Broken Glass

by Alexander Hartung

‘Tell me what fucking happened! Leo was fine when I saw him last.’ He pulled Gunnar’s head up by his collar. ‘What happened to him in the basement? And if I hear the words “heart attack” one more time, I swear you’ll be the next patient down in the sick room.’

  ‘I warned him,’ said Gunnar. ‘I told him not to go downstairs.’

  ‘What’s so fucking important about a drug for alcoholics that it’s OK to go around murdering people?’

  ‘It’s not the drug that’s the issue, it’s the illegal tests,’ said Gunnar. ‘If that gets out, the clinic will close, the medication won’t get authorised and half the staff will go to jail.’

  ‘And Leo had to die for that?’

  ‘Dr Gawinski is insane. This isn’t a clinic. It’s his lab, complete with slaves and test objects. Anything else is a cover.’

  ‘And that doesn’t bother you?’

  ‘Look, I’m divorced, and I’ve got three kids with two different women. I earn twice as much here as I would in any hospital.’

  ‘So you’re doing it for the money?’

  Gunnar puffed out his nose. ‘Easy for all these rich bastards, isn’t it!’ Gunnar replied. ‘Five houses, three sports cars, parties every day and enough money to supply an army with coke. Yeah, then it’s pretty easy to judge. But when you don’t know how you’re gonna pay the rent or get your son the trainers he wants, then taking money from someone like Gawinski is pretty fucking easy. So when he tells you not to ask any questions, you don’t. You smile, you nod and you enjoy the look on your son’s face when he opens up his birthday present.’

  Nik let go of Gunnar and stood up. It wasn’t easy holding back his anger. He was fuming and dying to thrash someone just to feel the pain in his fist. ‘Listen, Leo was a lazy toff who pushed drugs for a living. But he still didn’t deserve to die for their sakes or for some stupid trials.’ Nik turned around and got up without helping Gunnar off the floor. ‘Nobody does.’ He went back to his room. He needed to get out of the clinic and tell the public what was going on in here. Leo had to be the last victim.

  ‘Getting out of there isn’t easy,’ said Jon. ‘You need permission from Gawinski and Alois.’

  ‘You’re trying to tell me those forms we filled in are legal? I never saw any legal order appointing a legal guardian, so as long as I’m not declared mentally incompetent I can leave here whenever I want.’

  ‘Do you want a lawyer?’ asked Jon. ‘The clinic has been through this before and thanks to those prices, they’ve got mountains of money at their fingertips. They’ll take it to court, and until then they’ll hold your arse down under a microscope and find the samples you nicked in your fridge. And after finding Leo down in the basement yesterday, you can be sure they’ll be checking everything down there. At some point they’ll notice samples of disulfiram are missing and then it’s just a question of time before you get caught. We need that USB stick. The photos you took of the paper files aren’t enough.’

  ‘OK, so I need to get out quick,’ confirmed Nik.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And what about Leo’s murder?’

  ‘What can you do?’ asked Jon. ‘It’s not like you can nip down to the basement and ask someone where he died or where his body is.’

  ‘But he sacrificed himself for me,’ said Nik. ‘I’d be dead if it wasn’t for him. I owe him something.’

  ‘He sacrificed himself for Viola,’ Jon said pragmatically. ‘So that you could get everything out of the clinic and find out what happened to her and all the other women.’

  Nik punched the wall. He wanted to run out of his room, grab Alois and beat the truth out of him. But Jon was right. If he did that, it would all have been for nothing. Including Leo’s death.

  ‘You’re right,’ Nik agreed. ‘So how do we go about getting me out of here?’

  ‘As correctly as possible. Normally Pia gets a letter from Alois and Gawinski saying the patient can be released. And after that she puts everything in motion.’

  ‘And how should I get the release letter from the doctors?’

  ‘It’s a standard letter. I’ve got access to the file and I can get the signatures forged. It will only turn into a problem if Gawinski or Alois notices.’

  ‘Any ideas?’

  ‘Gawinski was in Geneva yesterday giving a speech on alcohol addiction. I found his mobile number in a computer file and saw he was in a small village near Geneva. I hacked the network provider, which means I can block his phone and no one will be able to reach him.’

  ‘Sounds good,’ said Nik.

  ‘Only problem is . . . he apparently left for Geneva airport early today and the calendar on his phone says he travels back to Munich today. As soon as he gets back to the clinic, a block on his phone is useless.’

  ‘How long till he’s here?’

  ‘Hard to say,’ said Jon. ‘The flight is about an hour. If he checked in a suitcase, he’ll be a bit longer, but if he’s only got a carry-on, he’ll pretty much walk right out the airport. I’d say about two hours . . . if we’re lucky.’

  ‘Not a lot of time.’

  ‘No. And don’t forget you’ll need to keep up your cover. Have your suitcase packed but don’t appear panicked. After last night the staff are going to be tense. They’ll look through your bags and frisk you and ring the alarm at the slightest thing. I’ll backdate the release letter to yesterday so it’s not so conspicuous.’

  ‘And what about Alois?’

  ‘I’ve actually got no idea how you can get him to release you,’ Jon admitted.

  ‘It’s OK. I’ve got an idea,’ said Nik. ‘Won’t be a goodbye he’ll easily forget.’

  Chapter 12

  According to Alois’s calendar, he had sessions the whole morning. The next free spot would be two o’clock, which was far too late for Nik’s getaway plan. But Nik knew from experience that Alois ended his sessions after fifty-five minutes. He always made use of the time to go to the toilet, finish his notes or make a call. And today, Nik would also make use of those five minutes. He stood next to Alois’s door, crossed his arms over his chest and gave a little smile. The door opened at thirteen minutes to nine. A woman in her late forties shuffled out of the room. Her face was lifeless, and it was clear she hadn’t got much sleep the night before. Her arms hung hopelessly from her slouched shoulders as she walked past Nik, not even noticing he was there. She had bright blonde hair and dark tanned skin, like she’d fallen asleep on a sunbed. Going by the rings on her fingers, there was no doubt she could afford the stay at the clinic.

  ‘Have a nice day, Petra,’ Alois called as she walked away.

  As Nik came in, the psychologist was sitting behind the desk staring at his computer screen. ‘Do we have an appointment, Herr Kirchhof?’ he asked, leaning back in his chair. He looked up to the ceiling and laid his finger on his lips, trying to visualise his schedule. Nik closed the door and went over to Alois.

  ‘I just wanted to ask your permission to leave the clinic,’ Nik said.

  ‘Excuse me?’ said Alois, bewildered by Nik’s request. ‘We haven’t even got through ten per cent of our session plan, and that’s not including the physical side of treatment. I’d suggest you . . .’

  Nik’s right jab made Alois cry out and fall off his chair. He opened his eyes widely and rubbed his chin. Nik turned him on to his front and forced his knee down on Alois’s back. He twisted his arm painfully behind him.

  ‘This is what’s going to happen,’ Nik began quietly. ‘You’re going to call the delightful Pia and tell her what wonderful progress I’ve been making in our sessions. And as Dr Gawinski doesn’t have any objections, I’m allowed to leave the clinic. You’ll find all the forms you need in your mailbox.’

  ‘How did you—’ Alois began.

  ‘No questions.’ Nik interrupted him with a shove.

  ‘Nobody has ever been released this quickly,’ Alois moaned.

  ‘Then find an excuse. ’Cause if you don’t . . .’ Nik twisted his arm further.


  Alois cried out as tears started to collect in his eyes. He kicked his feet on the floor and tried to escape, but Nik’s hold was too tight. ‘OK!’ he shouted.

  Nik bent down to speak in his ear. ‘I’m going to let go now so you can make the call. One stupid remark and I’ll break every bone in your body.’ Alois nodded. Nik pulled him up on to the chair and kept his hand on his shoulder, just in case he got any ideas. Alois dialled a number.

  ‘Hi, Pia. Yeah, it’s Alois.’ His voice was friendly. ‘I just wanted to say that our patient Nikolas Kirchhof will be leaving the clinic today.’

  ‘Ah, yes, I was just going to call you.’ Nik could hear Pia’s voice on the line. ‘The forms came through for Herr Kirchhof saying his therapy is finished . . . even though he’s only been a patient with us for a few days . . . ?’

  Alois looked nervously at Nik, not sure what to do. But Nik just smiled at him and tightened his grip on Alois’s shoulder. ‘I’m afraid Herr Kirchhof is suffering from weak kidneys and as a result we can’t proceed with the treatment.’

  ‘Weak kidneys? There’s nothing in—’

  ‘It’s fine, Pia.’ Alois interrupted her. ‘You can discharge him.’

  ‘OK . . .’ she replied, her voice brimming with suspicion.

  ‘Herr Kirchhof will be down shortly. Can you call him a taxi, please.’

  Alois put down the phone and turned to Nik. ‘The clinic belongs to Dr Gawinski. I’m just an employee.’ Nik punched Alois in the solar plexus, silencing him instantly.

  ‘That was for Leo,’ said Nik, taking a roll of tape that he’d stolen beforehand out of his pocket. He started wrapping up Alois’s hands, then his feet and finally his mouth. Nik grabbed him under the arms and dragged him behind the couch before attaching his arms to the chrome legs. He wouldn’t be able to free himself on his own. Nik took a piece of paper from the printer and wrote on it in large letters, ‘Please Do Not Disturb’. He took Alois’s key card and left the room, closing the door behind him.

  ‘Time to go home,’ Nik mumbled, after hanging the sheet of paper on the door.

  Nik couldn’t be bothered waiting for the porter, so he wheeled his suitcase to reception himself. ‘Good morning, Pia.’

  ‘Good morning, Herr Kirchhof.’ She put the phone back on to the charging station. Her smile was more strained than when Nik had arrived at the clinic, and he realised she had probably been trying to get hold of Gawinski. The last SMS from Jon had said Gawinski was in Freising, a small town right next to Munich airport. On a weekday or a public holiday, it would have taken him ages to get to the clinic. But today was neither, so it was unlikely there would be any hold-ups at the airport or on the roads. It was going to be tight.

  Now that Nik’s phone was back in its secret compartment, he had no idea how far away Gawinski was. At any other clinic, Nik would have just stepped out the door and gone straight to the nearest U-Bahn. But there was no getting over the walls at this place, so he’d have to keep his cover going right to the end. He tried to stay calm but despite the cool air conditioning and his thin cotton T-shirt, he had started to sweat. He did his best to keep his feet still and not let his voice get tight.

  ‘Your taxi will be here shortly,’ said Pia. ‘But we will have to search your bag before you leave. There was a . . . an incident yesterday and some things were stolen.’

  ‘An incident?’ Nik asked, feigning surprise. ‘I never heard anything.’ Pia’s lack of trust in Nik was blatant. But officially, all the paperwork was there and one of her bosses had personally given Nik’s discharge the green light. So as long as Alois was tied up and Gawinski wasn’t in the clinic, there was nothing she could do. Pia waved over to a member of staff, who had the same powerful figure as Gunnar and rolled Nik’s suitcase behind the desk, presumably towards the X-ray machine. The man beckoned Nik into a private room. First of all, he waved a hand detector over Nik’s entire body. It was one of the most expensive on the market. Extremely sensitive, with a 360-degree detection sensor and military standards. It beeped when it went over Nik’s watch and again with his belt. Then came the frisk. The man had no problem grabbing Nik’s groin thoroughly and he even looked at the heels of his shoes. A minute later he led Nik back to the reception and nodded at Pia. For a moment he saw the dismay in her face that nothing had been found. But seconds later, her business smile was back.

  ‘So, that’s that!’ She rolled Nik’s suitcase around to the front of the reception. ‘Can I walk you to your taxi?’

  ‘Of course.’ They went out the main entrance.

  Pia handed the suitcase over to the taxi driver, who put it in the boot.

  ‘I hope we were able to be of some help to you, Herr Kirchhof.’ She shook Nik’s hand.

  He smiled as widely as he could. ‘Oh, you couldn’t begin to imagine what a help it’s been.’ Nik got into the taxi.

  The driver got in and turned to Nik. ‘Where to?’

  ‘Munich Main Station, please.’ Suddenly, an alarm started to ring. Nik looked out the car at the building and saw Alois standing at a window. His hands were no longer tied and he was flapping his arms frantically.

  ‘Wait!’ called Pia, walking quickly around to the driver’s side. A red light was flashing beside the open gate. It would start to shut in a matter of seconds.

  ‘Five hundred tip if you drive right now.’

  The driver looked at Pia for a second before pulling the car into gear and slamming on the accelerator. He raced between the two gates just in time and sped down the twisting drive. Nik let out an enormous sigh of relief. Before they got to the main road, Nik put down his window and stuck his middle finger up at one of the hidden cameras. He’d made it.

  They arrived at Nik’s new flat and he paid the driver as promised. He took his phone out of the suitcase and called Jon. ‘I’m out,’ he said.

  ‘Did you get the samples and the USB stick out as well?’

  ‘Yes. Don’t ever tell me I’m not dedicated to the job.’

  ‘What did you do?’

  ‘I transferred the samples into tiny plastic bottles, tied them up in condoms and swallowed them.’

  Jon made a noise that showed his disgust. ‘So it’s gonna be a while before Balthasar can start working then. And the USB?’

  ‘You probably don’t want to know.’

  ‘You didn’t swallow it?’

  ‘It was too big. So let’s just say . . . I shoved it where the sun don’t shine.’

  ‘Jesus,’ said Jon. ‘You know I still need to get files off that, don’t you?’

  ‘That’s why it’s also wrapped in a condom.’

  ‘Oh, that makes me feel a lot better,’ replied Jon.

  ‘I’ll let you know when everything’s . . . turned up.’ Nik hung up and put the phone in his pocket. He closed the main entrance door and went upstairs with his luggage. When he got to the second floor, he heard music. It got louder the further upstairs he went. Just as Nik was thinking how much he detested ‘Dancing Queen’, he realised the music was coming from his flat. Perplexed as to why a burglar would listen to ABBA, and at such a loud volume, he then heard a high voice loudly joining in the chorus, not hitting a single note.

  ‘Balthasar,’ mumbled Nik as he opened the front door. The pathologist was wearing bright red jogging bottoms and a matching hoody. He was also wearing a white sweat band on his head and white trainers. He was dancing on the spot and reaching his hands up in the air like he was trying to touch the ceiling. When he noticed Nik, he stopped dancing mid-move, reached for the remote and turned off the music.

  ‘Nik!’ He walked over, arms wide, his expression joyful. ‘Jon told me you’d be coming back. Perfect timing. I just finished my workout.’ He pointed to an exercise mat on the floor.

  ‘What are you doing in my flat?’

  ‘Jon’s flat.’ He reached for a towel and wiped the sweat off his forehead. ‘My current partner and I had some um . . . differences of opinion, so I set myself up here for a while.’

 
; ‘How did you get in?’

  ‘Oh, that lock wasn’t a problem.’

  ‘You can pick locks?’

  ‘Oh, yes. Ever since my nanny put a padlock on the biscuit tin. I was only five at the time. But don’t worry’ – he pointed to three suitcases and two bags in the corner of the room – ‘I only took the bare necessities. And I’m going out in a minute.’

  ‘Why does it smell so weird in here?’ Nik walked around sniffing at the air.

  ‘It’s lavender,’ said Balthasar, beaming. ‘From Provence.’

  Nik noticed a small sachet of it on the coffee table.

  ‘I also put some in your laundry cupboard.’

  ‘In my laundry cupboard?’

  ‘You know’ – Balthasar spoke softly, as if he didn’t want to be overheard – ‘you should use more softener. Less rubbing at the groin.’

  ‘OK! OK!’ Nik got Balthasar in a headlock and dragged him to the door under his arm.

  ‘Let me go, you brute.’ The pathologist tried to free himself and hit Nik in the stomach. But the punch was weak and did nothing to deter Nik.

  ‘And I still owe you one for your little constipation gag.’ Nik pulled the door open and pushed Balthasar on to the landing. Ignoring Balthasar’s offensive language, he threw his luggage into the hall and slammed the door shut, then steadying himself against the back of the door with his hand, he let out a sigh of relief. ‘I need a beer.’

  ‘You hooligan!’ Balthasar shouted through the door. It was bad enough he hadn’t showered after doing his exercises, but Balthasar wouldn’t normally be seen dead outside the house in a jogging suit. Just as he went to start searching for his phone in one of his bags, Nik flung the door open again.

  ‘Why is the fridge full of Prosecco?’

  ‘So it stays cold,’ replied Balthasar, screwing up his face at the stupid question.

  ‘Eighteen bottles?’

  ‘One must always be ready for guests.’

  ‘Which guests drink eighteen bottles of Prosecco?’

  Balthasar started to answer but Nik put up his hand. ‘Actually . . . I don’t want to know. Where is my beer? It was in the fridge.’