Nemesis: Innocence Sold

by Ross, Stefanie

  Confused, Lars looked back and forth from Sandra to Daniel. “Several. Have I understood this correctly? You’re working with Doc? I don’t understand anything at all anymore. Why? On what? By the way, Daniel, it’s nice to see you. Oh, yes, and of course, welcome to the team. I mean Sandra—you and I know each other, although last time you were here as a visitor and not so much our boss.”

  “Man, Lars, think for a minute, now.” Kat rolled her eyes and embraced Sandra. The impulse fit the lively policewoman, and Sandra immediately responded to the hearty greeting. Her brow furrowed, Kat sat down on the desk. “I’m figuring this out—something of which men, at least that one there, aren’t capable.” She ignored Lars’s outrage as well as Daniel’s grin. “It’s about Tim, of course. Logical, because Dirk and Stephan work closely together. That explains the support from Daniel and company because Mark and Dirk are also close. I just don’t understand how Sandra’s involved.”

  Lars waved this off. “Great, you master detective. And what makes you think of Tim?”

  “Raddatz is waiting for Stephan, Watson. Therefore what’s behind the attempted kidnapping is not revenge but organized crime, and Sandra has no doubt been onto that somehow. And once again we see why I’m the brains of this operation, and you’re the muscle. At least now I’m getting decent reinforcement. It’s about time.”

  “I wouldn’t say that,” Lars began, but he was interrupted by Stephan, who was smiling.

  “That’s enough. Sandra, fill them in. I’ll take on Raddatz by myself and follow up afterward. If you participated in the conference, he’d want to—or have to—justify himself. I think it’ll be more productive if I talk to him one-on-one.”

  Sandra watched in disbelief as Stephan went into his office and closed the door behind him.

  “What now?” Daniel asked.

  “I’m not accustomed to having my boss tell me why he does what he does so I won’t feel left out.”

  Rather than dismissing Sandra’s explanation, Daniel nodded. “I know what you mean. Not everyone’s as lucky with bosses as we are. But now summarize the whole thing for your colleagues. Stephan’s conference isn’t going to take forever.”

  Although everything in her resisted Daniel’s authoritarian tone, she obeyed. After Stephan’s clear instructions, it didn’t make sense to tell him off in front of her colleagues; she could do that in private later. Kat’s wink told Sandra that she had guessed her thoughts at least partially. As she had earlier, Sandra started with her assignment at the center for asylum seekers, and she ended with gesturing around the office. “And so finally I ended up here.”

  Lars gave a quiet whistle. “I’ve gotten used to ordering my books on the Internet, but the fact that one can order children, too, is unbelievable.”

  “Yes, it is.” Sandra slammed the flat of her hand down on the desk so violently that Lars jerked back in shock.

  “What?”

  “Since last night I’ve been thinking about what’s been bothering me and haven’t been able to figure it out. It’s no wonder, in view of all the chaos. But the decisive question is of course why they targeted Tim and Eric, the little Dutch kid. If someone wants a blond boy with brown eyes, they’re not going to go out and check every playground, of course. In the case of Tim, it was planned somehow, with that fake gardening job. They must have some kind of catalog? A stockroom? Like an online shop? I don’t know, it sounds sick, but . . .”

  “Keep going, Sandy. That sounds good. Schools? Day care centers?” Daniel said, considering.

  “That wouldn’t fit the case of little Eric. He was on vacation with his parents on Fehmarn.”

  “Newspaper,” Kat said and dug around on her desk until she finally pulled out the Hamburger Abendblatt from beneath a stack of files. “Lars, google the boy and the words castle competition.” She unfolded the newspaper and handed it to Sandra. “Maybe they deviated from their usual system here. I read this this morning, and it really made me lose my appetite. Take a look at the photo.” Eric stood laughing with a trophy in his hand in front of a truly enormous sand castle. His brown eyes could be seen well. In the text, the reporter described the family vacation’s tragic end.

  “I have it,” Lars said. “The report on the contest, including the photo of the boy, was in the Lübecker Nachrichten and the Abendblatt two days ago. Probably it was in some local rags as well, but I’m not going to find them this way.”

  “You don’t need to. I’m guessing Lübeck and therefore Lübecker Nachrichten,” Sandra said, earning broad agreement.

  “All right, that’s how they found Eric. The question of how they proceed otherwise remains. Blond hair and brown eyes is a rare combination,” Lars said, thinking aloud. “Maybe it’s what Daniel was thinking about: day care centers, schools, clubs. That would make sense, but how would it work?”

  They were at a loss, and silence spread until Daniel took out his cell phone and dialed. “Maybe Alex will have an idea. Will you explain what we want from her, Sandy?”

  Sandra reluctantly took the phone. Sandra was surprised that Alex greeted her in friendly fashion, switched to the informal du as if this were a given, and in no way resembled the fury who had attacked her in the past. “I understand what you’re getting at. I don’t have an idea off the top of my head—I can only say that there wasn’t a picture of Tim in any newspaper. But I’ll postpone my appointment this morning and have a talk with the head of the day care center. Can I reach you at Daniel’s number?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. I’ll be in touch when I have something. And, Sandra?”

  Here it came. “Yes.”

  “Thanks for all your efforts and everything. This is going a bit beyond your normal job.”

  “Well, somebody has to do it, and it’s time to get these bastards.”

  “You’re right about that. Talk to you soon.”

  Sandra hung up and looked at Daniel. “Get everything?”

  “Yes. Now we’ll see what Stephan has to say.” He nodded at Stephan, who was quickly coming closer but first looked at each of them in turn.

  “Anything new?”

  In precise and brief words, Sandra updated him, earning an approving nod.

  “Good work. Raddatz is sorry that they didn’t take action back then. His assistant was overworked. His application for early retirement was just approved. Honestly, it’s a wonder our colleagues last that long given what they work with. I’m very glad we’ll be able to go back to our usual business after this. However, he also mentioned that there have long been indications of increased activity in Northern Germany. Lübeck is involved again and again, but he doesn’t know of any intensified investigations there. That could mean something but maybe not.”

  Daniel tilted his head to the side in thought. “Add that flawed missing-persons report, and the picture becomes clearer. But we’ll see how the Lübeckers react when we talk to them later.”

  “I hope you’re wrong. Keep me posted. Do you need a car?”

  “No. I’m here with Dirk’s Audi. We’ll drive together, and there’s a car waiting for me in Lübeck.” Daniel winked at Sandra. “Sorry, us.”

  “And why aren’t we driving back to Hamburg with those two?” Sandra asked.

  “Because we’re still going to make a side trip in Lübeck. I want to see what my new partner can do.”

  “Good idea. Thanks, Doc. See you,” Stephan said and went back into his office, leaving Sandra behind, perplexed.

  “I love the way you guys communicate. It’s like you’re twins who barely have to speak to understand each other. Really great, Daniel. What was all that about?” Sandra asked.

  “It’ll be a surprise.”

  Dirk parked the Audi behind two patrol cars, blocking them in. Before the trip there had been some friendly banter about the seating arrangement that had ended with Sandra and Daniel sitting in the back. “Should one of us go with you?” Sven asked.

  “All of you,” Sandra would have preferred to answer,
but she silently shook her head.

  “I’ll come with you anyway. A little backup won’t hurt, partner,” Daniel said. “As long as you don’t need me, I’ll make myself invisible.”

  Sandra shrugged and got out. She could still remember the expectations she had when she had looked at the entrance months ago. After only a few days she had come here reluctantly, until she absolutely had to force herself not to turn around and forget the whole thing. Gritting her teeth, she pushed open the entrance door. She should have felt triumph or relief that that time was behind her; instead there was only rage at how a station leader could rule with such absolute power and how up to now she had had no way to escape him.

  Claus Laatz stood at the reception desk. His gray-green eyes looked at her with concern from behind his Harry Potter glasses. “It’s about time you got here. The old man’s really pissed. Just take care of the crap on your desk—I’ll say you’ve been here for a while.”

  The kind gesture didn’t surprise her. Claus had always been friendly to her, while her other colleagues had been distant since it had become obvious that she topped the list of people her boss wanted to shoot down. “Thanks, Claus. But I just want to empty my locker and pick up my gun. Then I’ll be gone—forever.”

  Claus blocked her path and seized her shoulders. “Don’t give up, Sandra. If he gives you another evaluation like that, you’ll fight it, and I’ll support you.”

  She didn’t resist the unaccustomed touch. “You know about that?”

  “Everyone here does. He’s bragged about clipping the little girl’s wings. I realized too late that you were stuck here, and any application to transfer had been thoroughly sabotaged. You shouldn’t take it personally; he’s just old-school. The uniformed force is everything to him; you plainclothes criminal investigators are a different world he’ll never accept or understand. And honestly—you were damned brazen. However, I don’t like what I’ve seen in the last few months. Some of that went too far.”

  Not just some of it, but she’d leave it at that. Sandra smiled and ignored the curious looks of her colleagues, who had forgotten their own work and were trying to hear as much of the conversation as possible. Sandra raised her voice. “Don’t worry. I’m not throwing in the towel, I’m moving to the LKA. But thanks for your help.”

  She nodded in the direction of her colleagues and wondered where Daniel had gone. Apparently he had been serious about becoming invisible.

  She took a cotton bag out of her desk and looked at the pile of forms that had been dumped on her despite the fact that processing them had never been part of her job. No personal items decorated her desk, and she had only kept the opened bag of chocolates there for Matthias. Her colleagues were welcome to them.

  She quickly walked to the staff rooms and opened her locker, stuffed her spare clothes in the bag, and fished for the handkerchief lying on the upper shelf. That was all that connected her to this place after nearly a year—a less than meager yield. She closed the door and went to the gun locker on the opposite wall. There were twenty boxes secured with combination locks in which service pistols were kept. She didn’t get a chance to enter her combination. Her former superior, very red in the face, entered the room and stopped much too close to her. “What do you mean, you’re leaving? Just sit down at your desk and do your job.”

  His gaunt form towered over her by at least half a head; nevertheless, she withstood his angry outburst. “My job? The pile of crap you’ve laid there was never supposed to be part of my job. Take care of it yourself.”

  “Transfers take time, little girl, and I’m going to use this time. So get your butt into the office. Hurry up.”

  Sandra backed up a step. She couldn’t stand feeling his breath on her face. “There’s a variant that’s effective immediately, now leave me alone. If you have questions, address them to human resources or Tannhäuser.”

  “There are no overnight transfers.”

  “Sometimes there are,” Sandra said and held her new identification.

  “LKA? Ridiculous. You won’t get away with this,” he said and put his hands to the right and left of her so she was trapped between the metal wall and his body.

  “Are you crazy? Leave me alone.”

  “Scared now, little girl? No one treats me this way. I thought you understood that. This is my station. I decide who leaves and when, and you’re going to stay until you’ve learned your place.”

  “I’m warning you for the last time. Leave me alone, and get away immediately,” she said in the calm but firm tone she used when arresting suspects.

  “Not until you promise to be good and sit down at your desk.”

  “Stop trying to intimidate me.”

  His mocking grin was the last straw. She kneed him in the groin. He cried out in pain and nearly fell on her, but she had counted on that. She moved to the side and watched without sympathy as he slid down the wall to the floor. At least she could still get to her box. She entered the last number and reached for the magazine and the Walther.

  “Be good, and stay where you are. I’m sure you don’t want a second round.” Daniel was in the room. Shocked, Sandra spun around. She should have kneed him with full force.

  Her former superior was already struggling to his feet and looked at her with hatred. “You’ll regret that.”

  “May I present Captain Kahl. Not a bad policeman, but a complete failure as a human being. And here: my new partner from the LKA. That’s all you need to know.” She inserted the magazine and chambered a round. “Address any further complaints to Superintendent Reimers, my boss. But keep in mind that this time I have a witness.”

  “Kahl?” Daniel repeated with a look at the missing head of hair that made Sandra snicker.

  After the corners of his mouth had twitched, Daniel looked sharply at Kahl. “I heard your threat. If you even look at Sandra Meinke crooked, you’ll have trouble with me. She can obviously handle you on her own, but I’ll do it anyway, just for fun. Is that clear?”

  While Sandra had trouble hiding her astonishment at Daniel’s sudden coldness and serious demeanor, Kahl gave a simple nod.

  “Come on. We have other things to do.”

  Sandra followed him.

  They had hardly gotten outside when she could no longer hold herself back. “Where were you? Why didn’t I see you? That’s not possible.”

  “Yes, it is. I was right behind you near the wanted posters in the entrance area. After that it was child’s play to get access to the back rooms with this ID. You were only concentrating on what was happening in front of you or what you were going to do in the moment. We proceed differently: first check the entire environment, keep it in sight, and then concentrate on the job. You’ve noticed the difference.”

  He was right, but she didn’t like his explanation, and she increased the length of her strides to get to Dirk’s Audi.

  “Stop, Sandra.”

  She stopped and noted that he was no longer calling her Sandy. “What?” she asked in an unfriendly tone.

  “Why do you ask questions if you can’t live with the answers? That wasn’t a reproach—it was an explanation. It’s important to Stephan that we teach his people something every time there’s an opportunity. Either you listen to me and learn something in the process or our cooperation ends here and now.”

  “You’re not serious.”

  “I am. In that case you’ll drive back to police headquarters and help Lars and Kat. I don’t want a sulking partner, certainly not when things get serious.”

  Sandra wanted to contradict him and deny the accusation, but then her honesty won out. She was silent but couldn’t get herself to acquiesce to his demand.

  Daniel pressed his lips together before taking a deep breath. “You should’ve already realized that we’re not a regular team. Undercover operations and preliminary investigations before military means are used are characteristic of our day-to-day routines. And you’ve also noticed that in the final analysis hierarchy and ranks do not co
unt—only abilities. My boss has no problem asking Sven for help if we get stuck. Sven’s analytical skills are amazing—he recognizes structures and connections while we’re still stumbling around blindly, and Dirk can smell it from miles away if there’s crooked activity. Do you understand what I’m stressing here?” So what’s my strength? Why do you even need me? she wanted to ask, but she no longer trusted her voice. Daniel seemed to have somehow understood her; his gaze became gentler. “You need to find out for yourself what your abilities are but also accept their boundaries. If I tell you what you can do, it will not have the same value as you believing in yourself. Take your time, and don’t be too hard on yourself.”

  Daniel’s words reached her, and it occurred to her that without his help she would never have escaped the previous day. It was time to give in, especially because he had already been surprisingly patient. “I’m sorry. You’re right. Do you need an official apology, too, boss?”

  He didn’t care for her insubordinate tone. His gaze held no humor; instead, it seemed to bore through her. “Just prove to me that you’ve understood what this is about.”

  “I meant that seriously.”

  “Fine.” He moved to turn away, but she grabbed him.

  “Let’s make something else clear, Lieutenant: as soon as things get private, you can forget about that authoritarian tone.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. “Thank you for cutting me down to size. I just have to get used to the fact that not every day is a struggle. Well, it’s a struggle, but not against my partner or colleagues or boss, and I don’t have a problem with learning new things or admitting it when someone else is right.”

  “That’s good to know,” Daniel said with the same grin that had fascinated her when she had looked at Stephan’s photo.

  CHAPTER 13

  Although he tried, Daniel couldn’t manage a serious expression. His policewoman was unbelievable. Floored her former boss, was brash and defiant, but then also surprisingly reasonable and honest; and then that kiss, which he would have liked to prolong—but not in front of Dirk and Sven, whose expressions already spoke volumes. While Dirk was wise or considerate enough not to say anything, this wasn’t true of his partner.