Authors: Nele Neuhaus

Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #World Literature, #European, #German, #Mystery; Thriller & Suspense, #Mystery, #International Mystery & Crime, #Police Procedurals

I Am Your Judge: A Novel (64 page)

EPILOGUE

Saturday, June 8, 2013

White tents on the green lawn, happy people at tables and on benches, with a marvelous, cloudless sky of early summer overhead. The aroma of grilled meat hung in the air, mixed with the indescribably sweet scent of freshly mown grass.

“This is exactly how I’d imagined our wedding,” said Pia, smiling at Christoph. “A really lovely party!”

“The loveliest party for the most wonderful woman in the world.” Christoph wrapped his arms around her and held her close.

In February, they had officially announced their marriage, although they had decided long before to celebrate their wedding with a casual summer party at Birkenhof. Pia had no desire for a white wedding gown; she thought it was foolish at her age and for her second marriage. So she was now celebrating with family and friends. Starting at noon, they had been barbecuing, drinking, and laughing. Christoph’s daughters were there, and Lilly and her parents had flown in from Australia for the party. Henning and Miriam, who had patched things up after the crisis on New Year’s Eve, were there, too, along with many of Pia and Christoph’s friends and colleagues. Even Pia’s parents had come, since she had reestablished contact with them after the fiasco at Christmas. Christoph had used his charm to work his magic on her mother.

“I need to replenish the grill,” he now said, giving Pia a kiss. “Can you manage without me for a moment?”

“Only with a heavy heart.” She grinned and went over to the table where her colleagues were sitting. Bodenstein had brought his daughter Sophia, who was romping about with Lilly somewhere on the farm. He had broken up with Inka Hansen earlier in the year.

In September, the trial of Professor Ulrich Hausmann for the murder of Helen Stadler was slated to begin. Once again, it was forensic technology that had provided the evidence. In the lab, it was determined that the skin particles found under Helen Stadler’s fingernails belonged to Hausmann. It was Simon Burmeister’s Porsche that was captured by the traffic camera in Kelsterbach, but in the photo, it was clearly his boss who was behind the wheel. When arrested, he admitted that on September 16, 2012, he had pushed Helen Stadler off a bridge in front of a high-speed train.

Professor Dieter P. Rudolf was indicted for the murders of Kirsten Stadler and Fritz Gehrke and charged with negligent manslaughter in at least three additional instances. He was facing possible life in prison. Even Dr. Simon Burmeister, despite his handicap, could not count on escaping prison time. He would have to answer for at least three counts of negligent manslaughter. Dr. Arthur Janning, who had given his tacit agreement to shut off life support for Kirsten Stadler, was indicted by the state attorney as an accessory to murder.

On the same day that Stadler’s body was found, Mark Thomsen was set free. He went on to write a book about the death of his son, the Kirsten Stadler case, and the exposure of the machinations of Rudolf and Burmeister. The book became a bestseller.

Erik Stadler had his father quietly buried in his sister’s grave.

Jens-Uwe Hartig was tried on suspicion of grievous bodily harm to Dr. Simon Burmeister, but since his participation could not be proved, he was acquitted for lack of evidence. He sold his goldsmith studio and moved out of the area.

Karoline Albrecht had broken off contact with her father for good. Pia had learned this in passing from Bodenstein when he told her about the offer that his mother-in-law had made him. Supposedly, he had received advice on the matter from Ms. Albrecht, but Pia suspected there was more to it than that.

“So are you going to quit your job?” Pia had asked Bodenstein, stunned by the news.

“Only if you want it,” he replied.

“Oh no, not me,” Pia had said. “I’m quite happy the way things are.”

“Then I’ll stay,” he’d said with a grin. “Our boss might not agree to me moonlighting anyway.”

A car came through the open gate.

“Who could that be?” Kai asked.

“The later the evening, the lovelier the guests.” Pia got up from the bench. “That’s Kim’s car.”

“I thought she wasn’t coming,” said Christoph.

“And look who she brought with her,” said Pia with a smile when she saw Dr. Nicola Engel getting out of Kim’s car, looking unusually casual in a white shirt, jeans, and moccasins.

“Did you invite our boss?” asked Bodenstein in surprise as he stood up.

“The invitation said ‘and guest,’ if you recall,” Pia replied.

Kim and Nicola came over to them.

“Please excuse us for arriving late, Ms. Kirchh … uh … Ms. Sander.” Nicola Engel winked at Pia. “I’m going to have to get used to the new name. And you must be the happy groom?”

“The ecstatic groom,” Christoph corrected her, shaking hands. “Great that you could join us.”

He waved to one of the caterers they had hired for the party.

“Every new guest is a new reason to drink a toast!” Christoph said with a laugh, putting his arm around Pia. The champagne flowed freely, and they all clinked glasses.

“By the way,” said Nicola Engel. “There’s a good reason for our late arrival. I got a call from France, and then had to inform the state attorney’s office. Last night in Paris, someone was arrested who we’d thought was dead. He was recognized by a young woman and positively identified. Then the French police arrested him even though he had a diplomatic passport and a new name.”

“Don’t keep us in suspense,” said Bodenstein.

“Dr. Marcus Maria Frey,” said the commissioner with a smile that was more relaxed than Pia had ever seen from her. “The wheels of justice turn slowly—but they do keep turning.”

“That definitely calls for a toast—and before the champagne gets warm,” Bodenstein said. “Cheers!”

“Hey, when are you going to kiss the bride?” Kai called out, and the other guests happily took up the chant.

“Kiss the bride! Kiss the bride!” they shouted.

“Just a moment.” Christoph took Pia’s glass and handed it to Bodenstein along with his own. Then he took Pia in his arms.

“I love you, Ms. Sander,” he whispered, looking tenderly into Pia’s eyes.

“And I love you, Mr. Sander,” she replied with a smile.

Beyond the Taunus hills, the fiery red sun was sinking as the guests clapped and whistled their approval. Could there ever be a more perfect moment for a kiss?

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

My biggest thanks go to my editor, Marion Vazquez, who during the development of the plot was always available with helpful suggestions. She also put the final polish on the manuscript.

I thank Susanne Hecker for her critical feedback in the initial stages, which often put me on the right path.

Also a gigantic thank-you to my first readers, who gave me support, advice, and constructive criticism in the early phases of doubt: my mother, Carola Löwenberg; and my sisters Claudia Cohen and Camilla Altvater; my agent, Andrea Wildgruber; and my friends Simone Schreiber, Catrin Runge, and Vanessa Müller-Raidt.

I thank Mr. Reinhard Sturm for the opportunity to participate in a “crime-scene inspection,” and Chief Detective Inspector Andrea Rupp for helpful comments regarding police work.

I thank all my professional advisers for tips and comments and ask their forbearance with my occasional exercise of literary freedom in modifying facts to fit the story.

Thank you to everyone at the publishing house of Ullstein Verlag for their wonderful cooperation once again.

I would also like to thank my readers all over the world who enjoy my books, for their tremendous enthusiasm and for giving me the motivation to keep coming up with new stories.

A big thank-you to my U.S. editor, Daniela Rapp, and my publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for the great trust and the fruitful collaboration. A thousand thanks to my American translator, Steven T. Murray, and his wife, Tiina Nunnally, who have once again succeeded beautifully in translating my words.

And finally I would like to thank the most important person in my life: my partner, Matthias Knöss, who offers me such attentive and unselfish support, always encouraging and advising. He makes it possible for me to concentrate completely on my work. Thank you, my darling.

Nele Neuhaus
, July 2014

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

NELE NEUHAUS
storms the German bestseller charts with each of her crime novels featuring investigative team Pia Kirchhoff and Oliver von Bodenstein. There are now more than five million copies of her books in print. She is also the author of
Snow White Must Die
,
Bad Wolf
, and
The Ice Queen
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