Page 32 of Anatomy of a Killer
‘For God’s sake, what kept you?’ Ludwig’s grey hair looks totally dishevelled; he must have been running his fingers through it while he was waiting outside police HQ in the drizzle, getting ever more nervous.
‘I’m sorry, I’m really sorry! The taxi didn’t come for ages.’
Now comes the roasting. I’m lucky; if it wasn’t for his enormous heart, he’d be long gone by now. Especially after everything I’ve done. I know at once he’s talking about the folder.
‘I can explain.’
‘What’s there to explain, Anni? You asked me if you could have my documents and I said no. But instead of respecting that, you stole them from me. I realised yesterday evening that the folder was missing. You were lucky I resisted the urge to jump in my car and drive over to read you the riot act.’
‘You could have called me.’
‘Would you have answered if you’d seen it was my number?’
‘No.’
‘No,’ he repeats, shaking his head in resignation.
‘I’m sorry.’
‘We’re not done with this, my girl.’ He points to the building in front of us. ‘So, what are we doing here?’
I’m well aware that my statement is long and muddled. I’m likewise aware that duty inspectors prefer listening to long, muddled statements on regular workdays rather than at the fag end of Boxing Day, where such things just mean overtime– time they’d rather be spending with their families. I don’t hold it against Inspector Brandner that he makes me sense all of this as he looks at me across his desk. He’s about the same age as Ludwig, with thinning hair, large bags under his eyes and frown lines that suggest he’s often narrowed his eyes at all the things he’s seen and heard during his many years in this job. Even when he doesn’t, he still looks sceptical. If he didn’t know Ludwig personally and have huge respect for him, I bet the inspector would have fobbed me off with a ‘pop in another time’ rather than allow me to sit here now. On the other hand, two officers were supposed to have questioned me at the hospital about the events at the construction site, but I was in too much shock to be of any use. So they asked me to go to police HQ the moment I felt better.
Now I am feeling better and I’m here with the complete chronology of the day, ending with my conversation with Marcus Steinhausen’s sister-in-law.
‘Okay, Frau Lesniak, duly noted. Thanks.’ That’s all.
I look to Ludwig for help, who’s sitting beside me like an embarrassed father before his badly behaved daughter’s headmaster. And the worst thing is that he’s saying nothing.
‘Marcus Steinhausen was obsessed first with his brother’s family and then with the Mellers. He told his sister-in-law he’d got himself a girlfriend. She recalls that the name began with M. M for Michelle. Don’t you understand? Marcus Steinhausen lied! Just as he lied to Michelle when he passed off his brother’s family as his own.’
No reaction, neither from Ludwig nor Brandner.
‘Okay,’ I say, acknowledging defeat. ‘I admit I’ve no idea how all of this fits together. But it’s clear that itdoesfit together. And that Steinhausen is someone it’s worth taking a closer look into. With his history and his obvious psychological issues, he fits the profile of the ribbon murderer far better than my father.’
The inspector raises his eyebrows in amazement. ‘The profile?’
I nod keenly. ‘Whatever Meller did and however wrong it was– I think he was correct. Marcus Steinhausen—’
Brandner turns to Ludwig. ‘Did she just say something about “the profile”?’
And that was it. Brandner laughs as if he’s just heard a brilliant joke. And I’m the punchline. A civilian who feels the calling to investigate. Hilarious. Then comes a lecture, delivered in a serious tone. My father is not in custody on some whim, and certainly not without reason. And Steinhausen was eliminated as a potential suspect years ago because he had alibis. Perhaps– an artificially sympathetic look– I should consider getting professional help to deal with my personal circumstances, which must be difficult. Not a police professional, but somebody familiar with the human psyche. A professional like Eva.
I don’t say anything else; I just listen until Brandner has finished and says goodbye, not without the words, ‘Get better soon’– of course not.
Shame. (Ann, 9 years old)
When your ashamed it feels like you shrink until your very small. But you wish you could be even smaller and even invisible for a bit. But unfortunately your not invisible, you can see this because everyone stares at you. And the staring burns you so badly that your face goes red and your ears get very hot. That’s very embarassing.
We drive in Ludwig’s car. He offers me his spare room for the night. We could go out to a restaurant first or order a takeaway if I don’t feel like being out in public. I just want to go home. ‘It’s been a difficult day, Anni,’ he tries. ‘It’s a difficult time for you overall at the—’
‘Please, Ludwig, leave it.’
He shakes his head. ‘I can’t, my girl. Your father isn’t here to look after you. But I am.’
‘And that’s why you left me high and dry in front of Inspector Brandner? I could have done with your support.’
‘Anni, you’ve got to stop getting obsessed by all of this. You saw today what happened to your friend Eva. Isn’t that enough? What more has to happen?’
