Chapter 19
May 12, 2024 at 7:36 PM
“So, was Holly in the same team with them?”, Peter was writing down the interrogation materials based on Adler’s words.
“Yes, everyone was responsible for their own part, I think we should not dig deeper into the black market. This is not our job afterall,” he addressed to leaving Otto, Fritz and Peter. “I think you’ll take care of it. And we will continue to investigate the murders of Wilhelm and Ingrid.”
“Yes, of course. Thank you for your cooperation,” the men shook hands, then they left Adler’s office, slamming the door.
Wieland, crossing his legs, carefully watched them leave.
Ehrman was flexing his neck, which had become numb overnight from sitting uncomfortably at the table. He could not wait to come home and finally exhale, but work imposed its obligations.
“What do you think, Wieland, will we get a bonus for our help?”, Ehrman was hoping for additional gratitude for his assistance.
“I doubt, Ehrman, they’re such greedy people,” Adler laughed at the expression on Wieland’s face, cynically looking at the closed door through which three men had just left. “Okay we’ve had a break and that’s enough, now let’s get back to business as usual. What else did you find out, Adler, besides what you told Fritz?”
“She was talking about some Helmut, a rich client who rarely ordered something. Wilhelm was supposed to bring him the jaws.”
“This is interesting. Helmut ordered the jaws and after not receiving them killed Ingrid and Wilhelm. Maybe they didn’t want to give them to him. But the question is: what does Heinrich, Arthur and Holly have to do with it?”, Wieland got up and walked over to their name posters. “They were all killed, Holly will now remain in prison, she is the only survivor, but you can’t take much from her. According to her, she’s seventeen, Adler, have you tried to find out why she joined them at such a young age?”, Adler gave a negative answer. Wieland turned around again and started to think.
“Wieland, you can hardly get any more information from Holly, she doesn’t know anything, all she can tell us is that we already know. I think she was in because of Ingrid and Wilhelm, she sobbed at the sight of their photos, which makes it clear that it is useless to show violence to her.”
“That’s right,” Wieland turned around. “I think we should raid Wilhelm’s house. Helmut will arrive any day now. If Holly sent him a message, we need to catch him. I bet he will not be alone.”
“Do you think he killed them?”, Ehrman flicked his lighter.
“I think only Helmut could have ordered the murder. Maybe Ingrid and Arthur and Heinrich didn’t kill him either. However, the threads clearly come from him. If Holly said he was a rich client, the whole team had worked for him. Look, Ehrman, Holly said Wilhelm had had a conversation with him. The father also ran away somehow suspiciously. Maybe he’s in touch with Helmut. It begins to seem to me that the case is becoming clearer.”
Ehrman nodded in agreement.
“The reason? Wilhelm wanted money, probably he wanted to join his father’s company and start working there, that’s why he went to university. However, when he realized that he was not going to get it, he decided to find other ways to get rich.”
“Why didn’t the father let his son join the company at least as his deputy?”, Adler asked a good question. “Competition? Unlikely. Envy? Not either.”
Adler counted off his fingers, listing all the options, but one by one they disappeared. Wieland was lost in his thoughts, so was Ehrman, who was slowly inhaling cigarette smoke.
“There is something deeper here, something that can harm the father and the family.”
“Maybe Werner was hiding something.”
“But then the question immediately arises: what does Ingrid have to do with it?”, Ehrman began to develop his theory. “There was the conflict between Werner and Wilhelm. Ingrid, even if she accepted Wilhelm’s position, still doesn’t fit in.”
“Maybe the father found out about the black market and decided to kill the children so that it would not affect his reputation,” Adler, having said this, got up and opened the window, it was stuffy in the office and there was not enough air.
“Maybe you’re right. However, then the question is about Arthur, Heinrich and Holly, what do they have to do with it?”
“You need to call him for questioning.”
“It’s useless, Adler. We were told that he had left the country.”
Adler reached for the phone, but quickly pulled his hand back.
“Yes, that’s right, I’ve forgotten.”
“Damn, this is really suspicious now.”
Silence hung in the office, barely diluted by people passing by the office and cars passing along the street. Ehrman, sitting under the warm January sun, dozed off, Wieland poured himself more coffee, Adler filled the pens, which at some point all turned out to be empty, he had several of them. Leaning back, he closed his eyes in the hope of it being quiet and relaxing for a while, the night was not very pleasant.
“I think we need to set up an ambush in the house, I insist on it,” Wieland said it loudly.
“Have it your way, Wieland. We don’t have any more options anyway. He will come and we will take him. And not only him,” Adler flexed his cramped muscles. “I think Ehrman and I will go.”
“No, you’ve already worked today. Stay here. And I’m going with Ehrman. He’s supposed to be here today, according to Holly,” softly said Wieland.
***
Wieland and Ehrman arrived in the same area as a month ago, checking the train and steamship schedules, anyway Helmut would not arrive before midnight, so they had to sit in the house and wait.
“Do you think Adler will recover? He hasn’t been looking well lately,” began Ehrmann, turning into Werner’s house, where the SS service was located.
“I think, yes. Don’t worry, he just needs a rest, like we all do,” Wieland opened the door and got out of the car. Ehrman followed him.
“I agree, but I feel,” added Ehrman, looking at the house, “any leave is unlikely to be provided to us in the near future, only if in the next world,” Wieland looked at him sternly, but then with a hiss he went into the house. Ehrman followed, surveying the area that surrounded them.
The house was furnished in the best traditions of modern fashion: lamps standing in all corners, upholstered armchairs, wardrobes, an oak winding staircase leading upstairs and parquet made of the best wood. Wieland and Ehrman went into the living room, there was a huge mahogany table, a bunch of upholstered armchairs, chairs and many bookcases with books.
“Not bad for a smuggler, we didn’t see this part of the house last time,” Ehrman whistled, looking around the room with a flashlight in his hands. Wieland followed.
“I agree,” Wieland beckoned to a soldier passing by. He told him the positions they had to take.
The house was quiet and dark. Wieland was constantly looking at his watch. Ehrman kept looking back at the window. There were soldiers sitting around the house, there were also a lot of people inside. They did not move or touch anything. They just took the covers off the furniture and removed the sign.
“Wieland, look, the moon is shining brightly today,” Ehrman pointed his finger at the starry luminary.
“Yes, almost full.”
“Soon they should come to the basement where you found the jaws,” said Wieland.
“Do you think they know exactly where they are?”, Ehrman said in a whisper.
“Definitely. They won’t block the whole house. Ehrman, they don’t need attention. Or they most likely will enter from the back entrance, so as not to attract the attention of the main street. They will pass quietly. They won’t make any noise. But only if this Helmut is not a complete idiot,” grinned Wieland.
“Hardly he is,” added Ehrman.
Glancing out the window, he saw a black luxury Mercedes pulling up from the backyard. Two people got out of the car. Ehrman poked Wieland, who looked closely and switched off the light. They both watched the men approaching the door. One of them was thin and limped on his right leg, the other was stingier and larger, with a big head, apparently, he was Helmut. Going to the door and pulling the door handle, making sure that it was locked, he asked for a crowbar and opened the door with a push.
Wieland and Ehrman were focused. The two men entered, their footsteps were heard downstairs, right below them. The voices were hoarse, obviously smoky. Both men were walking, quietly asking each other why Ingrid and Wilhelm had not completed the order on time. After all, everything was very simple. Wieland raised his hand and hit the wall, a dull sound was heard and the soldiers rushed from their positions, turning on the lights along the way. The room lit up with bright lights, muffled screams were heard downstairs. Ehrman and Wieland went out onto the stairs, which had a view down.
“Who are you?!”, a man in his early thirties was yelling downstairs.
Wieland replied as he was descending.
“You will learn it in the Gestapo department.”
***
“So, tomorrow we submit reports and the case is closed, right?”, sadly said Adler.
“Adler, you said it with so much pain in your voice”, Ehrman was putting out his cigarettes. “Yes, I think that Werner will be caught and brought by other people, now Fritz and Peter are working on Helmut and Mr. Jan.”
“With their own methods?”, Adler looked at him with scepticism. Wieland nodded. “We need to tell everything to the head of the Gestapo and the criminal department tomorrow. Then we’re free I think.”
The three of them left Adler’s office and walked slowly up the main staircase, discussing pressing matters. Adler tried to reconcile with his wife, she seemed to have withdrawn her divorce application. Wieland would come home and go to pick her up from work. Dinner was waiting for Ehrman at home, although not very tasty, due to the fact that his new wife cooked poorly. Adler and Wieland laughed at Ehrman, who told them that it was better than having what they had. Adler and Ehrman began to argue. Wieland tried to calm them down and he succeeded at the end.
