The Silent Death by Kutscher Volker

Author:Kutscher, Volker [Kutscher, Volker]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Crime, Historical, Mystery, thriller
ISBN: 9781910985649
Amazon: 1910985643
Goodreads: 34860779
Publisher: Sandstone Press
Published: 2009-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

Rath took the AVUS for the return journey too, more on a whim than because of any time pressure. It was fun to drive the Buick at full speed, even if he had to rein himself in upon rejoining the city traffic. There was a telephone booth level with the Städtische Oper on Bismarckstrasse, where Rath tried the taxi office again. At last he got Friedhelm Ziehlke on the line. He told him whose body they had found, and summoned him to the Castle.

Just after half past one Rath stepped out of his car in the atrium feeling very pleased with himself. Fortune favours the brave! was another one of his father’s sayings. The Oppenberg problem was ticked off, and soon the Ziehlke problem would be too. After lunch, the taxi driver’s statements would officially find their way into the new Vivian Franck file. Now it was time to see what his colleagues in Breslau had found.

When Rath entered his office, however, Lange was no longer sitting at Gräf’s desk. ‘He’s with Böhm,’ Erika Voss said, ‘and they’re expecting you, I was told to say.’

Rath went over. Böhm had just returned to the Castle, with everyone gathered around his desk like it was the campfire of an Indian chief: Henning, Christel Temme and Lange, who gave Rath an apologetic shrug as he entered the room.

‘There he is, the prodigal son,’ Böhm said. ‘Why didn’t you take Herr Lange with you as I requested?’

Rath cleared his throat. Why did he always have to justify himself in front of Böhm? ‘Vivian Franck has no relatives in Berlin,’ he said. ‘Her family lives in Breslau, which is why Herr Lange…’

‘So why didn’t you go to Breslau?’

‘Pardon me?’

‘Why are you and Lange not in Breslau informing the relatives of the murder victim?’

‘It seemed a little excessive, Sir. Assistant Detective Lange was to ask our colleagues in Breslau for assistance. I thought that in the wake of the Interior Ministry’s saving measures…’

‘You shouldn’t think! You should do as you’re told.’

‘As far as thinking is concerned, Sir – with respect, I must beg to differ.’

‘Don’t get fresh with me, Inspector.’

‘A trip to Breslau is unnecessary because it is highly doubtful whether any family members will come to her funeral, let alone to identify the body.’

‘What makes you say that?’

‘Vivian Franck had fallen out with all her relatives. Her father is a respected Breslau rabbi – and Vivian – well, she was the black sheep, so to speak, whom no one mentions at family gatherings.’

‘That may be,’ Böhm said, ‘but death changes many things.’

‘Contact with Breslau has been established, so we’ll see,’ Rath said. ‘As a precaution, however, I have asked Franck’s producer to identify the body. He was also privately involved with her. He can be at the morgue at three.’

‘All right,’ Böhm snarled. ‘Let’s leave it at that.’

‘If he identifies the actress beyond any doubt, we could arrange a press conference for this afternoon.’

‘Pardon me?’ Böhm looked as if Rath had just made an indecent proposal.

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