by Brian Peters
Sabine put the coffee machine on and started making Luke some Reibekuchen and prepared some applesauce to go with them. The aromas coming from the kitchen and the gurgling of the coffee machine brought Asil in to see what was going on. She put her arm around Sabine’s shoulder and kissed her on the cheek. “You are so good to us, Sabbi, I can’t thank you enough, truly.” Sabine turned to Asil and whispered: “It’s nothing, Asil. You know, Klaus is very worried about both of you. He phoned me and asked me to get Luke out of the hospital straight away. We must get you out of here. You are both still in danger, Asil. He’s coming this evening and he will have to find you somewhere else to stay, for your safety. I’m so sorry to spoil your day, you poor girl.” Asil looked at her in horror. “Sabbi, what ever is going on? You can’t move him on again, surely. He’s in no fit state; can’t you see that? Hasn’t he suffered enough?” Asil burst into tears. “Can’t they leave us alone? What have we done to deserve this?”
Sabine caressed Asil’s arm. “Asil, please don’t worry. Klaus won’t let any harm come to you. Now we must feed your man and get him back to health. You mustn’t let Luke see you like this. He’s very down already.”
Asil wiped her eyes and nodded in agreement. She went into the bathroom and repaired her face.
Asil and Sabine were surprised at how eagerly Luke tucked into the snack Sabine had prepared. They looked at each other and exchanged smiles, pleased that at last he was feeling well enough to eat.
Luke grinned, wiping his mouth and said: “Whatever this is, Sabine, it’s delicious! You must give the recipe to Asil!”
The doorbell gave two rings and they heard the door open. Klaus Kohler stopped in the doorway and raised his eyebrows when he saw Luke eating. “My, that’s good to see, Luke. How are you feeling now?”
He didn’t reply, just nodded his head and smiled while continuing to eat.
“You girls are looking after him very well I can see. I hope you are well enough to travel Luke. I’m afraid we have to find somewhere else for you and Asil to stay. I think I have found the very place and it’s not too far from here. Do you think you can both be ready say, first thing in the morning?”
He didn’t wait for an answer but went to Sabine and gave her a hug.
Asil said: “If it will keep Luke safe, then we’re ready as soon as you like.”
The next morning they were getting into Kohler’s car. Sabine and Asil sat either side of Luke as they set off heading for the autobahn in the direction of Frankfurt. They exited at junction seventeen and took a minor road to the village of Sondern on the banks of the Biggesee Lake. A smart holiday bungalow by the water’s edge proved to be their destination.
Kohler’s sister Elsa was at that moment preparing the property for the arrival of her brother Klaus and his three friends.
****
Kohler pulled the car into the road leading to the bungalow in Sondern and pulled up outside. Sabine helped Luke out, Asil took his other arm and they helped him to the front door. Kohler opened it and said: “Elsa, we’ve arrived! Get the coffee on, there’s a good girl!”
Silence. Kohler opened the door to the living room and stopped short. Facing him were Captain Frumholz and two men whom he did not recognise.
“Are you going to introduce me, Elsa?” he said in German. “And what are you doing here, Frumholz?”
Elsa looked white and was shaking her head, close to tears.
Frumholz said: “I am sorry that we meet in these circumstances.” Frumholz held out his hand for Kohler to shake. Kohler, puzzled, hesitated then shook his hand unenthusiastically, for once lost for words. His mind was racing, trying to work out what these other men were doing in his sister’s bungalow.
Frumholz said: “This is Herr Currie and this is Herr Lambert, Suffolk Police from England. Do not be alarmed, we just wish to talk to Herr Lomax. Shall we all sit down and your charming sister will bring us coffee, eh Miss Kohler?” he said turning to Elsa with a smile. Elsa frowned, shrugged and grimaced at her brother before exiting to the kitchen.
Kohler was furious. “What the hell is going on Frumholz? Why didn’t you call me to let me know you were coming here? I will have words to say to your superiors about this.” This angry exchange was in German. Currie and Lambert looked at each other with raised eyebrows, not having any idea what was being said but realising that this man Kohler was not at all happy. The raised voices spoke volumes.
Frumholz raised his hand and smiled and said softly: “I think it would be more courteous if we spoke in English, Kohler. I’m afraid events have moved so quickly that it wasn’t possible to keep you in the frame. The good news is that the killer of your man in England has been found, thanks to the good work of these two gentlemen. Now please sit down and Herr Inspector Currie will explain.”
Luke and Asil had been following this interchange in astonishment, not knowing whether to be relieved or apprehensive. They decided to follow the other two and sit down. Elsa entered with the coffee and placed the tray on the table, glaring at Frumholz to whom she had taken an instant dislike, and went back into the kitchen to join Sabine.
Suddenly they heard car’s pulling up outside and the slamming of doors. The front door burst open and four men entered the room, three uniformed policemen and one in civilian clothes. Everyone stood up and stared at the intruders. Kohler said: “Who the hell are you? What do you mean, bursting into my house like this?”
The suited man stepped forward and introduced himself.
“Drexler. Fraud squad, Frankfurt.” He waved his identity card in front of them. Addressing Frumholz and the two English policemen, he said: “Who are you and what are you doing here?”
“Captain Frumholz, Lüdenscheid Polizei. Inspector Currie and Lambert here have flown over from England to take Mr. and Mrs. Lomax back to the UK for questioning over a suspected mur…... ”
“I wasn’t informed that you were on this case, Frumholz. Kohler and the Lomax’s are to come with me immediately for questioning. Neumann, escort these people to the car, will you?”
Kohler was furious “Just what are we being questioned about, Drexler?”
The man called Neumann stepped forward and said: “Herr Kohler, please accompany us to the car outside. We wish to interview you at the station with reference to the misappropriation of Drug Investigation Unit funds, and the unlawful harassment of one Franz Seifert. We also would like to interview Frau Sabine Szabo.” He looked around the room. “I know she is here. Where is she?”
Kohler was stunned and stared at the policeman, then turned his gaze to Drexler but didn’t answer. Kohler was white faced, clenching and unclenching his fists and shaking his head as if he couldn’t believe what was happening. Frumholz said: “Kohler, what’s going on?”
Drexler butted in before Kohler could answer.
“Herr Kohler has been removed from service as of today, Frumholz. You will be made aware of all the circumstances in due course. The Lomax’s are connected with the case also. We will leave you to deal with the English policemen. I’m sorry.” He turned and made for the door, beckoning the officers and Kohler to follow. Kohler said: “If, as I presume, I will be held overnight, might I be allowed to bring a toilet bag?” Drexler said: “Where is it?”
“In the bathroom.”
“Go look in the bathroom, Boris. Make sure there is no means of escape.”
Kohler pointed to the door to the bathroom and Neumann beckoned Kohler to follow him and confirmed that the window was too small for Kohler to climb through. “OK Kohler, get your bag and let’s go.”
Kohler lifted the lid of the toilet seat and unzipped his fly. “Do you mind, officer?” Boris shrugged and went out and Kohler shut the door. He quickly tore a page from his diary and scribbled a note, crumpled it up then flushed the cistern.
Drexler waited at the front door for the other officers to find Sabine Szabo. They appeared empty handed. “No sign of Miss Szabo sir. We’ve searched the hou
se and garden and the surrounding area. She seems to have vanished into thin air.” Drexler threw up his arms in frustration. “Look again then, she was here when we arrived, wasn’t she? She can’t have got far. Where’s Kohler’s sister? She lives here, has she gone too?” They all dispersed in different directions. Drexler barked at Kohler: “ Where are they? Your sister and Miss Szabo?” Kohler had by now recovered his composure and smiled. ”I really have no idea Inspector. I’m sorry I can’t help you.”
Drexler said to Frumholz: “Miss Szabo is an important witness. She must be found.”
While the search went on, a baffled Inspector Currie sat down and spoke to Luke and Asil. “I’m afraid that you will have to come back to England with us after Drexler has finished with you. We have many questions to ask you both, as I’m sure you must be aware. Have you any luggage with you?” Luke said: “It’s in Herr Kohler’s car.”
“You better take it with you. As soon as I get back to the station I’ll be asking questions about this man Drexler. Don’t worry, I’ll soon have you back again.”
Drexler said to Neumann: “You better handcuff Kohler before we get outside.”
Before Boris could do that, Kohler said: “Thank you, Frumholz, I know that this is none of your doing.” He shook Frumholz’ hand firmly and held him with a stare for a second, then turned and allowed Neumann to put on the handcuffs before going out to the car. Bewildered, Asil and Luke were led out to the other one of Drexler’s cars after saying goodbye to Currie and Lambert
****
Frumholz waited until Drexler and his men had left. He unclenched his fist and unravelled the piece of paper that Kohler had pressed into his palm when shaking hands with him. He smoothed it out. ‘Not Drexler - suspect Seiferts men’.
Frumholz said aloud: “Gott in Himmel! ” Currie and Lambert turned to look at him in surprise. Frumholz waved the piece of paper. “Kohler passed me a note. He says that he suspects that they were Seifert’s men and that - that was not Drexler.”
“Bloody hell! The Lomax’s – we’ve got to do something, Frumholz.”
Frumholz rushed out just in time to see the two cars disappearing.
He was already embarrassed enough at being shown up in front of them by the man posing as Drexler. But being taken in by him and his men was humiliating in front of his English colleagues.
”I must apologise for these matters. How in Gods name did they get police uniforms? I have no idea what’s happening with Seifert. But that is none of your concern at the moment. Did either of you see the departure of Miss Szabo or Elsa?” They looked at each other blankly and shook their heads. Frumholz waited, looking from one to the other. No one offered any information.
“Extraordinary. I didn’t see them go either. I think we were so surprised at the intrusion of those so-called officers they must have slipped away while our attention was on them. I can understand why Drexler wanted Sabine and Elsa so badly. Witnesses that might know too much. We must assume they will return at some point. We cannot let it delay our departure, though. You will be anxious to get your flight home, Currie. And I’ve got to track these criminals down.” Frumholz had noted the number of one of the cars as they’d pulled away.
“ Come on, let’s go,” he said, “ We have a lot to do and quickly!”
****
The car containing Drexler, Kohler and one of the men sped along the autobahn heading for Frankfurt. The other two officers drove the other car with Asil and Luke inside. Drexler sat in the front passenger seat. Kohler was anxious not to let on that he had realised who they were working for. He said: “You are making a big mistake, Drexler. This is a set-up by Franz Seifert. He has a mole in the police station and wants me off his back. Can’t you see that?”
“Seifert has friends in high places, Kohler. He is a powerful man and we have no evidence against him. I’m just carrying out orders. What happens to you is of no real concern to me. I will hand you over for interrogation when we get back to Frankfurt and that will be me finished.”
“Yes, exactly, his power is the reason for my actions. He can’t be allowed to pull our strings like this. He is a primary player in the drug trade and I aim to prove it whatever the outcome of this - this farce is.”
“Save your rant for the interrogation, Kohler. Now let us all have a bit of peace for the rest of the journey, shall we?”
Kohler hunched his shoulders and smiled inwardly, his eyes boring into the back of Drexler’s head.
The cars sped along the autobahn at over 160 kilometres an hour.
****
Asil looked at Luke. He was white faced, shaking and hanging his head, still suffering the after effects of not just his injuries, but the trauma of his abduction. He had led a quiet life in the small Suffolk village. He had never encountered dangerous situations or experienced violence. He hadn’t the resilience that Asil possessed, she having suffered so much in her childhood and indeed in later life. All of this Asil understood and she feared for his mental state.
Boris Neumann looked at Luke, fearing that Luke would be sick. “Is he going to be alright?”
Asil snapped back: “I want my husband to go straight to hospital when we arrive in Frankfurt. He is still in pain and shock from his injuries; can’t you see that? And he needs counselling, not interrogation.”
“I promise that he will be well looked after. Now please, let him rest and let’s not worry about that until we get to there.”
CHAPTER 11
When Sabine Szabo and Elsa Kohler emerged slowly and cautiously from the cellar into the conservatory of the bungalow it was dark. Sabine peered out of the windows front and back before putting any lights on. Apparently there were no policemen guarding the place and no cars outside apart from Kohler’s. “Elsa, you have your car here?” she asked. Elsa nodded.
“Then you must go immediately to the police station in Frankfurt and see what you can do for your brother. They have nothing that they can charge you with. Say that you have no idea what happened to me, OK? Arrange bail if you have to, I will stand as guarantor.”
“So what are you going to do, Sabbi?”
“Look, they might still be watching. If they do stop you, at least I can get to the police station and see if I can get you out of this. Now go, Elsa. And don’t worry. I’m sure that this Drexler has made a horrible mistake. You have my mobile number, phone me when you get to the police station.”
Elsa understood perfectly and made her way to the garage. Sabine ran down the garden to the shore of the lake, untied the rowing boat from the landing stage and rowed herself along the shore to the nearest point in the centre of the village. She tied the boat up and headed for the service station on the main road. The pump attendant pointed out the bus stop a couple of hundred metres along the road. She waited an hour for a bus to take her to the nearest railway station.
****
Kennet took off in the Piper Cherokee and headed for the coast, plotting his course to the airstrip near Düsseldorf. He realised that the police had some concrete evidence linking Sandling with the murder. He knew that Sandling would not hold up under interrogation. It wasn’t often that Kennet panicked but he had to get away before the police came for him and he needed time to think. Seifert would have to get him out of this mess; he owed it to him, didn’t he?
He landed at the airstrip adjacent to the factory, parked the plane and ran across to the warehouse. It was locked and deserted. He rang Seifert on his mobile.
Seifert picked up the phone at the first ring.
“Seifert? It’s Arland. I’m at the factory. Where are you?”
There was a long pause. “Seifert? Are you there?”
“At whose factory?”
“Yours, your warehouse. I’ve just flown over.”
“Why are you here? Did I ask you to come? And what brought you here, and it had better not be trouble.”
Kennet explained the problem. “You’ve got to help me, Seifert. I c
an’t go back until this is cleared up….”
“Stop babbling man. You are a fool, Kennet! Let me think. Stay where you are at the factory; I’ll get Willi to drive me over straight away, it will give me time to work something out. Are you absolutely certain that there is no link to me here?”
“I swear Seifert. Nothing at all. Otherwise I wouldn’t have come.”
“Good. And who knows that you are coming here?”
“No one. No one at all. I took off as soon as the police had left.”
“Ok, very wise. I’ll see you later then.”
Seifert picked up the phone on his desk and dialled. “Willi? I have a little job for you. I’m at home. Bring the car round straight away, would you?”
Kennet waited for what seemed an eternity. He had no idea how far away Seifert lived or how long it would take him to get to him. After half an hour he went and sat in the plane, fretting about what Seifert would say when they met.
The car eventually arrived and Kennet exited the plane and ran towards Seifert as he was getting out of the car. Before he had reached him Seifert shouted:
“Now listen to me Kennet. There is nowhere to hide your plane at the factory. Come up to the office.”
Kennet followed him like a pet dog, taken aback by Seifert’s obvious fury. Seifert stood behind his desk while Kennet sank into the leather chair.
“It is too dangerous to leave your plane in the open. If there is any chance that you can be found it will be through the aircraft being spotted and it will be immediately connected to me….”
