‘These past few days I’ve been a world away, quite literally.’
‘Maria Cofalka is dead.’
Rath had to sit down. ‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ he said. ‘You were good friends, weren’t you?’
‘Very good.’ Rammoser poured schnapps into the two glasses and sat beside him. ‘Maria was probably the best friend you could have in this town.’ The teacher raised his glass, and the men toasted and drank.
‘How did she die?’ Rath asked.
‘Drowned, in the Treuburg Lake. They found her body near the public baths. People are talking of suicide, but I think it was an accident. Maria would never have killed herself. She must have slipped on the landing stage, banged her head against something and lost consciousness.’
Rath couldn’t bring himself to mention the letters Maria Cofalka had entrusted to him before her death. The letters that had been stolen from his hotel room.
‘But we were talking about you,’ said Rammoser. ‘Everyone thought you’d gone back to Berlin.’
‘Who’s been saying that?’
‘That’s the word in Pritzkus’s. I don’t know who started the rumour.’
‘Old Adamek perhaps?’ Rath asked. ‘It’s him I’ve to thank for all this. I almost died because of it.’
‘Go on.’ Rath told the schoolmaster the tale of his moorland odyssey, and his rescue by the Kaubuk. ‘Artur Radlewski? So he’s still alive.’
‘He saved my life,’ said Rath.
‘Is that why you didn’t arrest him? Or did he convince you of his innocence?’
‘Most of the time I lay unconscious, running a fever. When we finally had the chance to talk he wasn’t exactly friendly. I fear I may have outstayed my welcome.’ He lit another cigarette. ‘He doped me. It was like I blacked out. I have a dim memory of walking with him through the night, before I came to in the military cemetery by Markowsken.’
‘So now you’re summoning all police reserves in the Oletzko district to fetch him from his murky lair?’
Rath shook his head. ‘No need to worry about that. Firstly, I don’t bear grudges. Secondly, far as I’m concerned Radlewski still has a little credit in the bank. And thirdly, I’m certain he isn’t behind the series of murders I came here to solve.’
Rammoser gave a satisfied nod, as if his favourite student had just given the correct answer. ‘You think old Adamek purposefully lured you onto the moor?’
‘Yes, otherwise he’d have come looking for me. Instead of spinning some yarn about my having gone back to Berlin.’
‘We don’t know if the rumours stem from him.’
‘We know he’s done nothing to dispel them.’
‘Adamek doesn’t say much when he drinks at Pritzkus’s. You should know that,’ said Rammoser. ‘Why would he do it?’
‘If only I knew…’ Rath said. ‘Perhaps he has a score to settle with me.’
‘I think you’re misjudging the old boy.’
‘We’ll see. Either way, I’d like to hear what he has to say.’
74
A Division briefing felt more like a memorial service. Rumour had it that all division and squad team leaders had reported to the new command earlier that morning. Everywhere Charly looked were embarrassed faces. Ernst Gennat appeared later than usual, as usual giving nothing away. He stepped onto the platform and all conversation ceased.
‘We are all aware that decisive changes were made to our institution yesterday,’ he began. ‘Nevertheless, in the coming days I expect you to fulfil your duties just as scrupulously as you would otherwise. Obey the commands of your superiors as ever, and go about your work.’
‘With respect, Sir,’ Wilhelm Böhm cut in, ‘that’s just it. We don’t know who our superiors are.’
‘Until further notice, Dr Melcher will be in charge.’
‘What do you mean, “until further notice”?’
‘Until the matter has been subjected to a judicial inquiry. In the meantime these issues mustn’t prevent us from carrying on with our work. God knows, we have enough cases awaiting resolution.’ The officers weren’t happy. ‘Now don’t be looking like that. Kurt Melcher is by no means the worst commissioner, if his reputation in Essen is anything to go by.’
‘That might be true, Sir.’ Wilhelm Böhm wouldn’t let go. ‘But for myself and many colleagues, it’s the manner of his appointment that jars.’
Gennat nodded. ‘We don’t know if the change in personnel was right, or rather, rightful, but we live in a constitutional state, and these are matters for the courts to decide. Meanwhile, all we can do is carry on.’
‘I’m not so sure about that,’ Charly said, surprised she’d found the courage to speak in a room full of men, but she couldn’t hold back any longer. ‘What I mean is that I’m no longer sure we do live in a constitutional state.’ She lifted a copy of Berliner Tageblatt. ‘If what the paper says is true, then what we witnessed yesterday was a cold-blooded putsch, and Papen has thwarted Prussian democracy in one fell swoop. And whatever our new commissioner’s reputation, he’s hardly known as a democrat.’ She looked around. Not all colleagues were nodding.
‘Surely it’s more important that he’s a good chief.’ The calm voice belonged to Arthur Nebe. He gave Charly a friendly smile. ‘Sadly, this institution has had its share of democrats who’ve turned out to be poor criminal investigators.’
Böhm beat Charly to it. ‘I hope that number doesn’t include Grzesinski and Dr Weiss,’ he said.
‘I’m just saying that professional competence is more important than political persuasion.’
‘I’d have expected a little more loyalty to our old chiefs, especially from you,’ Böhm argued. ‘The support you’ve received from Dr Weiss, you ought to be grateful to him for the rest of your life.’
‘That kind of patronage, Detective Chief Inspector, goes hand in hand with performance!’
‘Gentlemen, please,’ Gennat intervened. ‘Let’s put these squabbles to one side. Everyone is entitled to their own political views, but they should not be a point of discussion here. Dr Melcher’s professional competence is undisputed. He has led Essen Police Headquarters with distinction since the war.’ He looked sternly at Böhm and Charly. ‘And the democratic credentials of a man who belonged to Stresemann’s party are beyond question.’
Charly wasn’t so sure. Kurt Melcher’s move was self-seeking, the very fact that he’d been present at the putsch spoke against him, but she said nothing more and Böhm, too, fell silent. Gennat was right; they shouldn’t discuss these matters here. It sowed discord, and wouldn’t solve any of the issues raised by yesterday’s events.
‘I expect…’ Buddha continued, but then the door flew open, and those assembled remained none the wiser as to his expectations.
Cadet Steinke stood in the door looking agitated. ‘Please excuse the interruption, Sir,’ he said. The man was out of breath, as if he had sprinted the distance from Homicide to the small meeting room. ‘But something terrible has happened.’
‘Come on then, man. Out with it,’ Gennat said, as Steinke paused for breath.
‘It’s… Prisoner Assmann… here in police custody…’
‘Assmann? He’s my prisoner,’ Böhm said. ‘Don’t tell me the man has escaped, or that some shyster has got him off?’
‘Worse. I’m afraid Prisoner Assmann is dead.’
75
In the Salzburger Hof the breakfast tables were already being cleared. Hella Rickert gazed at Rath wide-eyed, but said nothing, simply turned towards the kitchen door with her tray of dirty crockery, offering him a perfect view of her rear.