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Yasira sighs. “All right. I’ll talk to the boss.”
She sends Steven Gebhardt the link and calls him at home right away. The boss is already watching the video when he picks up the phone. Even before the submachine gun goes off, he is already furious.
“Who do these people think they are?” he shouts. “Where do they think they live? In the Wild West?”
What a strangely old-fashioned turn of phrase, Yasira thinks. The boss really is from another generation—probably read a lot of Westerns back in the day.
“I’d like to...” she begins.
“Do you have any leads on the identity of this murderer?” she is interrupted by Steven Gebhardt.
“Leads, yes. Evidence, no. But the indications point to Bear.”
“The one from Active Homeland-Protection?”
Yasira nods.
“I’d like to issue a search warrant for him,” says Yasira. “Or we can search for him as a witness first.”
“Issue the search warrant!” Steven Gebhardt shouts. “Better yesterday than today. I need results, Ms. Saad. And quickly. Find this self-appointed avenger! Find the rapists and find the girl! Preferably alive.”
“Yeah,” Yasira says. Wishing doesn’t hurt. Not that it helps either.
“We need to prove that the rule of law works!” shouts her boss. “And not next week or in a month!”
“Yes, boss.”
“All our resources are at your disposal,” Gebhardt says. “You have carte blanche!” Then he hangs up.
For the first time, Yasira realizes that this case could not only cost her head and neck. Her boss is also worried. The opposition is already demanding consequences from the interior minister. Eventually the pressure will become so great that consequences will have to follow. The minister will certainly not want to resign herself. And Yasira may be a too small sacrificial pawn. So Steven Gebhardt could be affected too.
As discussed, Yasira has a nationwide search warrant issued for Bear. The response is prompt. The same people who celebrated Bear as their hero after the execution video on the basis of circumstantial evidence are now condemning the police for issuing a wanted notice for Bear on the basis of “only” the same circumstantial evidence. Some people have their own logic.
Unfortunately, they don’t get very far with their search this Sunday. Bear remains a phantom. All leads about his identity or whereabouts turn up nothing. Either he is a loner or his people are fiercely loyal to him. He also seems to have gone into hiding before his first video. Perhaps he’s even abroad.
At the end of this fruitless day, when almost everyone except Michael and Yasira has already left, Jenny knocks again.
“There’s something you should know,” she says.
“I assume it’s nothing pleasant,” Yasira replies.
“No.”
“We’re in the wrong profession for that,” says Michael. “If you like good news, then you should have...” he hesitates. Obviously he can’t think of a profession where you get showered with good news.
“I just wanted you to know that online you’re being blamed for the alleged ‘manhunt’ for Bear,” says Jenny.
Michael looks as if to say, I told you so. Yasira massages her forehead.
“Your name and picture are doing the rounds in right-wing forums and chat groups,” Jenny continues.
“What about my address?” asks Yasira. She has a queasy feeling in her stomach.
“So far I haven’t come across it. At least not your private address. The office address, yes, but that’s no secret.”
“What about my daughter?”
Jenny shakes her head.
