director Wengler was very forthcoming.’
‘Even though the distillery was caught up in the affair?’
‘You’d be amazed what a sound interrogation technique can yield.’ He grinned. ‘The fact that proceedings were discontinued made it easier for Herr Wengler to divulge.’
‘Discontinued,’ Kowalski said. ‘That may be, but it was in the papers for weeks. I’ve gathered all articles related to the case. You can see for yourself.’
For the most part the articles confirmed what Wengler had said. The director himself was quoted on numerous occasions, stressing that the Luisenhöhe distillery had nothing to do with the scandal. In fact, it was a victim, since the bottles containing the tainted schnapps all carried the Luisenbrand label. We will do everything in our power to assist police in their inquiries, he had said.
‘There must be something about this in the files,’ Rath said. ‘Even if proceedings were discontinued, there was still an investigation.’
‘I’ve been through the whole of 1924. Two or three cases involved moonshining, but nothing compared to this, and none mentioned Luisenbrand.’
‘You’re sure you’ve seen them all?’
‘Chief Constable Grigat had everything from 1924 sent over.’
‘Grigat?’ Rath asked.
‘Yes.’
Rath took the pile of newspapers and made for the door. ‘Come with me,’ he said, when Kowalski gave him a questioning look. ‘Come with me!’
Erich Grigat was eating his dessert when they entered the Salzburger Hof dining area. Kowalski stayed by the door while Rath went over. Grigat looked up, making a surprised face. ‘Ah, Inspector! Did you have a change of heart?’ He gestured towards his pudding bowl. ‘You’re a little late. I’m afraid I’m just finishing up.’
‘I’m not here to eat,’ Rath placed a yellowed front page of the Oletzkoer Zeitung on the table. He slammed his fists on the dusty paper. ‘This caused quite a stir in your town eight years ago.’ He read from the report. ‘Marggrabowa. Three men have been taken into custody today for their part in the Luisenbrand moonshining scandal. As has been previously reported, the bootlegged alcohol, the consumption of which has been deemed extremely hazardous, was stowed and marketed in original Mathée Luisenbrand bottles. The men in custody are all distillery employees, and include the operations manager. Police continue to investigate.’