“Maybe she will,” said DeKok. “Who knows?”
“But what about that nasty man Nettelhorst?” asked Mrs. DeKok.
“I have turned him in to the Bunko Squad. At the very least they have him on attempted insurance fraud. Once they start digging, they will probably discover more. They have the talent and manpower.”
Vledder wrinkled his nose in distaste.
“The commissaris should be more careful in selecting his friends.”
DeKok laughed heartily.
“I think it would be a good idea for you to tell him yourself. I’m getting tired of being sent from the room.”
“I’ve been thinking,” said Buis suddenly. “When you heard my double had a relationship with Therese, did you already know the perpetrator?”
DeKok nodded.
“It was one more indication of who the killer could be. Neither Matthias Heusden nor Manfred Nettelhorst knew how to find Therese. When Henri Tombs visited the villa to check on Therese, he saw DeBeau through the window. He immediately withdrew. Meanwhile he had made an instantaneous decision. The man had to be killed.”
“A strange bird.”
DeKok stared pensively at his glass.
“If I had known sooner about the relationship between Therese and DeBeau, I might possibly have prevented the murder. I could have talked to DeBeau, could have told him about the danger. I might have convinced him to act as bait.”
Harold Buis looked disappointed.
“But then you wouldn’t have needed me.” He gestured around the room. “And I would have missed all this.”
“There’s that,” said DeKok with a wink.
The conversation became more general. DeKok poured again from his precious bottle. Mrs. DeKok had resigned herself to the fact the bottle would be emptied that night. She offered coffee to those who wanted it.
Prins left to go on duty. Vledder accompanied him to the door. When he returned to the living room, he sat down and looked at DeKok.
“We still have to recover that suitcase full of money from Robert’s room at Emperor’s Canal.”
The grey sleuth looked at him evenly.
“The suitcase is no longer there.”
“What?”
DeKok shook his head.
“After Robert’s funeral, I had a few words with his mother. She’s a nice lady. It was evident she had no idea of the existence of the suitcase. I also surmised from our conversation that Mother Achterberg is well set. She has ample financial resources.”
“So?”
DeKok made a shy, embarrassed gesture.
“So, I quietly took the suitcase to Beuning Street.”
“To Antoinette?”
“Yes.”
Vledder looked at him in surprise for several seconds. Then he shook his head and smiled.
“DeKok,” he said, “you take the cake.”
“That’s why I love him,” said Mrs. DeKok.
About the Author
A. C. Baantjer is the most widely read author in the Netherlands. A former detective inspector of the Amsterdam police, his fictional characters reflect the depth and personality of individuals encountered during his near forty-year career in law enforcement.
Baantjer was honored with the first-ever Master Prize of the Society of Dutch-language Crime Writers. He has also been knighted by the Dutch monarchy for his lifetime achievements.
The sixty crime novels featuring Inspector DeKok written by Baantjer have achieved a large following among readers in the Netherlands. A television series based on these novels reaches an even wider Dutch audience. Launched nearly a decade ago, the 100th episode of the “Baantjer” series recently aired on Dutch channel RTL4.
In large part due to the popularity of the televised “Baantjer” series, sales of Baantjer’s novels have increased significantly over the past several years. In 2001, the 5 millionth copy of his books was sold—a number never before reached by a Dutch author.
Known as the “Dutch Conan Doyle,” Baantjer’s following continues to grow and conquer new territory.
The DeKok series has been published in China, Russia, Korea, and throughout Europe. Speck Press is pleased to bring you clear and invigorating translations to the English language.
DeKok and the Geese of Death
Renowned Amsterdam mystery author Baantjer brings to life Inspector DeKok in another stirring potboiler full of suspenseful twists and unusual conclusions.
ISBN-13: 978-0-9725776-6-3
DeKok and Murder by Melody
“Death is entitled to our respect,” says Inspector DeKok, who finds himself once again amidst dark dealings. A triple murder in the Amsterdam Concert Gebouw has him unveiling the truth behind two dead ex-junkies and their housekeeper.
ISBN-13: 978-0-9725776-9-4
DeKok and the Death of a Clown
A high-stakes jewel theft and a dead clown blend into a single riddle for Inspector DeKok to solve. The connection of the crimes at first eludes him.
ISBN-13: 978-1-933108-03-2
DeKok and Variations on Murder
During one of her nightly rounds, housekeeper Mrs. van Hasbergen finds a company president dead in his boardroom. She rushes up to her apartment to call someone, but who? Deciding it better to return to the boardroom, she finds the dead man gone.
ISBN-13: 978-1-933108-04-9
DeKok and Murder by Installment
Although at first it seemed to be a case for the narcotics division, this latest investigation soon evolves into a series of sinister murders involving drug smuggling and child prostitution.
ISBN-13: 978-1-933108-07-0
DeKok and Murder on Blood Mountain
The trail of a recent crime leads Inspector DeKok to Bloedberg (Blood Mountain), Belgium, a neighborhood in Antwerp. Seems a man was fished from the Scheldt River, and DeKok has
been summoned to help with the investigation.
ISBN-13: 978-1-933108-13-1
DeKok and the Somber Nude
This latest installment of the internationally popular detective series finds the grey sleuth dealing with a most gruesome murder.
ISBN-13: 978-1-933108-16-2
For a complete catalog of our books please contact us at:
4690 Table Mountain Drive
Golden, Colorado 80403
e: [email protected]
t: 800-992-2908
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w: speckpress.com
Our books are available through your local bookseller.
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