The Defeated Aristocrat (13 page)

‘This latest victim, Dedleff Gluck?’

Wolf hesitated before answering. ‘I’ve no doubt you’re tired of hearing about the hell that was the Western Front.’

‘I’ve listened to enough men to know that no one who wasn’t there can begin to comprehend what it was like.’

‘A tactful reply, Kriminaldirektor. Every soldier developed his own way of coping. For Dedleff it was schnapps. The rougher the better. It made him unpredictable at best and violent at worst. I took his gun from him on more than one occasion.’

‘He tried to kill you?’

‘Me, the other officers, the men.’ Wolf shrugged.

‘You didn’t have Gluck arrested?’

‘For being drunk and threatening his fellow officers?’ Wolf smiled. ‘I couldn’t have done that without charging every officer in the battalion with the same offence. We were all guilty of bad behaviour at one time or another and Gluck’s violent tendencies were an asset when directed at the enemy.’

‘I’ve heard men say that you – not you personally – but all the soldiers looked out and covered for one another.’

‘Constantly The officers looked out for one another and the ranks. The ranks generally only for their comrades although they did their best to protect the more popular officers. With few exceptions we became closer than brothers. Past lives and social distinctions are of little importance when the only concern is survival. Most of us believed it would tempt fate to plan further ahead than the next minute. We lived in the same stinking holes, ate the same disgusting food, laughed at the same sick jokes. We lived with the certainty that any moment could be our last. A stray bullet or shell could blow us to kingdom come and if it was a shell, in shards of liver sausage. That’s why I find it difficult to tell you anything more personal about those three men.’

Georg turned to Peter. ‘When you finish your beer, go to headquarters and get measured for your uniform. Tell the duty sergeant to put you on the rota from tomorrow morning.’

‘Yes, sir.’ Peter drained his stein and left his chair.

‘Is Pippi moving back with the children today?’ Georg asked.

‘She’s hoping to come in on the evening train, sir.’

‘I look forward to having you all living in the same house as me again. Remember, not a word to anyone about the identity of the third victim. The family haven’t been told.’

‘Yes, sir.’ Peter left.

Georg leaned back in his chair and reached for his cigars. ‘Now we’re alone, with no record being made of our conversation, perhaps you’ll tell me exactly what these three men were like and list their closest friends. If for no other reason than one of them could be the killer’s next target.’ He handed Wolf a cigar, notebook and pencil. Wolf set the cigar on the table, picked up the pencil and started writing.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Inn on Kohlmarkt, The Kneiphof, Konigsberg, Saturday January 11th 1919

‘Twelve of the officers in the regiment who survived until five of us were captured by the British in Flanders in April last year were from Konigsberg. Six from the same university corps.’

‘The names of those captured.’

Wolf drew a line down the page. ‘I’ll list them on the right. ‘Captain Peter Plewe, Captain Josef Baumgarten …’

‘Any relation of the Baumgartens who own the stores?’

‘Isaac’s son. Captain Ralf Frank.’

‘Timm Frank’s son?’ Georg asked.

‘Yes.’

‘I see what you mean about past lives. You couldn’t get two more different men.’

‘Or closer friends. Ralf Frank risked his life on more than one occasion to save Josef – and others.’

‘The Franks are interesting.’

‘I can only speak for Ralf. I’ve never met a braver man.’ Wolf met Georg’s eye.

‘Timm Frank supplies us with information from time to time.’

‘Us, being the police?’ Wolf suspected Georg had only divulged the information in an effort to gain his trust.

‘Timm Frank is what police officers call an “honest rogue”. He’ll do anything to avoid paying import duty and taxes and happily trade in goods any ship’s captain wants to offload, no questions asked. If a woman chooses to tout her body in his bar, providing it’s her free will, he’ll turn a blind eye. But he baulks at rape, murder, and violence for no reason. Over the years he’s helped us send more than one killer to the guillotine. Not that he’d thank me for telling you that.’

‘No one will hear it from me, sir.’

‘That’s good to know. You said five were captured by the British?’

‘Lieutenant Helmut Norde is the fifth.’

‘I don’t know him.’

‘He was a bank clerk before the war.’

Georg replenished their steins. ‘You didn’t get on with him?’

‘As you appear to be able to read minds, I see that I’m going to have to watch myself around you. Norde is prickly, easy to give offence and take it where none – or,’ Wolf paused, ‘almost none is intended. The seven officers who weren’t captured with us include the three victims. The others are Luther Kappel, Emil Grunman, Reiner Schult, and Dolf Engels. All lieutenants.’

‘You said some of you were in the same university corps.’

‘Josef Baumgarten, Anton von Braunsch, Ralf Frank, Dolf Engels, Peter Plewe, and myself.’

‘Did any of the twelve have any particular vices?’

‘That depends on your definition of vices. Whores and drink were freely available behind the front lines. Violence was commonplace and not always directed at the enemy. How many men on the list have become police officers?’

Georg studied it. ‘Aside from the three victims, Peter, Luther Kappel, and you, if you’ll accept a position, Mau.’

‘Me?’

‘Peter said you might be looking for work.’

‘I need to support myself and my son, but I hadn’t thought of wearing a uniform again.’

‘The police force isn’t the army. Is your son living with you?’

‘We’re moving in with my brother in Gebaur Strasse,’ Wolf confirmed.

‘Pippi told me your wife remarried.’

‘I’m applying for an annulment.’ Wolf closed the personal aspect of the conversation.

‘So, I’m asking formally, would you be interested in working with the police?’

Wolf picked up on the odd choice of words. ‘With the police, not for the police?’

‘To all intents and purposes you’d be an officer, other than publicly. I’ll explain in a moment. You’d start as an assistant. The lowest rank, three grades below Peter. You’d have to take orders from me and you might have to take orders from him. Could you cope with that?’

‘It would be a welcome change.’

‘For a colonel?’

‘Ex-colonel anxious to rid himself of the burden of responsibility.’

‘In that case I’ll arrange for you to be added to the payroll tomorrow, but you’ll be paid directly from my office.’

‘That sounds mysterious.’

‘It’s not usual to involve anyone related to a victim in a case but there are many aspects to this case and none of them are “usual”. Did your brother-in-law frequent brothels?’

‘Occasionally, but he had no objection to amateurs. He had difficulty keeping his trousers buttoned. On the Western Front he could always be found in one of two places, the trenches when under orders, and beneath a blue light when he wasn’t.’

‘A blue light?’ Georg questioned.

‘Officers’ brothels had blue lights, ranks, red. As a captain Anton was entitled to patronise blue light establishments. Generally speaking they had prettier, cleaner girls.’

‘Nils Dresdner?’

‘Nils like Anton had a propensity for visiting brothels.’

‘But not Dedleff Gluck?’

‘When he wasn’t in a trench he was in a bar. A visit to a girl would have cut into his drinking time. He was married to Lilli Richter, wasn’t he?’’

‘He was,’ Georg made a note.

‘Does she know that her husband is the latest victim?’

‘Not yet.’

‘All three victims returned from military service and became police officers. I’ve recently returned and you’ve offered me a job. Do you intend to use me as bait?’ Wolf enquired.

‘I would like to draw on your expertise and in order to do that I need you alive.’

‘Do you think the killer’s a member of the city police force?’

‘Dresdner was young, single, and had an eye for the ladies. If rumours are correct, including brother officers’ wives. Although Anton was apparently happily married his behaviour suggests he also had an eye for the ladies. Given that both were emasculated, their genitals removed and stuffed into their mouths, it’s possible their killer was a jealous husband or over-protective father. But that’s only a theory. And theories without evidence are worthless.’ Georg opened his briefcase, removed a file of photographs and opened it.

Wolf had developed a strong stomach during five years of war but he was revolted by the sight of the mutilations even in sepia. Colour would have been hard to take. He picked up the topmost picture. ‘Where was this one taken?’

‘Site of the first murder, Wasser Strasse. The photographs numbered from 30 onwards are of the Koggen Strasse murder.’

‘Before the war Wasser Strasse had more beer shops than any other in the vicinity, Koggen Strasse two brothels.’

‘Both have more now,’ Georg revealed.

‘Didn’t anyone see or hear anything?’ Wolf questioned.

‘Not that they wanted to tell a police officer, but the doctor who examined the second body confirmed Dresdner wouldn’t have been able to make a sound once the scold’s bridle was fastened on his head because a tongue depressor was attached to the mouthpiece. He gave me an excellent medical report.’ He handed it to Wolf. ‘As you see from the signature, the doctor was your brother.’

‘He told me he’d been called to one of the crime scenes.’

‘The reports the police surgeon gave me on von Braunsch and Gluck aren’t worth reading. Your brother was thorough, he wasn’t. You asked if I think the killer could be connected to the police. I don’t know but I can’t discount the idea. I was conducting a search of an incoming vessel for contraband the night von Braunsch was killed. Officer Klein was with me, so I can rule him out as a suspect. He’s conscientious and trustworthy which is why if you take the position I’m offering you, he, along with Peter, will be your point of contact.’

‘Is he related to Klein the ambersmith?’

‘His grandson. He volunteered to join the army but was rejected because of lung disease. He was discharged from a sanatorium a year ago. I can be certain he and Hugo Blau aren’t involved in the murders because Blau was on duty in the station when Dresdner was killed. You and Peter were out of the country so you’re in the clear. As circumstances demand I investigate my own force, I’m appointing you chief investigator.’

‘Albeit on low pay.’ Wolf couldn’t resist the reminder.

‘With excellent prospects of a rapid rise through the ranks if you assist me in solving this case.’

‘Peter?’

‘I’ll brief him to keep an ear out for gossip and signs of affairs among officers and the wives of officers.’

‘And watch his back, given the similarities between his situation and the victims?’

‘I’ll keep him close. I have no intention of making my daughter a widow. Officers spoke to everyone in Wasser Strasse and Koggen Strasse after the killings and came up with no useful information. Either people genuinely didn’t see or hear anything or they’re not prepared to talk to the police, which is where you come in.’

‘You think people will talk to me before a police officer?’

‘Why shouldn’t they? Your name is well respected in the city. You mentioned you intend to move in with your brother?’

‘I do,’ Wolf confirmed.

‘I have something else in mind for you. How well do you know Lilli Richter?’

‘The daughter of the editor of the
Konigsberg Zeit
? Fairly well. She was in school with my sister, Lotte, who also works for the newspaper, I believe for Lilli Richter’

‘I haven’t released  any information about the third victim to the press, and won’t until I inform Lilli Richter that her husband is dead. I want you to study the photographs before seeing his body. I’ll take you to the crime scene when the room is clear. I don’t want anyone other than Klein, Blau, and Peter to know you’re working for me.’

‘Won’t that be difficult when I report for duty?’

‘You won’t report for duty or wear a uniform. Lilli Richter is advertising an apartment for rent in her father’s house. I want you to take it so you can monitor anything untoward that happens there, especially at night. . By day you’ll mingle with the people in the city, or to be more precise the people who frequent the streets along the waterfront.’

‘Won’t they wonder what I’m living on?’

‘Tell them you’re using pre-wartime savings. How are your card skills?’

‘Average. Better than some, worse than most.’

‘I’ll arrange for you to take a crash course, that way you’ll have an excuse to frequent the bars and brothels. You may even make some money. There’s always a game somewhere.’

‘I’d prefer to ask Ralf Frank to coach me. I’ve never been able to work out how he cheats, only that he does.’

‘If he’s anything like his father that’s a wise choice. If you run into too many suspicious people I’ll ask Timm to offer you a cover job as a dealer in his backroom.’

‘You’re that close?’

‘He owes me a few favours.’

‘We – the five of us who were captured by the British – are meeting in the Green Stork in Wasser Strasse a week tonight.’

‘Excellent. As a friend of the Franks you’ll have no problems being accepted by the right – or – wrong people.’

‘Why do you want me to move into the Richters’s house?’

‘The notes Lilli Richter received. When the first was delivered around three in the morning she assumed it was a hoax. She ignored it until half past nine when she went to the address to investigate and found von Braunsch’s body. When the second was delivered, like the first in the early hours, she telephoned the station and met me in Koggen Strasse. Headquarters knew about the murder of Dresdner before Lilli arrived because a maid who went to the room to change the sheets found the corpse and alerted us.’

‘This morning?’