The Fig Eater by Jody Sheilds

Author:Jody Sheilds
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: WORLD
ISBN: 9780759521773
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Published: 2001-03-05T22:00:00+00:00

With threats, official documents, and patience, the Inspector has forced his way into the Kinderklinik.

Firmly clutching Otto’s hand, a nurse bustles him into the bare white room where the Inspector waits. Although she instructs the boy to answer the policeman’s questions and not be frightened, the tight grip of her fingers tells him otherwise. She leads him to a stool across the room.

The Inspector gently suggests Otto be moved closer, so they can talk. She grimly shakes her head.

“He must stay at a distance from you. It’s for your own good. The boy is infectious. He’s under quarantine.”

Otto is skinny and hollow-eyed in his thin pajamas. He gives the Inspector an embarrassed grin.

“Now Fräulein, I’d like you to leave us alone.” She begins to protest, and he continues speaking without raising his voice. “I want the boy to concentrate on my questions. I need his assistance. Please. May I remind you I’m investigating a criminal case?”

The nurse sighs heavily and pinches Otto’s cheek — hard — before she leaves. The Inspector is certain she’ll wait outside the door. The boy is visibly relieved and waits for the Inspector to speak first.

“Otto, let us stand here by the window.” He knows another focus makes it easier for children to talk. “I’m sorry about your sister. I’m trying to discover what happened to her. Can you help me?”

Without taking his eyes off the street below the window, Otto nods solemnly.

“I know this might be difficult for you, but I just have a few questions. Did Dora have any suitors?”

“No.”

“There was no one — a man — she was fond of?”

“No one.”

“Did she get along well with your father?”

The boy begins to rub his finger against the window. “I don’t understand.”

“Did they have arguments?”

“Yes,” he whispers. “Papa took her piano away because I asked him to.” He turns to the Inspector, his eyes shining with tears.

The Inspector briefly touches the boy’s shoulder. “I’m certain your papa had a good reason for what he did. Don’t let it disturb you.”

Otto stares out the window and says nothing. He smears his hand across the moisture condensed on the glass.

“This was a long time ago, but can you remember what happened the last night Dora was at home? Your family ate dinner together. Then how did everyone spend the evening?”

After some hesitation, Otto says his mother was home all night. She went to bed early. Right after dinner, he was sent to his room to study. He remembers his father came home very late. He knew he’d been out since he was wearing a jacket.

“Why do you remember that night? Did something happen when your father returned?” The Inspector submerges his excitement. He must test the boy’s story as if it were a coin, see if it’s real gold.

Very matter-of-fact, Otto explains that his bedroom adjoins the dining room, so he woke up when his father came in and then watched him through a crack in the door. His father went to the cabinet where the brandy was locked up.

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