The Locked Rooms: These murders seem impossible. Until you're next. (Westerholt & Storm Thrillers Book 3) by Alex Wagner

Author:Alex Wagner [Wagner, Alex]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2025-05-12T16:00:00+00:00

24

LUCIA

As evening approached, Chief Inspector Kaiser took me aside. "A word in private, Ms. Storm."

His face was serious, and I could see he was wrestling with an inner conflict. We went out into the garden and moved a short distance from the house. A light breeze was rustling in the treetops, and the cicadas hummed incessantly in the background.

After ensuring we were alone, Kaiser folded his arms across his chest and began: "I think very highly of Richard Kaplan, I assure you—not only as a colleague, but also as a person. I would never suspect him of a crime, let alone the murder of his own flesh and blood. But he is the last surviving sibling, and therefore I cannot exclude him as a perpetrator."

He cleared his throat. "That's why I'm asking you, Ms. Storm: Have you perhaps made any observations that might be relevant in this case? You've been in the house for several days now, and you're said to be an excellent investigator. Or were, with the CID in Germany. And you know Richard, well, shall we say, from a more intimate perspective, don't you? I'd like to hear your assessment of him."

Aha, I thought, so the Chief Inspector had done his homework, and had subjected me to a background check as well, probably like everyone else in the house. I wouldn't have expected any less from a thorough and experienced criminal investigator. On the other hand, he was making the same mistake that so many others had made before him: He thought I was Richard's girlfriend.

I clarified the misunderstanding.

"I've only known Richard for a short time," I said. "He didn't bring me into the house for romantic reasons, but originally because he believed Angelina's death was murder. I was supposed to conduct discreet investigations here without offending the family. And I can't imagine he would have hired me if he were behind Angelina's death—or any of the subsequent crimes against his siblings. That would be insane."

"Or a very bold diversionary tactic to make us believe in his innocence," Kaiser muttered.

He fiddled with his glasses. "I'm not saying I necessarily consider Richard to be guilty; only that I cannot exclude him as a suspect. To be honest, I don't see the slightest motive for why he would kill any of his siblings. They may not have been the best of friends, and there were minor disputes—as in any family—but nothing that would justify bloodshed."

"What if it's about Egon Kaplan's inheritance?" I asked Kaiser. We both knew that besides love and passion, money is one of the major motives for murder. And now, with three of Egon's descendants already dead….

The Chief Inspector raised an eyebrow. "Well, we in the CID don't exactly earn a princely salary, that's true. Richard is certainly not a rich man and might be interested in gaining access to more capital, but Egon Kaplan is not wealthy either, as he assured me during our conversation today.

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