THE LAST DAY

A KARRE & VIKTORIA SHORT STORY

Tim Svart

Copyright & Imprint

Copyright © 2020 Tim Svart

THE LAST DAY

Translated by Sian Robertson

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The present book is subject to the author’s copyright and may only be reproduced, in whole or in part and independently of the type of medium used, with the author’s express permission.

The last day is a fictional story.

Similarities with real existing persons or actions are purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The plot of this story takes place immediately before the events of Sacrifice, the first book of the ‘Karre & Viktoria’ series.

Foreword

Dear reader,

Thank you for reading Sacrifice, the first Karre and Viktoria book (or maybe you’re still planning to do so). If you’ve read the other books, you may have noticed that Sacrifice is the only book in the Karre and Viktoria series that doesn’t begin with a prologue.

This is because, at the time I wrote this book, I felt that a prologue was unnecessary for the story and that such a prologue would not have advanced the plot significantly. Instead, I threw you directly into the story.

Today, however, after an interval of a few years and three more books in the series, I think there are some events worth telling; events that took place immediately before the beginning of Sacrifice, but which I only mentioned in passing in the book, even though they are crucial to the course of the story and the motives of the protagonists; events which I believe might interest you as a reader.

That’s why I’ve written The Last Day. It’s a prologue. However, it’s a prologue embedded in a short story that goes beyond a typical prologue.

If you want a snapshot of the events leading up to Sacrifice, sit back and enjoy the story that follows. Have fun!

Yours,

Tim

1

Chief Inspector Karrenberg traipsed down the deserted hospital corridor. He’d always hated the smell of disinfectants, and the atmosphere of illness and death made him shudder. Although he wasn’t cold, he zipped up his jacket as his eyes skimmed the inscriptions on the walls. 

At the end of the corridor he found Viktoria von Fürstenfeld. The young inspector was sitting on one of the chairs for waiting visitors, staring at the floor, her folded hands resting on her knees. When she saw her boss coming, she brightened and rose to meet him. 

“Karre.”

He raised his hands apologetically. “Sorry I couldn’t come earlier. I was with Karim...”

“No problem,” Viktoria interrupted. “Nothing’s happening here, anyway. I’ve been waiting for the doctor for what feels like an eternity.”

“What’s going on?”

“Viktor Hendricks, seventy-seven. The ambulance brought him in a few hours ago with symptoms of poisoning. He died about an hour after admission.”

“Poisoning? Where was he?”

“At his villa. His housekeeper found him and called an ambulance. I don’t know anything else. I hope the doctor in charge can tell us something.”

“You mean, we have no clue what poisoned him?”

Viktoria shook her head. “No.”

“What about this doctor? Did someone tell him you’re sitting here waiting?”

“Yes, but the nurse says he’s indisposed. There’s an emergency. And, well... he can’t do anything for Hendricks now.”

“Sure, but our time is valuable too. I’ll ask another nurse.” Karre was about to walk back to the nurses’ station, which he’d passed on his way through the labyrinth of hospital corridors, when a tall man with grey hair and black-rimmed Ray-Bans hurried down the corridor. His white coat flapped behind him like a comic superhero’s cape.

He extended a hand first to Viktoria and then to Karre. 

“Good afternoon. I’m Doctor Geisbarth, head of this clinic. You’re the police, I take it.” His eyes lingered on Viktoria slightly too long, Karre thought.

“Chief Inspector Karrenberg. Pleased to meet you. My colleague, Inspector Viktoria von Fürstenfeld. Did you treat Mr Hendricks?”

The doctor nodded. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t save him. He showed severe symptoms of poisoning when he was admitted. We tried everything, but we didn’t have time to analyse the substance he was poisoned with.”

“But you’re sure he was poisoned?” Viktoria asked.

“One hundred percent. No question.”

“Was he brought in alone or did someone come with him?”

“He was alone. Except for the banana.”

“The banana?” Viktoria frowned.

“Half a banana, to be precise. Probably his last meal. His housekeeper was quick-witted enough to give it to the paramedics. She was also the one who called them.”

Karre looked piercingly at the doctor. “But she didn’t accompany him here?”

Geisbarth shook his head. “No. He was alone.”

“Was anyone with him when he died?”

“No. We informed his daughter right after he was admitted, but she didn’t make it in time. When she arrived, her father had already passed away.”

“Is she still here?”

“No. Her husband picked her up. She was pretty upset.”

“Understandably,” Viktoria added quietly.

“What did you do with the banana?”

“What do you think? We sent it to Toxicology. We were hoping to find out what poisoned Mr Hendricks before he died. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the results in time.”

“Do you have the results now?”

“No.”

“Then please send them to Doctor Gassner, our chief medical examiner, as soon as you get them. I assume he’ll do the autopsy.”

At that moment, the pager on the doctor’s belt gave a shrill beep. Geisbarth glanced at the device before looking apologetically at the investigators. “Sorry, I have to go. An emergency. It’s madness here today. If you have any further questions, please contact my office.” 

He turned abruptly and disappeared along the hospital corridor, leaving Karre and Viktoria baffled.

“Now what?” Viktoria was the first to find her voice again.

“We’ll go to Hendricks’ villa and talk to his housekeeper.”

“Do you think the housekeeper has something to hide?”

“I’m not sure. We’ll see. What are your thoughts on the banana?”

“I don’t know. Do you think it was poisoned?”

“I want to know what you think.”

“It’s possible. If so, his housekeeper might be behind it. But then why would she give the banana to the paramedics? She could have counted on them checking it for poison.”

“Unless the banana she gave the paramedics wasn’t the same banana Hendricks was eating. Hopefully we’ll get the results soon. Until then, it’s all speculation.”

They reached the exit and stepped out into the bright sunshine. Although it was still spring, the thermometer was already displaying summery temperatures. Karre savoured the warm rays on his face and closed his eyes for a moment. He was glad the dark winter had ended. As much as he tried every year not to let the short days, icy temperatures and gloomy skies spoil his mood too much, he was relieved every time spring finally rolled around. 

Karre had parked the car in a no-stopping zone in front of the clinic. He unlocked the doors with the remote key, they both got in and he started the engine.

2

It took them about ten minutes to reach the late Viktor Hendricks’ villa. Karre parked the Audi on a paved area in front of a double garage. They approached the house entrance, a covered portico with wooden double doors painted a dark green.

“Not bad,” muttered Karre as he pressed the brass bell. “You know what Hendricks did for a living?”

Viktoria shook her head. “No idea.” 

“Whatever it was, he must have done alright out of it.”

The front door opened a crack. A woman of about sixty eyed Karre and Viktoria suspiciously through the gap. Her grey hair was combed back into a meticulous bun that reminded Karre of a ballet dancer’s, and the lady’s fragile figure added to the effect.

“May I help you?”

Karre noticed the woman’s reddened eyes.

“Mr Hendricks is not available,” the woman snapped without waiting for an answer.

“We’re aware of that,” Karre replied politely and pulled out his police ID. “Chief Inspector Karrenberg.” He nodded in Viktoria’s direction. “This is my colleague, Inspector von Fürstenfeld.”

The woman nodded, but made no move to let the unannounced visitors in.

“May I ask who you are?”

“Elisabeth Müller. I’m Mr Hendricks’ housekeeper.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I mean, I was his housekeeper. Until a few hours ago. Mr Hendricks passed away today. But I suppose you know that already – I assume that’s why you’re here.”

“May we come in? We’d like to talk with you. In private.”

“Of course.” Mrs Müller opened the door and stepped aside.

Karre and Viktoria followed her into the living room. “How long did you work for Mr Hendricks?” asked Karre, as Mrs Müller invited them to take a seat on the couch.

“It would have been fifteen years this summer. May I offer you something to drink?”

They both politely declined.

“The doctor who treated Mr Hendricks told us you found him and called the ambulance. What time was that?”

Mrs Müller pondered for a moment before answering. “At exactly one-thirty. And before you ask, I’m sure, because I always served Mr Hendricks lunch at the same time every day – although I never usually had to remind him to come to the dining table where he takes his meals.”

“But today he didn’t?” Viktoria concluded.

“No, not today. I noticed right away because it wasn’t like him at all. So I went straight to his study. Mr Hendricks didn’t like to be disturbed while he was working, but this time I had a bad feeling.”

“Then what happened?” Karre asked.

“First, I knocked. When he didn’t answer, I opened the door and went in. Mr Hendricks was sitting in his armchair in front of the bookcase. I could tell right away something was wrong. He was sweating, moaning, writhing in pain. He was struggling to breathe. It was clear I couldn’t help him, so I immediately called an ambulance.” Again her eyes brimmed with tears, which she dabbed gently with a handkerchief. “You know the rest.”

“We’d like to look at Mr Hendricks’ study. If you could show us where it is, please.”

“Certainly. Follow me, please.”

Karre and Viktoria followed the housekeeper up to the first floor of the villa. At the end of a hall she opened the door to a spacious study. Full bookshelves covered most of the walls, and a floor-to-ceiling window provided a view of the extensive garden. A massive desk decorated with elaborate carvings stood in the middle of the room. 

Karre noticed a wing-back chair made of reddish-brown leather. That must have been the armchair in which the housekeeper had found her employer. Gazing at the books on the shelves, he asked Mrs Müller, “Do you think someone might have had a reason to poison your employer?” He turned to the housekeeper, who was staring at him aghast.

“You don’t really think Mr Hendricks was poisoned, do you?”

Karre took a step towards the housekeeper. “Is that really so surprising?”

“What do you mean?”

“You had the wherewithal to give the paramedics the banana your boss was eating. I doubt many people would have reacted so calmly in a situation like that.”

“You’re not suggesting I...” huffed Mrs Müller indignantly.

Karre shook his head. “I’m not suggesting anything. I’m just wondering...” His eye caught an artfully arranged fruit bowl that stood on a sideboard near the door. “I assume the banana came from that fruit bowl?”

“I suppose so. Yes.” Mrs Müller’s voice sounded rough and shaky now.

“What do you mean?” Karre was becoming impatient. The longer they talked to the housekeeper, the more he felt the old lady was hiding something.

“I mean, I can’t be certain. The banana could have come from this fruit bowl. But he could just as easily have taken it from the kitchen. I’m his housekeeper, not his nurse. He wasn’t an invalid, he could help himself.”

Karre turned to Viktoria. “Please call Vierstein. I want him and his team to turn this villa upside down. Make sure they find all the bananas in the house, and any other fruit. I want it all sent to the lab.” Then he turned back to Mrs Müller, who was sitting in Hendricks’ chair, looking miserable. “You still haven’t answered my question.”

She looked up at Karre. “What question?” Her voice was a hoarse croak.

“Whether someone might have had an interest in poisoning your boss,” Karre snapped.

Again the housekeeper shook her head. “No, I really can’t imagine...” Suddenly she stared at Karre with wide eyes. “A few days ago he had an argument with his daughter. No, that’s ridiculous.” She shook her head. “And they’d long since made up. It was only today that she gave him...”

All the colour drained from the housekeeper’s face and she held her hands over her mouth in horror.

“Yes? She gave him...?” Viktoria went to Mrs Müller and put a hand on her forearm. “What about his daughter?” Her gaze came to rest on the fruit bowl. “Was she the one who gave him the fruit bowl?”

“Yes,” whispered Elisabeth Müller. “She was with him just this morning.”

Karre cleared his throat. “Mrs Müller, can you give us Mr Hendricks’ daughter’s address?” Once the housekeeper had written it down in razor-sharp handwriting and handed it to the chief inspector, he continued, “I’m afraid I have to ask you to leave the house until further notice. Our forensics colleagues will arrive shortly.”

Mrs Müller pulled a handkerchief from her trouser pocket and blew her nose. “Good. I’ll go home. Some rest will do me good.” She rose from her chair and walked past the detectives. When she reached the door, she turned around. “I can’t imagine Chiara could have poisoned him. Their relationship wasn’t always easy. Especially after Chiara’s mother died. But she loved her father.” She looked at Karre. “Do you have children?”

“Yes. I also have a daughter.”

“Then you know what I’m talking about.” And with that, she left the two investigators alone in the villa.

3

The house where Chiara Schröder lived with her family stood in a red-paved play street. It was a little over ten minutes’ drive from the villa of the deceased. As Karre and Viktoria approached the house, they saw a small boy on a bicycle coming towards them. Karre thought he looked about four years old. 

The boy noticed the two strangers and switched on the flashing blue light on his handlebars. He blocked their way to the house. “Do you want to see my parents?”

“Are you the police?” Viktoria suggested, looking at the flashing blue light.

A smile spread across the boy’s face. “Yeah! That’s why I have a blue light. And these.” He pulled up the hem of his jacket, exposing a pair of metal handcuffs dangling from his belt.

“We’re police too.” Viktoria crouched down in front of the boy, pulled out her police ID and held it out to the boy. His eyes widened. 

“Is this real?”

“I think so,” Viktoria laughed.

“When I grow up, I want to be a real policeman.”

“Great plan! But you’ll have to wait a while.” Karre pointed past the boy. “Do you live in that house over there?”

“Yes, with Mum and Dad.”

“Are your parents at home?” As soon as he asked, he realised the question was absurd. A little boy’s parents would hardly let him play out in front of the house while they weren’t home.

“Yes, they’re here. But Mum’s sad. So they told me to go out and play. But it’s boring. None of my friends are home.”

Karre winked at the boy. “Would you like to help us?”

“Seriously? You want me to help you? How?”

“Well, we’re alone. But we might need some back-up. From another cop. Someone like you.”

The boy beamed. “Yeah! What do you want me to do?”

“We need to talk to your parents. But it’s important nobody bothers us. So we need a policeman to stand outside the front door and make sure no one comes in. Could you do that for us?”

The boy nodded enthusiastically. “Sure. I can do that. And what shall I do if somebody tries to get into the house?”

“You just need to turn on your blue light and we’ll come out to support you. Do we have a deal?”

“Yep!”

“All right, let’s go! Everybody to your posts!” The boy positioned himself and his bicycle in front of the house, his chest puffed out with pride, as Karre and Viktoria rang the bell. 

The man who opened the door moments later looked about the same age as Karre. His tired eyes regarded the two investigators disdainfully.

“Are you Mr Schröder?”

The man looked pointedly at the nameplate next to the doorbell. “It would appear so. Who wants to know?”

Yet again, Karre pulled out his police ID and showed it to Mr Schröder. “We need to talk to your wife about…”

“I can guess what it’s about. But my wife’s not in a good way, as you can imagine.” He invited the investigators into the house. Karre and Viktoria followed him into the living room. Chiara Schröder was sitting on a sofa, wrapped in a blanket. She looked up at Karre and Viktoria through puffy eyes.

“Our condolences on the death of your father,” Viktoria said.

Mr Schröder was standing beside the detectives and pointed to the sofa opposite his wife. “Please take a seat. May I offer you something to drink? Water or coffee?”

“I’m fine. Thank you very much.”

Karre also refused with a shake of his head. “Mrs Schröder? You know why we want to talk to you?”

“Because of my father. He’s…” Her voice was drowned by a flood of tears.

“So far, all the evidence points to your father being poisoned.” Karre watched the young mother’s horrified reaction.

“Poisoned?” Her voice trembled. “But why? Who would do such an awful thing?”

“That’s exactly what we want to find out. It appears your father ingested the poison with his last meal.” The inspector continued to study Chiara’s face.

“But you don’t suspect Mrs Müller, my father’s housekeeper…” She shook her head vehemently. “No, I really can’t believe that.”

“It seems your father’s last meal was a banana.”

“A banana?” Now the remaining colour disappeared from Chiara’s face. “Not one of the ones I brought him?”

“That’s why we wanted to talk to you. Mrs Müller told us you visited your father this morning and gave him a basket of fruit. It’s possible someone poisoned one of the bananas in the basket and your father ate it. But the toxicology report is still pending.”

“I didn’t poison my own father,” Mrs Schröder sobbed. “Why would I? Why would you even think that?”

“Your father’s housekeeper told us the two of you had a rather heated argument.”

Chiara buried her face in her hands, then looked up at the chief inspector. “What are you suggesting? We had our disagreements, like every family does, but nothing out of the ordinary. That’s no reason to kill someone. Especially not your own father.”

“Enough of this!” Chiara’s husband interrupted. In contrast to his wife, he sounded more angry and indignant than mournful. “We don’t have to put up with such baseless accusations.”

“No one’s accusing you or your wife of anything. But we have to ask these questions if we’re going to find your father-in-law’s murderer,” Viktoria tried to appease Mr Schröder.

“It’s alright, I understand.” Chiara glanced at her husband, then pulled out a handkerchief and blew her nose.

“So, would you mind telling us what the argument between you and your father was about?”

“About my job. As always. My father just can’t come to terms with the fact that I work full time and can only pick Leon up from kindergarten in the afternoon. Leon’s our son. He’s four.”

“We’ve already met him. He’s a smart boy.”

“And he has dreams of becoming a policeman. Right now he’s guarding the front door,” Viktoria added with a smile.

“Yes, it’s true – he’s bright for his age. As for my father, he belongs to a different generation. My mother didn’t have a job. She stayed at home all day and took care of the household and my brother and I. My father can’t accept that times have changed. It’s not the first time we’ve argued about that. And I didn’t take it any more seriously than I usually do.”

“You see, my wife had no reason to poison her father. Are there any other questions? As you can see, she’s not feeling well. So, if there’s nothing else, I’d you to leave.”

“Just one more thing. Where did you get the fruit basket you gave your father?”

“Do you think that’s important?”

Karre gave Mrs Schröder a piercing look.

“Fine. I bought the fruit at the supermarket this morning. Then I drove home, arranged everything nicely in a bowl, and drove to my father’s. You know the rest.”

At that moment, Karre’s phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and glanced at the display. “Gassner,” he whispered to Viktoria, taking the device to a more private corner of the room to answer the call. “Yes? Paul? Any news?”

“Yes, indeed,” grunted Gassner. “But I’m not sure you’ll like it.”

Karre groaned quietly. The last thing he needed was for the autopsy results to contradict all their assumptions and findings. “What?”

“I’ve received the toxicology report.” The coroner paused.

“Well? What does it say?”

“Hold your horses and let me catch my breath. To cut a long story short, the banana’s clean.”

“Clean? What do you mean clean?”

“No poison. The banana wasn’t poisoned.”

“You’re saying whatever killed Hendricks wasn’t the banana?”

Gassner sighed. “In fact, it wasn’t anything he ingested. I examined his stomach contents and the results are conclusive – it wasn’t something he ate.”

“Do you have another theory?”

“It seems someone injected the poison into him. I haven’t been able to find a needle mark yet, but it’s the only logical conclusion, as I found a lethal concentration of poison in his blood.”

“Any idea what kind of poison we’re dealing with?”

“Not exactly. But it was probably a naturally occurring poison. Possibly from an animal.”

“You mean someone injected him with snake venom or something?”

“Something like that. Toxicology is still trying to identify the poison. But they think it’s more likely to be from an animal than a plant. They promised to inform me as soon as they know more.”

“Paul, thanks very much. Although I can’t say I’m happy with this news. It looks like we’ll have to start again from the beginning. Please keep us informed.”

Karre ended the call and turned back to face the others. His colleague looked at him expectantly. “Any news?”

“Yes.”

“And?”

“Mrs Schröder, thank you for your time. It appears the banana wasn’t what killed your father.”

“It wasn’t? But you just said... so that means I...”

“...shouldn’t blame yourself. Your father wasn’t poisoned by the fruit you brought him.”

“It’s not much consolation, but I’m glad it didn’t happen that way. So what happens now?”

“We’ll go back to his house and have another look around. If the murderer administered the poison to your father by other means, they may have left evidence.” Turning to Viktoria, he said, “Let’s go.”

4

A short time later, Karre and Viktoria were back at the dead man’s villa. Viktoria looked around the spacious entrance hall. “Any idea where we should start?”

Karre shook his head. “No. But I suggest we take another look in the study. Since he died there, I think it’s likely that’s where he was poisoned. At least if it was a fast-acting poison. And since the toxicology report indicated animal venom, I assume it had a lethal effect immediately after injection.”

They entered the study on the first floor for the second time that day.

“But that doesn’t leave us with many potential suspects, apart from the housekeeper.”

“Yes, that’s what I’m thinking. Although the old lady didn’t strike me as the type. Nor did anybody else. But maybe we were too focused on our banana theory.”

“You might be right. Let’s get started.”

They searched every inch of the study, in the vague hope of finding something Vierstein’s team might have overlooked. 

After half an hour, Karre lowered himself into the wing-back chair by the bookcase. “I don’t know about you, but I doubt we’ll find anything in this room.”

“We’ll have to search the rest of the house then. And if we still don’t find anything, we’ll talk to Mrs Müller again.” Viktoria paced up and down as she spoke, her eyes scanning the walls. Suddenly she stopped and focused on a black dot on the white wall, less than two metres from Karre.

Karre noticed and followed her gaze with curiosity. “What is it? Have you found something?”

“I’ve just had an idea. It might be nothing, and it probably sounds crazy, but I read a report in the paper a few days ago about...”

Karre held up his hand to interrupt her. He stood up and pulled out his phone. “Gassner,” he said, and answered the call.

As he listened to the medical examiner, he watched Viktoria open a cupboard and take out a crystal whisky glass. She picked up an envelope from Hendricks’ desk. Then she walked past Karre to the wall, where she placed the glass over the black speck and carefully pushed the envelope between the wall and the glass. Karre saw the black dot fall into the glass. Viktoria carried it back to the desk, still holding the envelope over it.

Having listened to Gassner in silence, Karre ended the call. He went to stand beside Viktoria and gazed thoughtfully at the object in the glass.

“Congratulations,” he said. “I think you’ve caught the culprit. Paul was calling to tell us that the lab have identified the origin of the poison.”

“Let me guess. Australian redback. A poisonous spider species. Thousands of bites a year. But it’s usually not lethal and there’s an antivenom. Generally, only children or elderly people die from the bite – people with weak immune systems. The cause of death in these cases is paralysis of the respiratory system. And the symptoms that Geisbarth described at the clinic also fit the bill. Didn’t he say Hendricks complained of severe abdominal pain when he was admitted?”

Karre nodded. He watched the spider crawling around nervously on the bottom of the glass for a while, before asking, “How did you know?”

Viktoria shrugged. “Pure coincidence. Just a few days ago I read a newspaper article about exotic spider species being discovered in fruit delivered to European supermarkets. The animals sit between the fruit and get shipped along with it. Especially organic fruit, which isn’t sprayed before loading. And the article specifically mentioned this spider species. I recognised it immediately. It looks exactly like the picture in the newspaper. The bite itself apparently doesn’t cause much pain. Often, victims don’t even notice it until the first symptoms appear. And then very few people will associate these symptoms with a spider bite. Especially in our latitudes.”

“Let’s see if we can find something to transport the culprit in. Looks like you solved the mystery.”

5

After dropping Viktoria off at her car in the hospital car park, Karre heeded his boss’ request to stop in at police headquarters before calling it a day. He entered the team’s shared office to find it deserted. But in his boss Willi Hellmann’s office, which he and his colleagues referred to as the ‘aquarium’, there seemed to be activity even at this late hour.

Thick clouds of smoke billowed behind the glass wall separating Hellmann’s office from their open-plan work space. Apparently, Hellmann was treating himself to one of his infamous Churchills before leaving the office.

Eventually those things will kill him, thought Karre as he crossed the room and rapped on the door. He entered the glass smokebox and Hellmann looked up at Karre from behind his desk, holding the thick cigar in his hand. Karre thought he detected a smile on his superior’s face, but it was hard to tell through the heavy fog.

“Karre, come in.” Hellmann pointed to the chair opposite his desk. Karre sat down.

“Congratulations! Case solved. In record time, it seems.” Hellmann placed the cigar in an ashtray and leaned back in his chair.

“Yes, we’ve apprehended and arrested the perpetrator. Actually, it was Viktoria who bravely risked life and limb.”

“A poisonous spider, then. To think there are still things that surprise me at my age.”

“The price of globalisation. We assume the spider hitched a ride in the fruit Hendricks’ daughter brought him this morning. It ended up in the supermarket and eventually in Hendricks’ study. It probably bit him when he picked up the banana.”

“Which means it wasn’t murder, just a tragic accident.”

“I think we can assume so. I don’t believe Chiara Schröder deliberately planted the spider, hoping it would bite him. Especially since bites from this species of spider rarely result in death.”

“Thanks for coming by,” Hellmann abruptly changed the subject. “There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

They’d known each other for many years. And for Karre, Hellmann had become much more than just a boss. He was also a mentor and friend. Karre looked with concern at the Superintendent. His face showed signs of fatigue, which was quite uncharacteristic, but something Karre had started to notice more recently. 

“Willi, what’s wrong? We’ve known each other for a long time. You didn’t call me here to congratulate me on solving the case. So, let’s get to the heart of the matter.”

“Sometimes you really give me the creeps,” joked Hellmann, but his laughter sounded brittle. “Heart is certainly the operative word.”

Karre shifted nervously in his chair. Was his friend seriously unwell? His eyes drifted involuntarily to the smouldering Churchill in the ashtray. A thin column of smoke rose from it like the last gasp of a dying house fire. “You shouldn’t touch those things.”

Hellmann said nothing.

“Is it serious?”

Hellmann shook his head. “No, nothing serious. You know me. It takes a lot to knock me down. But my doctor’s advised me to slow down for a while.”

“What does that mean? Thinking about retiring?”

Hellmann gave a short laugh, which turned into a hoarse cough. “God forbid! I’ll take some temporary leave. Two or three weeks. Leni and I will use the time to do some travelling in our motorhome. We’ll head south, I think. We’ve been planning to do it for ages and this is the perfect opportunity.”

“And what’ll happen to the K3? Have you talked to Schumacher yet?”

“I have, which is exactly why I wanted to talk to you. I’d like you to head up the team in my absence.”

Karre stared at Hellmann. After a moment of consideration, he shook his head decisively. “Forget it. Willi, you know I can hardly refuse you. But you also know I don’t care for the role. I’m part of the team and that’s all I want to be. I imagine Götz would jump at the chance, though.”

“And that’s why I’m asking you and not him. I know that leadership wouldn’t change anything in your attitude or the way you work. I wouldn’t have to worry about what damage it might do to the structure and cohesion of our team. And it’s the only way can I take time out and have peace of mind.”

“I’m sure we can find another solution. I hate to say it, but I don’t think I can accept.”

“At least promise me you’ll sleep on it, take a couple of days. But I want a yes the day after tomorrow at the latest.”

Karre got up from his chair with a sigh. “I promise I’ll think about it. But you’re not doing me any favours.”

Hellmann stood up too. “I know. And that’s why I think you’re the right man.”

Karre was about to turn and leave when he registered an unusual twitch in his boss’s face. “Willi? Are you all right?”

Hellmann groaned, clutched his chest with both hands, and slumped back in his chair. “Yes, I’m fine. Go home. I…”

“Willi, stay calm. I’ll call an ambulance.” Hellmann appeared to be short of breath, because he started tugging frantically at his shirt collar. The two top buttons tore off and danced wildly on the table top. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

“No, no doctors… I don’t need a…”

“Bullshit,” hissed Karre. “I’m calling an ambulance to take you to the hospital. And I’ll call Leni too.”

Karre picked up the phone and dialled the emergency number.

Minutes later, the ambulance arrived. Karre watched in silence, his heart racing, as Hellmann received first aid before being taken to the hospital. Not wanting to alarm Leni Hellmann, he decided not to call ahead but to just pick her up and drive her to the hospital. Willi’s cigar was still smouldering. He stubbed it out in the ashtray before hurrying out of the office to his car.

6

Karre came home considerably later than expected and was about to unlock his apartment door, when something startled him. On the stone stairs leading up to the attic sat... Hanna. 

Shit. He’d completely forgotten he’d arranged to spend time with his daughter.

“Nice to see you. I was afraid you’d stood me up.” Hanna looked at her wristwatch. “Well, in a way you did.” The 16-year-old rose from her uncomfortable seat on the stairs and looked at him reproachfully. 

Karre mentally rolled his eyes at the sight of her torn jeans and the t-shirt decorated with a gold sequined skull, which he thought much too tight. But he refrained from commenting on his daughter’s fashion sense, knowing he was on the back foot and would have to somehow make up for his lateness. “I’m... I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I forgot it was our night. It’s just been so busy today.”

Hanna waved dismissively. “It’s OK. It’s not like it’s the first time.”

Despite her attempt to brush it off, Karre could read the disappointment in her face. But before he could think of what to say, Hanna beat him to it.

“Let it go. You’re here now. Let’s make the most of the evening.” She had a bottle of Chianti in her hand, which Karre eyed sceptically. 

He nodded and unlocked the door. “Come in. Let’s get the pasta on.” He watched Hanna walk ahead of him into the apartment. She’d grown up. He thought wistfully about how quickly the time had passed. At sixteen, she was almost an adult. Where was the little girl who played with dolls and with whom he’d spent far too little time? It wouldn’t be long before she was completely independent. He followed her into the kitchen where she handed him the bottle. 

“Can you open it?”

He took it and rummaged through one of the kitchen drawers for a corkscrew. “How are things between you and Mum?”

“Mum? She’s okay.” She didn’t elaborate.

The moment he’d seen her sitting on the stairs, he knew something was wrong. And that it wasn’t just his lateness, but that something else was bothering her. 

The cork came out of the bottle with a loud pop. “That wasn’t my question. Come on, what’s wrong? I’ve known you your whole life. You can’t fool me.”

“Nothing. It’s just…” Suddenly her eyes glistened. Fat tears rolled down her cheeks. There she was again. His little girl.

Karre put the wine down on the kitchen counter and went to his daughter. Without a word, he took her in his arms and Hanna pressed her face against his chest. He stroked her blonde hair and waited patiently until her sobbing stopped. Gently, he separated himself from her, took two wine glasses from the kitchen cupboard and poured. “Shall we go through to the living room? You can tell me what happened.”

Hanna nodded. They sat side by side on the couch and he looked at her enquiringly. “So, tell me. What happened?”

Hanna swallowed. She seemed to be searching for the right words, not knowing how to begin. But then it burst out of her. “We’re going to Hamburg.”

“Cool,” was the first thing to come out of Karre’s mouth. “For the weekend?” But as soon as the words crossed his lips, he realised that wasn’t what Hanna meant. She wasn’t talking about a weekend trip, but about a life-changing decision her mother had made. Against Hanna’s will, he suspected. “What does that mean? Hamburg?”

“She’s got a new job.”

Karre stared at her in astonishment. No matter how hard he tried, he simply couldn’t imagine Sandra giving up her highly paid job at the law firm Engelhardt & Partners, to completely start over somewhere else. “A new job?” he asked incredulously. “Why?”

“How should I know? Do you think she explained it to me? How long have you known her?”

Karre thought her answer had probably sounded ruder and colder than she’d intended. Hanna had clearly been blind-sided once again by one of her mother’s decisions. As usual, she hadn’t consulted her daughter. An issue that had repeatedly driven Karre to distraction during the short time they were married. And which had finally led to their break-up.

“She didn’t tell you? She didn’t explain why she suddenly wants to move to Hamburg?”

Hanna shook her head. “Not only did she not explain it to me, she didn’t even bother to ask me if I wanted to go. But she obviously can’t get there soon enough. I don’t know what’s going on.”

“Do you want me to talk to her?” Karre asked, knowing it would be useless. After almost twenty years, he knew Sandra far too well. Any attempt to dissuade her from a decision she’d already made was futile. 

Hanna’s threw him a look laden with scorn and cynicism. “Do you seriously think that would work?”

Karre avoided her gaze. “No,” he muttered. “But something must have happened to make her want to move cities from one day to the next.”

“Yes, I agree. But believe me, I’ve tried and I can’t get anything out of her.”

“I’ll talk to her anyway. You’re not just her daughter, you’re my daughter too. And she can’t leave with you just because it suits her.”

Hanna nodded despondently. “Well, good luck.” She reached for her glass, took a sip and put it back on the table. She ran the tip of her tongue over her full lips.

Sandra’s lips, thought Karre, and immediately rejected the thought. “When do you leave?”

“Tonight.”

He looked at her uncomprehendingly. “What? Tonight?”

“Mum made appointments with real estate agents to look at apartments tomorrow morning.”

“So soon?” Karre wondered how Sandra had got multiple apartments on the hook so quickly. First, she had very discerning taste. Second, he knew the housing market in Hamburg was highly competitive. He’d heard that the waiting lists for decent housing were endless and the application process was like running the gauntlet. Apparently, Sandra’s good contacts were once again enabling her to pursue her goals with her usual tenacity – and with little consideration for the other people in her life. It didn’t surprise him. What surprised him a little was that she didn’t even modify this behaviour for her own daughter.

“Her new boss probably pulled a few strings. Anyway, she has a bunch of brochures at home. Fancy apartments, but I’m just not into Hamburg.”

“What about school?”

Hanna shrugged. “I don’t know, I assume there are schools in Hamburg.”

Karre took several deep breaths. He’d really have to work hard to keep it together the next time he saw Sandra. He considered suggesting to Hanna that she stay with him instead of moving with her mother, when his daughter interrupted his train of thought.

“Mum will pick me up around ten.”

He looked at his watch. That didn’t leave them much time. Just over half an hour. “Shall we have a quick dinner? I can make spaghetti...”

Hanna shook her head. “Thanks, but I’m not hungry.”

Boiling with rage, Karre watched as Hanna’s eyes fill with tears again. He kissed her forehead and took her in his arms.

He didn’t know how long they’d been sitting like that, but at some point Hanna broke away from him and wiped her red eyes with the back of her hand. “Maybe Hamburg isn’t that bad. And I can come and visit you on the weekends.”

Now it was Karre’s turn to fight back tears. “No. I mean, I’m sure it’s not bad. It might even be cool. But I’ll miss you. Anyway, this is definitely not the last word on the subject. Your mother doesn’t have sole custody. So I’ll have something to say about that... if you want me to.”

“Sure. I just don’t think it’ll do any good. Mum’s made up her mind.”

“We’ll see. I want to at least hear it from her. When are you coming back?”

“Sunday night.”

“I’ll talk to her. As soon as possible. Maybe I’ll be able to change her mind.” At that moment the doorbell rang. “At least she’s on time,” Karre muttered as he got up and went to the door. The intercom buzzed and Karre waited impatiently for Sandra to reach the top floor of the building.

“Hey,” he said, and sized her up as though it was their first encounter.

“Hello.” 

Sandra was standing inches away from him, so that the scent of her perfume filled his nose. She wore high-heels, tight jeans and a white blouse, under which the gentle hills of her small, shapely breasts stood out. Over it she wore a black blazer.

“Would you like to come in?”

Sandra nodded. “But only for a moment. We have to leave soon.”

Karre stepped aside and let her in.

Since she knew her way around the apartment, she didn’t wait for him, but went straight to Hanna in the living room. Karre followed her. “Hanna told me about your Hamburg plans. What’s going on?”

“What do you think’s going on? Someone offered me a job I’d like to accept.”

Karre knew she’d already accepted the offer, but he didn’t want to fan the flames by contradicting her. “And it didn’t occur to you to ask Hanna’s opinion? Your plans affect her too.”

“Hanna’s still a child,” Sandra replied. She seemed to have forgotten Hanna was sitting next to her.

“She’s not a child anymore. She’s sixteen.” Karre had so far kept a lid on his anger, but now he was struggling hide it. “And she has every right to have a say.” He was instantly transported back to the days when he and Sandra’s marriage was hurtling towards the edge of a cliff. They’d had an endless series of similar arguments. And the way she was now looking at him, eyes glinting, gave him a strong sense of déjà vu.

But instead of engaging with him, Sandra turned to Hanna. “Come on, we need to go.”

Now it was Hanna’s eyes that flashed dangerously. “I’m not going to Hamburg. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stay with Dad. If you really want to go – leave. But I’m out.” She got up from the couch and stood in front of her mother, arms crossed defiantly in front of her chest.

“Oh no, little lady. I’m not discussing this with you. Especially not here and now. Get your things and come with me.”

“Can you tell me what’s going on, please?” Karre challenged her again. He was on the verge of losing his temper.

“No, I can’t. At least, not now,” Sandra replied. Then she turned to Hanna again. “Well? I’m waiting!”

Hanna threw Karre an imploring look. “Daddy, I…”

“Sandra, please. Let’s talk this through…”

“No!” She sounded more determined than ever, and it was clear in her voice that she wouldn’t tolerate contradiction. “I will not discuss this any further with you!” Without even looking at Karre, she stormed into the hall, flung open the door and stood waiting for Hanna.

Hanna ran past Karre, tears streaming down her face. Without exchanging another word with her mother, she stormed down the stairs.

Once Karre thought Hanna was out of earshot, he turned to his ex-wife. “Can you please explain to me what all this drama is about? And what’s this crap about Hamburg? I’m well aware you attach little importance to the opinions of others. But what you’re doing right now is really overstepping the mark.”

Sandra glanced behind her into the stairwell. There was no sign of Hanna. She leaned close to Karre and hissed, “You have no idea what I’m going through.”

“Of course I haven’t. How could I? Why don’t you tell me? I think you owe me that much.” He paused for a moment. “No, not me. Hanna. So, what is it you’re going through?”

“Just to be clear, I don’t owe you anything. And as for Hanna... I’m her mother, so...”

“And that’s precisely why you owe her an explanation. If you don’t feel the need to explain yourself to me, at least be fair to Hanna and stop treating her like a child.”

Sandra shook her head. Hot, red spots had formed on her neck and cheeks. She trembled and her voice shook as she whispered, “I’ll explain everything to you. And Hanna, too. I promise. But not now.”

Karre put his hand on Sandra’s forearm. “You can tell me everything. You can trust me.”

“I know.”

“So, what the hell’s going on?”

Sandra shook her head. “We have to go. I’m sorry.” She leaned in again and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before turning on her heels and hurrying downstairs after Hanna.

Karre stood motionless, listening to the clatter of her heels on the stone steps. Only once the door on the ground floor had slammed shut behind her did he go back into his apartment.

He poured himself a glass of Chianti and thought about the solved case. He thought of Willi Hellmann, whom he hoped would recover quickly. And he thought of Hanna on her way to Hamburg with her mother. On a road of no return. It was to be the last day of his old life. Less than three hours later, things would never be the same again. 

DECEPTION

The deadly hunt continues…

After the dramatic events of ‘Sacrifice’, Karre and the K3 team have no time for respite before the double murder of a young couple presents the detectives with another puzzle. No one seems to have a motive for the cold-blooded crime. But what at first appears to be an indiscriminate killing gradually reveals itself to be a murderous conspiracy of unimaginable proportions.

The more Karre and his colleagues drive the investigation forward, the more they put themselves and others in mortal danger. The investigative team gets caught in a spiral of death and corruption, from which there is no escape.

Also by Tim Svart

Books in the Karre & Viktoria Crime Series :

SACRIFICE – Karre & Viktoria book 1

DECEPTION – Karre & Viktoria book 2

BETRAYAL – Karre & Viktoria book 3

REVENGE – COMING SOON

★★★★★ SPECIAL OFFER ★★★★★

E-book collection: Karre & Viktoria (books 1–3)