Rosa (44 page)

It was nearly a minute before either of them could say a word. Hoffner spat. “You all right?” he said, still breathing heavily.

Fichte was having trouble focusing. The door had done more damage than Hoffner had imagined. Fichte was trying to rub his shoulder when Lina raced out onto the street. She was holding her coat, and stood there motionless as the door clicked shut behind her.

Hoffner got himself upright. The bandaging was now useless and only making things worse. “Put on your coat,” he said. “You’ll freeze.”

Without thinking, Lina did as she was told.

Fichte had recovered enough to lift his head. “You always do what he tells you?”

Hoffner said, “Watch yourself, Hans.”

Fichte let go with a cruel laugh. “That’s rich. And what do you need to watch?”

Hoffner’s head was buzzing; he thought he might be sick, and he bent over. Lina was still by the door. She had pulled her coat tight around herself, her arms crossed, her hands tucked up under her chin. She was doing all she could not to cry.

“Feeling sorry for yourself?” said Fichte. “That’s a laugh.”

“Shut up, Hans.” Her face became laced with anger. “Don’t tell me anything. Not a thing. You think I don’t know what’s been going on with you? You think I didn’t know all along? Did you hear anything I said last night?”

Fichte shook his head sloppily. “Since Belgium,” he said. “Since before any of this, which makes you a whore.” He looked over at Hoffner. “Congratulations. You made her a whore.”

Hoffner saw Lina raise her hand to strike Fichte, and he quickly reached over. Her arm was shaking when he caught it; Hoffner tried to pull her into him, but she threw him off, barking out in frustration as she stepped away. Hoffner could feel her loathing as he leaned back against the wall. Fichte had slouched over his open knees, his arms resting on his legs. Lina kept her back to both of them.

Staring down at the ground, Fichte said aimlessly, “You’re a son of a bitch, you know.”

Not much question in that, thought Hoffner. “Yes,” he said. “I know.”

There was a long silence. “I thought I was in love with her,” said Fichte. “I did.”

Lina turned toward him, the rage now in her eyes. She stared at Fichte’s hulking shoulders and his blotchy skin, at his enormous fingers clenched together in one giant fist. “Shut up, Hans,” she said bitterly.

Fichte bobbed his head once. “‘Shut up, Hans,’” he echoed.

Hoffner said quietly, “Maybe he did.”

Lina shot him an icy glance and again turned away.

Hoffner felt a strange sense of relief, not in the discovery or the accusations, but in the simple truth of it all. No one was blameless, least of all himself, and there was something comforting in knowing that they all saw that now. Lina stared away, Hans peered down at his boots, but it was themselves that they could not bear to face. Their own betrayals were writ large by the presence of the other two now here: Hoffner with Fichte, Hoffner with Lina. Hoffner himself had never denied his role in all of this, and so couldn’t share in their shame.

He said to Lina, “We need to get you home.”

Both Fichte and Lina looked over. Her powder was streaked. She seemed at the edge of herself, but she managed a nod.

Fichte stared in disbelief. “You must be mad,” he said. “You think I’m going to let you take her home?”

“No one’s taking her home, Hans,” he said. “We’ll find her a cab.”

“So you can get into the next one and follow her out there? You think I’m stupid?”

Lina cut in furiously, “You think I’d let him come? You think I’d let either of you?”

It was too much for Fichte, who was having trouble following. He searched for something else to say, but instead settled for dropping his head to his chest.

Hoffner stepped over and took Lina’s arm; she put up no resistance. “Wait here, Hans.”

They found a taxi stand around the corner. They had walked in silence, although Lina had allowed him to keep his arm in hers. He opened the door and they stood there, staring at each other. It was only then that he felt regret, not for their past but for the pain he saw in her eyes.

“He’ll be fine,” he said, trying to find something to console her.

This only seemed to make things worse. “You think that’s what this is?” she said. Hoffner had no answer. She spoke quietly and without accusation. “He called me a whore and you said nothing.” The word slapped at him. “Is that what you think, that I’m a whore?”

Hoffner stood stunned. She was capable of inflicting pain; he had never known that. “No,” he said. He wanted to believe that the sudden swimming in his head was from the ribs or the whiskey, but he knew better. “No,” he repeated.

It was not nearly enough. Hoffner started to say something else, but she stepped past him and into the cab. Unwilling to look at him, she sat back and stared straight ahead.

Hoffner knew there was nothing to be said now. He watched her a moment longer and then shut the door. He told the driver where to take her and handed the man a few coins, more than enough to get her home.

Fichte was gone by the time he got back. It would be an early night for everyone. Hoffner wondered what Martha would make of that.

THE THIRD PRISONER

He had made the reservations for tomorrow, Thursday morning.

Meanwhile, Hoffner had spent the better part of this morning suffering through a series of hot baths and liniment treatments; there had been no way to fight it. He had barely been able to get out of bed, and Martha had lost no time in getting a doctor to the flat. Something had torn, according to the specialist; breathing would be painful for the next few days. Hoffner could thank Fichte’s considerable size for that. The doctor had recommended a week in bed. Hoffner had agreed to half a day.

Luckily, it had forced him to see just how useful the telephone could be. Everyone seemed to be far more efficient than when in person. Hoffner was guessing that a request from a disembodied voice conveyed an authority attributable to some higher source: “two tickets for Munich” had never sounded so numinous.

The station envelope was waiting on his desk when he arrived back at the Alex. Hoffner penned a short note and placed it, along with one of the tickets, into a separate envelope. He then called upstairs for one of the boys, and three minutes later, little Sascha arrived at his door.

“How’s the Count?” said Hoffner, shuffling through more of van Acker’s files. He was still working on Manstein, who remained nothing more than a name. Hoffner glanced over when there was no reply. “Of Monte Cristo,” he said. “All’s well there?”

Sascha brightened up. “Oh yes, Herr
Kriminal-Oberkommissar.
It’s
Treasure Island
now.”

Hoffner nodded encouragingly. “Spending your money on books. That’s commendable.” He held out the envelope. The Kremmener Strasse address was written in thick pen. “You know where this is?”

The boy read and nodded. “I don’t buy them, Herr
Kriminal-Oberkommissar,
” he said as he tucked the envelope into his pocket. “Franz gives them to me when he’s finished with them.” Another bit of surprising news, thought Hoffner. “Do you want me to wait for a response, Herr
Kriminal-Oberkommissar
?”

Hoffner knew the answer would be coming soon enough: 9:13 tomorrow morning if the schedule was correct. “Just make sure it gets there. You don’t have to wait.”

Sascha was gone by the time Hoffner had dug out a few coins. Odd little fellow, he thought. He would never make it on the streets. Maybe little Franz knew that, as well.

T
he Hotel Eden remained the temporary headquarters of the Cavalry Guards Rifle Division, the
Schtzen-Division.

Hoffner had made sure to tell the duty sergeant that he was heading over; he wanted anyone taking an interest in his itinerary to know what he was doing this afternoon: a message of his own, as it were, to make it clear that it would take more than a few bruises to derail him. Maybe, then, there was just a hint of ego in all of this.

Unfortunately, Hoffner still had no idea what he intended to do now that he was at the hotel. It was unlikely that Pabst or Runge would have much to say to a Kripo detective; then again, these were not clever men. There was always the chance that they knew more than they should.

Aside from the uniforms, Hoffner was hard-pressed to find anything remotely akin to military precision on the first floor. Soldiers milled about, some armed, others in half-buttoned tunics, most with cigarettes stuck in the corners of their mouths. These, suffice it to say, were not regular troops. What little help Hoffner’s badge had been across town at the GS was here the object of sneers and laughter. It was only when he started up for the second floor that a sergeant shouted over from his game of cards.

“And where do you think you’re going, Herr Kripo?” The man smiled across at his fellow players.

Hoffner stopped and said easily, “It looks like up these stairs, doesn’t it, Herr Sergeant?”

The man was not amused. “No one goes up without our saying so.”

Hoffner nodded to himself. “That’s good to know.” He began to climb again.

The man was up, rifle in hand, before Hoffner had taken two more steps. The sergeant cocked the bolt. Hoffner stopped and the man drew up to the base of the stairs.

“Did you hear me say so, Herr Kripo?” The hall fell silent. Hoffner was now the center of attention.

Hoffner slowly turned around and peered down at the man. He waited and then said, “Are you going to shoot me, Herr Sergeant?”

The man was clearly not used to being challenged; it was wonderful to see a man struggle so publicly with his own arrogance. There were several long moments of indecision before the sergeant said quickly, “Let me see that badge again.”

Hoffner was impressed; the man had shown remarkable restraint. Hoffner slowly walked back down the steps, reached into his coat pocket, and pulled out his badge. He held it there, his gaze unwavering.

Without so much as a glance, the sergeant said, “That’s all right, then.” He nodded his head. “You can go up.”

Hoffner remained where he was and slowly placed the badge in his pocket. “Thank you, Herr Sergeant,” he said. “You’ve been very helpful.” Hoffner then turned and headed up the stairs. Behind him, he heard the first murmurs of conversation reclaim the hall. Hoffner wondered if it would always be this easy to back these men down.

First Staff Captain Pabst was in his office—a converted hotel room overlooking the Gardens—having a smoke with two of his officers when Hoffner appeared at the door. At least here there was a bit more decorum. A young lieutenant was seated in the hallway. He announced Hoffner and then stepped aside.

Pabst was buttoning his tunic when he invited Hoffner in. He was all cheekbones and charm as he motioned to a chair. “Please, Herr
Oberkommissar.
” He turned to the two other men. “That will be all, gentlemen.”

The officers snapped their heads sharply and then moved past Hoffner. Pabst waited behind his desk.

“I hope I’m not interrupting, Herr
Kapitn
?” Hoffner began as he sat.

“Not at all. Cigarette, Herr
Oberkommissar
?” Pabst kept his private cache in a silver holder, which he now pulled from his pocket. Hoffner declined. “A Kripo chief inspector,” said Pabst. “What can possibly be of interest to you here?” He placed the cigarette in his mouth and lit up.

“Routine questions, Herr
Kapitn.
A formality, really. About the Liebknecht and Luxemburg killings.”

Pabst showed a moment’s recognition before the bland smile returned. He nodded knowingly. “Oh yes, of course,” he answered as if he were talking about a soldier’s missed curfew. “Someone seems to think some of my men were involved, is that right?”

Hoffner found the indifference almost believable. “There was an article, Herr
Kapitn.
Accusations. We simply have to follow them up, that’s all.”

“Naturally. But, correct me if I’m wrong, Herr
Oberkommissar,
anything untoward would fall under military jurisdiction? That is right, isn’t it?”