Sandra had calmly watched his movements, but he could see that she had reached a decision. He couldn’t stop thinking about her casual comment regarding an accountant with hand-to-hand combat skills. There was a strong probability that she was referring to Dirk. He was looking forward to hearing her explanation.
“What’s up with those guys?”
“Nothing. At worst they’ll have headaches after they wake up, but certainly not as bad as the ones we had after inhaling the chloroform. Are you doing all right?”
“Yes. As long as I don’t think about it, nothing really hurts. What happened in front of the supermarket earlier wasn’t a coincidence, was it?”
“If you ask me, no. In the store I already had the feeling someone was watching you, but I wasn’t sure. And outside it looked more like an attempted abduction to me than an accident.”
“And that’s why you got there so quickly? And drove me home? And stayed with me?”
Daniel was hearing a trace of disappointment; thanks to years of experience with his sister, he had an idea of what Sandra was thinking. “No. I was almost certain I was imagining everything. If I hadn’t enjoyed being with you, I wouldn’t have stayed and eaten that spinach stuff. I’d have gone home and eaten the pepperoni pizza in peace.”
Sandra smiled and loosened up. Daniel hated the thought of destroying her relaxed mood, but it was time to get some answers. “What was that job interview you went to today? Also, I had the sense earlier that you know what all this is about.”
“I’m afraid so, and maybe now someone will take me seriously. I have a completely unimportant job at a station in Hamburg, and my boss is the biggest asshole you can imagine. For some months I have believed that children are being systematically kidnapped in Northern Germany. Contact with customers is through the Internet, and the victims are almost always members of marginalized social groups so that often a missing-persons report is not even issued. I had no proof, only indications, and no one was interested. This morning I found out that the son of an officer with the LKA was almost abducted. After that I was only able to think about whether I would have been able to prevent that.”
Sandra’s self-reproach was unmistakable. Finally she managed a shaky laugh. “Of all the ways I could have heard about this kidnapping attempt, it was during the job interview. After that I was done for. I couldn’t think clearly. The interview was for a spot on the drug unit. I sort of know the department head, and he’s a friend of the boy’s father. It was all so stupid of me. The job was really important to me, but at the same time . . .” She let out a snorting laugh. “Maybe I should have just explained my theory to Stephan and asked him if the boy had blond hair. The age would fit. The ending couldn’t have been any worse, but maybe now someone will finally listen to me. Sorry I’ve made this so complicated, but what I actually wanted to say is that I think this has to do with my private investigation.”
Daniel was silent for a long time because he was having difficulty processing the information.
“Do you think I’m crazy now?” Sandra asked, breaking the silence.
“No, I don’t, but some things still need to be cleared up.”
“What do you mean?”
“Tim, Dirk’s son, who appears to be the child you’re referring to, has blond hair and brown eyes, and I guarantee you his father is not the only person who will listen to you.”
“You know Dirk?”
“Yes. Please give me the phone for a second.”
Although Sandra obviously wanted to ask a number of questions, she handed him the phone. Daniel pressed a button, switched the phone to speaker, and handed it back to her. “Stephan will be on the line shortly. They’ll already be on their way here. Just ask him when they’ll be here, and tell him we have the situation under control.”
“You know Stephan?” Sandra furrowed her brow. “Forget the question—if you didn’t you wouldn’t have his number.”
A few seconds later she heard Stephan’s obviously concerned voice. “Daniel?”
“No, it’s Sandra Meinke.”
There was silence for a few seconds. “Are you all right? Where did you get this phone? Are you alone?”
“Yes, I . . . We’re all right. And no, I’m not alone, a . . .”—she gave Daniel an apologetic look—“. . . a friend is with me and has made sure we have the situation under control.”
Daniel listened with satisfaction to Sandra’s calm summary of the events that had taken place.
“This is quite a surprise, and after seeing the condition your apartment is in, we feared the worst. We have a fix on the phone and will be at your location in about twenty minutes. Why didn’t you mention you knew Daniel this morning?”
Puzzled, Sandra looked at Daniel, who shrugged and didn’t know what to make of Stephan’s question. “Why? Do I have a duty to discuss my friends with you? Anyway, I haven’t told you who is here with me.”
Instead of reprimanding her for her insolent comment, Stephan just laughed. “You’re right, of course, but since his jacket’s lying on the floor of your apartment with his papers inside one of the pockets and you’re using his phone, I can imagine who your mysterious helper is. But I’m sure he appreciates your attempt to keep his name out of this. And another thing: your transformation from the policewoman who could barely open her mouth to the woman who pinned Lars to the floor and is staying cool in this situation appeals to me greatly.” The conversation ended with a click.
“Sounds to me like you got the job,” Daniel said.
“I don’t know. Maybe. We’ll see. I don’t see why I should have mentioned you. Apart from the fact that I didn’t know you at all at the time. I hope you’re not mad because Stephan knows you’re here and I said you were my friend.”
Sandra had unintentionally moved closer to him. The chance was too good for him to let slip away; he touched her shoulder gently. “What’s wrong with saying that?”
“I . . .” Frightened, Sandra turned around when she heard someone clear his throat behind her.
Annoyed, Daniel looked at the burly guy, who had rolled onto his side and was pulling at his bonds in a daze. “Lousy timing,” Daniel said. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” he said to the man attempting to free himself and pulled the man to his feet. “Come with me—I’d like to show you something.”
Without resisting, the burly guy went with Daniel to the hut. As Daniel explained the construction to him, the man let out a horrified gasp. “There was never any mention of that to us. What a bastard. I’ll get that guy. He’s not getting away with this.”
Daniel had a hard time interrupting the flood of curses. “Are we in agreement that you’ll talk?”
“Definitely,” the guy said.
“Then I hope you’ll remember that when one of my colleagues takes your statement. If not, it will be my pleasure to remind you. Understood?”
Daniel’s authoritative tone caused the burly guy to stand up straighter. “Don’t worry, man. I’m as good as my word.”
“Very good. Go back to your buddies, then. Explain to them that they’re going to be grilled. My colleagues will be here any minute.”
The bull trotted back. One of his buddies had already woken up. A kick helped the other one, and a lively discussion followed.
“How can Stephan get a fix on the cell phone so quickly? How do you know Dirk and Stephan? Who—or rather what—are you, Daniel?”
“A doctor?” he suggested, already sensing that he wouldn’t get away with that.
Sandra crossed her arms over her chest. “Probably, but that’s not all, right?”
“Listen, Sandy, I haven’t lied to you, OK? And I’m one of the good guys. Isn’t that enough for the time being?”
“Maybe you haven’t lied to me, but you’ve definitely kept quiet about a lot of things.”
Daniel saw flickering blue lights shimmering through the trees some distance away. “Let’s talk about it later. Stephan will be here soon.” And with his luck he would se
e his team leader, who would rightfully be hopping mad. He cursed his bad luck. On the other hand, he wouldn’t have wanted to miss his encounter with his little policewoman. He grinned at the thought of her reaction to his choice of words.
“What’s so funny?” she asked.
“I’ve just been thinking that you’re worth the trouble I’m sure to be in.”
“With Stephan?”
“No. He’s not a problem. On the contrary, his presence might keep my boss from beating me up.”
“Your boss? Why would he . . . ?” Sandra broke off and looked at the silver Mercedes that skidded to a stop next to the van, closely followed by a black Audi.
“Now this I don’t believe,” Sandra said, mostly to herself, as Mark jumped out of the car and looked Daniel over.
“Are you all right?” Mark asked with concern.
“Yes, sir. If the damned coatrack in Sandy’s apartment hadn’t gotten involved, I would have taken care of everything back there.”
“Then we should take the things into account at our next training session. Nice to see you in good health, Daniel. I wouldn’t have expected to see you here, though.”
Embarrassed, Daniel avoided his superior’s gaze, which had suddenly become considerably cooler. “Sorry, Mac, but I’ve only been back in the country a few hours and wanted to speak to you in person.”
“But certainly not here and now. What’s going on, Doc?”
Daniel got no chance to answer before Sandra punched Daniel in the stomach. “You damned liar. Doctor? If Rawlins is your boss, you’re one of those damned arrogant SEALs. I can’t believe it—of all people one of those . . .”
Daniel staggered back and caught her fist when she drew back again. “Shit, take it easy. I kept quiet about things, but I haven’t lied. I would have explained it to you—I had no way of knowing you knew my boss.”
“This bastard shot at me. Twice I tried to arrest him, but given the great friends he has”—she pointed at Sven and Dirk, who had watched the drama silently up to now—“it didn’t work, of course. But somehow he was right, but then again he wasn’t . . .” For a moment she was silent and chewed on her lower lip. “Now I understand Stephan’s question, too. You’re the blond man in the picture. Well, that’s great. Just be careful what you wish for—you might get it. Really great.”
Daniel took her firmly by the shoulders. “I have no idea what photo you’re talking about or what you mean. But if Mark had shot at you, he would have hit you. Explain to me later why seeing him makes you flip out. For good reason, I don’t talk openly about my job, but I’m really a doctor and have not lied to you, only kept silent about the fact that the US Navy is my employer. Lieutenant Daniel Eddings, US Navy SEALs, and damned happy to have met you today.”
For a moment she relented and leaned against him; then she whirled to face Mark. “What are SEALs doing in Germany?”
“Making sure nothing happens to German policewomen,” Mark joked. “Now calm down. That all happened a long time ago. Daniel? Report!”
Again Daniel got no chance to answer.
Sandra followed up coolly. “Since when do you take such a casual tone with me?”
“Since you’ve been using one of my men as a bodyguard and working for one of my best friends.”
Sandra gasped for air with such agitation that Daniel feared she might hyperventilate. But after taking a deep breath she had herself under control. “Are you done? I’d love to teach you some manners, but I think it’d be of more interest to Dirk that my investigation suggests there’s a connection between this shit and the attempt to kidnap his son.”
Mark grinned, and Daniel perceived a hint of approval.
Dirk ended the banter. “That’s why Sven and I are here: the van fits the description of the one the boys gave.”
Confused, Sandra pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “How do you know about that? I didn’t mention that on the phone earlier.”
Dirk’s smile seemed uncharacteristically forced. “After Stephan found Doc’s things in your trashed apartment, he had a flash of genius, and it occurred to him that your conversation this morning went off track at the moment when he mentioned the attempted abduction of Tim. He has spoken to Matthias, so we have a rough idea of your private investigation—and before you get mad at Matthias, you should know he almost went crazy worrying. If he hadn’t been on assignment he would have been here, too.” Dirk didn’t await Sandra’s answer but jumped onto the bed of the van and shook the metal box. “Damn it, it’s locked. But I have a bolt cutter in the car. That should open the thing.”
Sandra leaned against the tailgate and furrowed her brow. “Why don’t you leave that to the technicians?”
This time Dirk’s smile seemed more relaxed. “Because I want to know what’s in there. You’d better get used to it—we interpret regulations pretty broadly.”
Sandra looked at Mark over her shoulder. “And I have a pretty good idea whose bad influence is responsible for that.”
Daniel couldn’t help laughing quietly. Much bigger men with combat experience would have chosen not to take Mark on, but his policewoman, who was half a head shorter and quite a bit lighter, stood up to him as if she put officers in their place on a daily basis.
Mark rolled his eyes. “Lord, Daniel. Are you sure you know what you’re doing? It’s going to be a hell of a job training that girl.”
Sandra tilted her head back and looked at Mark. “Scared, big guy?”
Grinning, Mark was about to answer when he was distracted by his cell phone. The ringtone told Daniel that the call was from Jake. All signs of humor disappeared from Mark’s face. His gaze wandered to Dirk. “Stop, Dirk. Keep your hands off the box. Doc and I will take over.”
Obviously irritated, Dirk remained in front of the metal box with the tool in his hand. “What do you mean? Explosives? They would have detonated already when I rattled it.”
Mark shook his head. “Wait. Get away. I’m not kidding.”
Hesitantly, Dirk threw the bolt cutter to Daniel and made room for him.
Sandra greeted Dirk’s retreat with a smug smile. “Is he your boss now?” She was counting on a coarse comeback but not Stephan’s tense expression. “No. But Mark has his reasons, and I don’t like the expression on his face. Dirk’s the last guy who’s going to take orders from anyone. I hope you don’t intend to imitate him.” A wink softened the remark. Instead of using the opportunity to find out whether she actually had the job with the drug unit, she watched with increasing concern as Mark and Daniel worked on the box. Confused, she saw Mark signal to Sven that he should keep Dirk away from the van. At first she thought she had been mistaken, but then the officer from the LKA moved between his partner and the van, keeping a close watch on the box.
With a loud snap, the lock popped open. Mark lifted the lid, and Daniel directed the flashlight’s beam into the box. It seemed as if Daniel wanted to reach inside, but Mark held him back. “Stop, Doc. There’s nothing you can do anymore.”
Nothing was left of Daniel’s casual attitude; he seemed petrified when he turned his head away with a choking sound.
Sven swallowed hard; he was supporting himself with one hand on the van and had forgotten his partner for the moment.
Sandra got a look at the contents of the box at the same moment as Dirk. When Mark let the lid fall, the sight of the mussed blond hair and brown eyes, wide open and fixed in death, had already burned itself deep into her memory. She stumbled forward. She probably would have fallen if she hadn’t been drawn into a close embrace.
“It’s my fault. I should have prevented this. That’s little Eric. I’ve forgotten his last name,” she whispered, her entire body shaking.
“Nothing’s your fault. Only the sickos who’ve done this are to blame. Easy now, Sandra.”
She hardly recognized the raw voice. She had thought Daniel was at her side, but she had been wrong. It was actually Dirk who held her, and for a time she felt he was holding on to her as much
for his own benefit as hers. “I only knew the boy was missing and suffered from asthma. If I had known the description of Tim also fit him, I would have immediately . . . I don’t know. It sounded as if he had run away. But something . . .”
“We’ll talk about it properly, Sandra. Later.” Dirk looked around, and a quick exchange of glances with his colleagues satisfied him. “Sven’s already informing our colleagues in Lübeck and the coroner. He and Stephan will stay here. We’ll drive back. It’d be best if Mark and Daniel’s involvement is off the record. You can wait until tomorrow and make your statement in peace. For today you’ve gone through enough.”
Although Dirk continued to seem extremely tense, she recognized his concern. “I’m all right. It was just . . .” She couldn’t find the right words.
“A shock?” Dirk suggested. His crooked grin faltered before it was really even there. “The sight almost knocked me down, too. No one’s left cold when something like this happens to a child, certainly not when—” He broke off and cleared his throat, and Sandra knew he was thinking of Tim and the attempted kidnapping. “We’ll get the people responsible. No matter how long it takes or what it costs. They’ll pay for this.” His firm grip loosened. “What’s the story with the three guys you caught? Could they have something to do with this?”
Daniel came over with a bottle of water and handed it to Sandra. “I don’t think so. It’s not their caliber. Ask them. They’ll talk; I’m sure of that.”
The paleness of Daniel’s face consoled Sandra; it was easy to see how much he had been affected by the discovery of the dead child. “Asthma, you said?” he asked.
“Yes, it said in the missing-persons notice that he used an inhaler. His clothing and place of disappearance were specified. A beach promenade on Fehmarn. Otherwise only a description of his jeans and T-shirt and his age. Someone seems to have dropped the ball.”
“An odd omission,” said Daniel, thinking aloud.
Sandra nodded, although she didn’t care for the insinuation that the omission could have been intentional. “And why did they kill Eric? Up to now the children have only disappeared. I thought . . . My theory . . . I mean, one can’t make any money from a dead child.”
Nemesis: Innocence Sold Page 9
