Time Heals No Wounds (A Baltic Sea Crime Novel)

by Hendrik Falkenberg

  A cold snout nudged Hannes awake. Socks licked Hannes’s face all over, wagging his tail. Hannes looked around until he finally remembered where he was.

  “I thought I’d send Socks in here to gently wake you,” Ben said.

  Hannes turned and saw Ben standing at the door.

  “It’s a little after eight thirty. I have to go to class soon. Socks comes with me to campus. Help yourself to whatever you need.”

  Hannes sat up. “Damn it! It’s already eight thirty? I’m supposed to be at the station by eight! My boss is going to kill me!”

  Ben shrugged. “The world’s not going to stop spinning if you solve the crime an hour later. Do you want to sleep here tonight too?”

  “If that’s okay with you.”

  “Sure, man, not a problem! Just pull the door closed behind you. I put a key on the patio table for you. Come on, Socks!”

  After the front door closed, Hannes jumped up from the sofa bed and rummaged for his cell phone. He had forgotten to turn the alarm on and had three missed calls. Just then the phone vibrated. Hannes answered.

  “Man, finally! Unless you just lost your leg, I need you here! Where the hell are you?”

  “Fritz, I’m really sorry. It’ll never happen again, honest! It’s a long story and I—”

  “You can tell me the story in the car,” Fritz said. “We have a nine o’clock meeting with Mr. Ternheim at Lagussa’s headquarters. I’ll pick you up in ten minutes!”

  Hannes heard an engine start in the background. “Stop, Fritz, I’m not at home! Pick me up at 10 Park Avenue.”

  “Ah,” Fritz said and hung up while Hannes was already trying to put on the jeans he had worn the day before. He would have to do without a shower.

  “A snake?” Fritz asked. “People. I’ll never understand. Well, I went to Ms. Ternheim’s penthouse last night with four of our colleagues; her brother gave us a key. The view of the harbor was stunning, but we didn’t find much. Ms. Ternheim seemed to be very interested in history: in addition to pharmaceutical literature, there was an entire shelf of books devoted to the Nazi era. Everyone’s gotta have a hobby, right?”

  “There was a book about the Nazi era at her father’s place too! I think I know why Ms. Ternheim had such a strong interest in it,” Hannes said and shared Ben’s background knowledge about the victim’s company.

  “Well then! Your new buddy’s really knowledgeable. And what do these activists plan on doing at the charity event?”

  “No idea. And I’d prefer if you would disregard that last part. Ben’s been like a buddy to me.”

  Fritz sighed and took a big gulp of coffee. “You know, I’ve also tried to make life difficult for neo-Nazis over the years. So you’re lucky I didn’t hear what you just told me. But did you say anything to Ben about the victim?” He pointed to a crumpled newspaper on the floor of the Jeep. “Look at the front-page headline.”

  Hannes picked up the paper. Fritz hit the brakes, slamming Hannes’s head into the dashboard.

  “Sorry,” said Fritz. “A dog just ran in front of the car.”

  Hannes couldn’t see a dog anywhere and rubbed his forehead while staring in disbelief at the front page: “Managing Director of Pharmaceutical Giant Lagussa Found Dead. Murder?”

  “Maybe your buddy has a contact at the morning paper?”

  “I can’t imag—”

  “Well then, how the hell did this shit get in the newspaper?” Fritz roared. “What were you thinking, discussing the identity of the victim with civilians? Next time, why don’t you just contact the paper directly. Hell, it’ll probably make the evening paper!”

  “But that’s impossible! We sat out on the patio until really late last night, and by the time we went to bed, the paper would have already gone to print. Someone else must have tipped them off.”

  “Yeah? Who? It wasn’t me, I’m assuming you’re also not that stupid, and our medical examiners hopefully know how to be professional.”

  “Maybe Mr. Ternheim—”

  “Mr. Ternheim called this morning and was furious. He demanded an explanation as to why his dead sister was already appearing in the papers.”

  “But there’s got to be other people who know. The dentist, for example, who we got the matching dental records from.”

  With weary, bloodshot eyes, Fritz glanced over at him. “Whatever. We couldn’t have kept it a secret for much longer. We’ll just have to deal with it now. But in the future, please keep your need to share things under control. There will be serious consequences if you don’t!”

  They arrived at Lagussa’s corporate headquarters. The company’s white flags fluttered at half-mast, clearly a gesture in honor of their CEO.

  “Where are we going to park?” Hannes asked.

  Fritz turned and grabbed his detachable police light from the backseat and rolled down the window. He placed the light on the roof while steering the Jeep with his knees and drove onto the plaza in front of the large building.

  “That should be enough to keep the traffic cops from doing anything rash,” he said and turned the engine off.

  As they rode in the elevator to the twentieth floor, Fritz said, “Let’s split up. We’ll make better progress that way. It’s fine if only I talk with Mr. Ternheim again. You take care of the assistants. Two of them are around your age, and maybe that’ll get them to talk. We’re not going to be able to get much out of the head secretary, Ms. Wagner. She’s been with the company for decades and seems so loyal she probably considers herself a part of the family. Don’t zero in on any particular topic. Just try to learn as much as possible about Ms. Ternheim. What kind of person was she? What did she like? Dislike? Did she have any hobbies? Friends? Enemies? And so on.”

  Hannes nodded as the elevator doors opened. The assistants greeted them politely, but it was clear they had great difficulty maintaining a professional demeanor. Ms. Wagner got up from her desk and walked over. Her eyes had the telltale shimmer of tears.

  “I read it in the newspaper this morning.” She sobbed for a moment, then covered her mouth. “It’s so awful! I can’t believe it! Why didn’t you tell me yesterday?” She stared at Fritz.

  “I’m very sorry. But you understand we have to inform the family members first and then decide together who to tell and when. This is my colleague, Mr. Niehaus. He’d like to talk with your two assistants while I speak with Mr. Ternheim. May I go in?”

  Ms. Wagner nodded and led him to the office. “He’s already waiting for you.”

  A slightly embarrassed Hannes walked over to the two young women. They introduced themselves as Irene Maler and Anna Stahl. This was the first time Hannes would question people on his own, and he did not want to let Fritz down.

  “Did you come straight from a fistfight?” Anna asked.

  “Life as a police officer can be dangerous. Anyway, is there a quiet place I could talk with you individually about Ms. Ternheim?”

  Irene pointed to a corner of the office. Four chairs sat behind several planters in a waiting area. “I’ll go first. Might as well get it over with,” she said and walked over there. She sat cross-legged on the edge of a chair, her black miniskirt revealing her flawless legs.

  Hannes followed her and worried his ears might turn red. He made a conscious effort to focus on her face. He sat down in the chair opposite her and noticed out of the corner of his eye that Anna was furtively looking at him.

  “How long have you worked for the Ternheims?”

  “Not long, and I’m leaving soon. I gave my notice last Friday.”

  “Oh, why? Did you receive a better offer?”

  “I did. In less than three months, I’m outta here.”

  “And when did you start?”

  “Two months ago.”

  “Ah, and how well did you get to know the heads of the company in this time?”

  Irene snapped her gum with a loud pop. “Well, I’ve never really worked with them. Actually, I’ve only really worked for Ms. Wagner.”

&n
bsp; “What can you tell me about Ms. Ternheim?” Hannes asked.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, what kind of boss was she, for example?”

  “My boss is Ms. Wagner. I only worked for Ms. Ternheim in a tangential capacity. Basically, I’m Mr. Ternheim’s assistant. I only ever saw her go in and out. My coworker can definitely tell you more. She works—er, worked for Ms. Ternheim.”

  “Ah. Well, what kind of impression did you have of her, and what were you told about her?”

  “Well, I don’t know much. She was a career woman. She was always in the office before me, even when she didn’t have anything on her calendar, and whenever I left, she was usually still there. I often wondered if she spent the night here. She never said much; she probably thought it was below her. She could be very determined when things didn’t go her way.”

  “Did you notice any changes in her recently?”

  Irene laughed. “Changes? Nope! I’ve heard she wore the same hairstyle and clothes for years.”

  “Not just her appearance. Were there any changes in her behavior?”

  “Like I said, I didn’t have much to do with her. Work was all that mattered for her. That’s why she always seemed a little aloof. She probably only had enough room in her head for the next product launch: a new antidepressant is supposed to hit the market at the end of the year. She wasn’t really interested in us.”

  “Do you know anything about her social life? Friends, for example?”

  Again Irene chuckled. “I don’t think she had the time for friends. The company was all that mattered. At least, I don’t know of any friends or acquaintances.”

  Hannes nodded. He was tempted to ask whether Irene knew of any connection between Ms. Ternheim and the real estate agent Florian Schneider, but he had no idea if he was allowed to divulge the name of a suspect.

  “Is there anything else you can tell me about Ms. Ternheim?”

  Irene shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I really don’t know much about her.”

  “Thank you. Please send over Ms. Stahl,” Hannes said, happy to be done with the first part of his questioning. However, he feared Fritz would be unhappy with his results. He could only hope Anna had something more to share.

  Irene made a show of standing up and smoothing out her skirt. “Are you in a special unit or something? You’re certainly in awesome shape.”

  Hannes looked down at the floor. In the morning rush, he had chosen his tightest T-shirt. “No, I’m a canoeist. Anyway, thanks for your time, and I wish you all the best at your new job.”

  But Irene did not seem to get the message or ignored it. “Oh, you’re an athlete? How amazing!”

  Fortunately, Ms. Wagner rescued Hannes. “Irene! When you’re done, I have an urgent task for you.”

  Irene rolled her eyes and lowered her voice. “Maybe you can take me out on your boat sometime? You know where to find me,” she said before walking back to her desk. Hannes loved her shapely figure and how she looked in high heels.

  Anna sat down; she was a sharp contrast to Irene. She wore a skirt that ended at her knees, a conservative striped blouse, and only a trace of makeup—Hannes was able to make out the freckles on her nose.

  He looked over and saw Fritz leave Mr. Ternheim’s office and disappear with Ms. Wagner behind another door. He turned back to Anna. “This must all come as a surprise to you, Ms. Stahl. Definitely not an easy situation.”

  Anna brushed a strand of brown hair behind her ear and blushed. “No,” she said and wrung her hands in her lap. “That was really an awful surprise this morning. I read the headlines at a newspaper stand while waiting for my bus. I couldn’t believe it. Just last week, I was discussing the gala this Friday with Ms. Ternheim, and now . . .” She shrugged and looked back at her desk, as if she could find the answers there.

  “How long have you been working here?” Hannes asked.

  “Oh, I’ve been at Lagussa for almost ten years now. After high school, I entered a training program here and then worked in market research. Lagussa is a very good employer, and I’ve always felt challenged. I’ve never had a reason to change jobs.”

  “And how long have you worked as an executive assistant?”

  “Three years last month. I know because . . . Ms. Ternheim gave me a bouquet of flowers on my anniversary.”

  Hannes wondered about Irene’s statements. The picture she had painted of Ms. Ternheim was hardly one of a CEO who would bring a bouquet of flowers on her assistant’s third anniversary.

  “Ms. Ternheim must have been very pleased with you,” he commented.

  “Yes, we always got along great. She was a nice woman, though very demanding. But she was always fair. And she was a sympathetic audience.”

  “Could you give me an example?”

  “Well . . . To this day, I’m still grateful for what she did. Two years ago, my mother got really sick. She . . . her health declined very quickly, and it soon became clear she was near the end. Ms. Ternheim was understanding and gave me a lot of leeway. She even told Ms. Wagner I could work flexible hours. This went on for about four months. She even came to the funeral.”

  Hannes began to wonder if the two assistants were talking about the same person. “That’s very extraordinary and definitely says something about Ms. Ternheim.”

  “Yes. Perhaps she was especially sympathetic in my case because she had taken care of her father for many years. He worked here until about ten years ago—long enough for me to remember him. Of course, I never really saw him, but then again, I was also only an apprentice. After he handed over control of the company to Helene and Christian, he became a little reclusive and it’s said a little crazy too. Ms. Ternheim drove out to the country at least once a week to check on him.”

  “Do you know more about her father?”

  “Not much. When my mother was dying, she sometimes spoke about him. He paints pictures and is mute. I know Ms. Ternheim was very worried about him. But she didn’t talk about him often, and when she did, it was more in a general way. Where he lives now must be very idyllic.”

  “What was Ms. Ternheim’s relationship with her brother like?”

  “Well . . . basically, they saw eye to eye when it came to the company. Of course, they sometimes had their disagreements. But they always worked closely together. Although . . .”

  “What?”

  Anna’s hands tensed. “No, nothing. They had a good relationship.”

  Hannes knew there was more to this, but it was clear he would be unable to get it out of her now. “What do you know about the CEO’s private life?”

  “She didn’t have much time for a private life. She loved her sports car, so sometimes she went on road trips. She was always talking about cars with the men in our company. Oh, and she loved the outdoors, especially the shore. She once told me that’s where she could best unwind.”

  “Do you know if Ms. Ternheim rented or purchased a place recently?” asked Hannes.

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Did you ever hear anything about her friends?”

  “No. She never mentioned any friends or acquaintances. I think she was somewhat of a loner.”

  “Did Ms. Ternheim have a partner?”

  Anna squirmed in her seat and rubbed her nose. “Well . . . no . . . I don’t think so. I never heard that there was a man in her life. As I said, she had no time for friends or a relationship. She was always here or on business trips.”

  Again Hannes felt she was not telling him everything. She spoke in a very low voice and repeatedly glanced at the center of the room. Fritz and Ms. Wagner were standing there while Irene was typing on the computer.

  “Did Ms. Ternheim have any enemies?”

  “Was the newspaper right? Was she murdered?”

  “That’s a fairly routine question,” he said after a pause. “I have to ask it.”

  “Well, I can’t imagine someone was so at odds with her that he’d kill her. Although . . .”

  “Wh
at?”

  “Oh, nothing. Lately, she seemed a little absent. Left the office early, which wasn’t typical. Sometimes I’d come into her office while she was on the phone, and she’d seem upset. It was unusual because she only made business calls and was always extremely professional.”

  Hannes rubbed the bump on his forehead. “Ms. Stahl, thank you for this information and taking the time to answer my questions. Still . . . I have the feeling you’re not telling me everything. From what you’ve told me, I can see you liked Ms. Ternheim very much and that she treated you very well. Anything you can tell us is important. By helping us, you’re also helping her.”

  Anna took another quick look around. Hannes noticed Ms. Wagner looking suspiciously in their direction.

  “What would you say if we were to meet at a neutral location? Somewhere you can talk freely?”

  “You’re right.” Her voice was a whisper. “How about tonight?”

  Hannes was ecstatic, although he had hoped to start training again after getting cleared by his doctor. But he was convinced Anna was keeping secrets. “All right. Do you have a place in mind?”

  “Do you know the Chameleon on the south part of town?”

  “I do. How about six?”

  Anna nodded, and they shook hands.

  Back at the station, Fritz and Hannes sat in silence in the cafeteria. On their way out of Lagussa’s headquarters, the people in the hall had shot them several furtive looks. The whole building had seemed to be whispering.

  “It wasn’t easy to calm down Mr. Ternheim,” Fritz said after he had emptied half his coffee and Hannes had devoured a sandwich. “He’s convinced we leaked the story to the press. He’s really keeping his head as far as the death’s concerned. I haven’t noticed any signs of grief, or maybe he just has a lot of self-control. If Ms. Ternheim was wired the same way, then the atmosphere must have been pretty chilly there.”

  “I’m not so sure,” Hannes said and briefed Fritz on the different perceptions of the two assistants.