Don't Forget Me

by B C Schiller

  ‘Oh, I just remembered,’ Birgit said timidly. ‘His name was Wagner. Nils Wagner.’

  ‘And where does Nils Wagner live?’

  ‘It was Bungalow 210 in Ruster Bay. What’s he done now?’

  ‘I can’t tell you that, but you’re lucky to be alive.’

  Finishing the call, he dialled Olivia’s number.

  ‘I have a lead,’ he said as soon as Olivia picked up. ‘We need to go to Burgenland.’

  ‘I can’t get away at the moment.’

  ‘But it’s important. It’s about . . .’

  ‘Papa’s not well. I need to look after him.’

  ‘I’m so sorry.’

  ‘I’ll ring you later,’ Olivia said and ended the call.

  Resting his chin on his hands, Levi pondered whether he should wait for Olivia to be free or go to the bungalow by himself.

  Finally, he decided he couldn’t wait. Opening a drawer in the cabinet, he took out the old leather jacket lying screwed up at the bottom. Five years ago, he’d stuffed it away and sworn never to wear it again. Carefully he spread it out on his desk. He could still detect dried blood on one sleeve. When the bullet hit him in the thigh and severed the artery, Levi had tried to stop the flow with his arm. He dispelled the memory and slipped the jacket on. The leather had become brittle since he’d last worn it.

  But it still fits, he thought and grabbed his car keys.

  ‘What are you doing?’ Rebecca was standing in the doorway, nervously stroking her long hair.

  ‘I need to go out for a short while,’ Levi said.

  ‘Is that the jacket?’ Rebecca said, pointing with her slender fingers.

  ‘Yes, exactly,’ Levi said. ‘You need to understand, Rebecca. I can’t help it.’

  ‘You promised never to meddle with that case again.’

  ‘Can we talk about it tonight?’ Levi was begging her. ‘I’ll explain everything then. I simply have to do it. That much I owe Lisa.’

  ‘As you wish. I’m disappointed you can’t keep your promise, but I suppose I have to trust you. What other choice do I have?’

  What was he supposed to do? Levi hated letting her down like this, but was that reason enough to leave a murder case unsolved? No, he just couldn’t do it. Tight-lipped and his gut churning with guilt, Levi headed for the door. He had to see this thing through.

  Lost in thought he took the southern motorway towards Lake Neusiedel in Burgenland. By the time he arrived at Ruster Bay, it was already late afternoon. He parked his car at the lakeside and walked slowly along the shore path which was flanked with tall reeds. Narrow jetties led from the water’s edge to the holiday homes, which were mounted on raised wooden platforms and hardly visible from the path. Finally he found the right house and pushed his way through the reeds edging the narrow jetty.

  It was a wooden house with a flat roof. The only entrance was at the back, alongside several small barred windows. Slowly Levi made his way along the narrow wooden decking surrounding the bungalow. Towards the lake the decking became wider, forming a large terrace. The house was fully glazed on that side, presumably to offer a spectacular view of the lake. The glass sliding doors were open, but he didn’t see anybody. Levi stepped into the living area. On a chair lay a pair of denim shorts and a top, most likely belonging to a young girl. He noticed then the gentle sound of lapping water and turned, shielding his eyes against the setting sun. A girl in bikini bottoms and nothing else was lying on a lilo, floating on the water, her long blonde hair lifting in the breeze.

  It could be Lisa, Levi thought. Maybe Olivia had been right after all to wonder whether Lisa was still alive. Maybe, being so frightened of her own father, she’d found refuge with Nils Wagner. Levi stepped out onto the terrace.

  ‘Lisa!’ he called. The girl turned around and waved. She had very delicate features and appeared very young.

  ‘Lisa, come back to the house!’ he called again. The girl turned the lilo around and paddled with both hands towards the shore. Gracefully she pulled herself up on the deck and pushed the long hair from her face. She was probably no more than fourteen and very pretty. But it wasn’t Lisa.

  ‘Hello, I am Lydia,’ the girl said with a marked accent. ‘You are friend of Nils?’

  ‘Yes,’ Levi answered. He was disappointed. ‘Get dressed, please.’ He threw a towel towards her.

  ‘Nils likes it when I walk around naked. It is much healthier, he says.’ Lydia wrapped the towel around herself.

  ‘Where is Nils?’ Levi asked.

  ‘He has gone out to buy wine and crisps,’ the girl answered. ‘He will be back soon.’

  ‘I’ll wait for him inside,’ Levi said, going back into the house.

  There was a hint of perfume in the air when he entered the large open-plan living area. At the back were two doors, one of which led into a small bedroom. The scent was stronger here, as if the person wearing the perfume had been here a short while ago. There was a double bed, a fitted wardrobe and two wooden cubes serving as bedside tables. Next to the bed was a large mirror that didn’t seem to match the rest of the interior. He stared at it, lost in thought, then he bent down. On the floor he detected faint scratches, as though the mirror had been dragged recently. Slowly Levi’s fingertips felt around the rim of the mirror until he found a small button. He pressed it and the mirror slid soundlessly aside. Behind it was a small, windowless room, probably a walk-in wardrobe that had been adapted. Dozens of DVDs and photo albums sat on a shelf. A camera, mounted on a tripod, stood in the middle of the small space, the lens pointing at the bedroom. A quick look at the back of the door told Levi that this was a two-way mirror. Nils had secretly filmed his own sex games.

  Carefully he took one of the photo albums. It contained pictures of very young girls, all naked and shot in sexually explicit poses. Levi flicked through the pages and then stopped short. One photo showed Lisa.

  Levi was so occupied with the photos that he only heard the steps when it was too late.

  ‘A nice collection of erotic photos, don’t you think?’ a voice said behind him. It could only be Nils Wagner. ‘I particularly like Lydia. She looks exactly like Lisa.’

  ‘The girl is a child,’ Levi said, not turning around.

  ‘She’s like a little fairy. Hails from the Ukraine and ended up in Hungary. I brought her to Austria and she’s extremely grateful.’

  ‘But she’s a minor. Sex with her is a criminal offence.’

  ‘Only if someone reports it,’ Nils retorted. ‘You’ve entered my house without permission.’

  ‘That’s irrelevant now. When we search the house and find all this incriminating material, you’ll end up in prison for sex with a minor as well as murder,’ Levi said, turning round at last. Nils was leaning on the doorframe, a gun in his hand.

  ‘What murder are you talking about?’ Nils wiped the sweat from his forehead.

  ‘The murder of Lisa Manz. You killed her.’ Levi took a step towards him. ‘And then you set fire to the poor girl’s body.’

  ‘Shut your mouth. You don’t get it, do you?’ Nils whispered hoarsely. ‘What do you know about true love? The more illicit this love was, the more intensely I felt it. Those photos were taken at the height of our passion – no one could deny it – but unfortunately, Lisa’s father discovered our relationship and tried to blackmail me. I was to treat Lisa with illegal hypnosis so she’d no longer be so rebellious. It was completely against my ethical values, but I didn’t have a choice. Richard Manz knew too much. Richard is a psychopath who should be put away. He controls everything.’ Nils pointed the gun barrel towards the photo album that Levi was still holding. ‘Those photos are the evidence of our love.’

  ‘I only see a frightened young girl being molested by you. Lisa didn’t want any of that, right? But you can’t accept it.’

  ‘I did warn her about the student,’ Nils said, ‘but she didn’t listen.’

  ‘What was the name of that student?’

  ‘No more questions. It won�
�t help you now,’ Nils answered angrily, shifting the gun. ‘Put the album back and then get out of here. You defile the precious sanctity of this place.’

  Hands above his head, Levi went back to the living room. The sun was sinking into the lake like a huge orange ball, and its light, red as blood, flooded the room.

  ‘We’ll wait until dark and then you’ll go on your last journey.’

  ‘You’d never have the guts to kill me,’ Levi said, trying to think his way out of the situation. All he could hope to do was convince this madman that he understood how he might fall in love with a fourteen-year-old. ‘It was like a high, wasn’t it?’ he continued. ‘You see a young girl, beautiful and pure as angel. The father had terrorised this precious angel with sadistic games and referred her to the clinic. And then she found you there, waiting to destroy her completely.’ Levi slowly lowered his arms.

  ‘No, not to destroy Lisa, but to set her free. My God, how did it all go so wrong?’ Nils whispered, raising the gun again. ‘Keep your hands up.’

  ‘If you shoot me now, how will you explain the death to the police?’ Levi asked. ‘And apart from that, Lydia is still here.’

  ‘Lydia will keep her mouth shut. I could have mistaken you for a burglar.’ More sweat was beading on Nils’s forehead. ‘I shot you in self-defence, because you threatened me.’

  ‘Nobody will believe that.’

  ‘It would be even better if there were no body.’

  ‘Will you set fire to me like you did with Lisa?’

  ‘No. I’m going to dump you in the lake.’

  41

  Once Olivia had sent the woman away, she dialled the number of a student nurse she knew from the clinic.

  ‘Marie, would you mind looking after my father tonight? He’s quite upset, and I don’t want to leave him on his own.’

  ‘You’re in luck, Frau Doctor. I happen to be free this evening.’

  Marie arrived at the flat a short time later.

  ‘Papa, this is Marie. She’ll look after you.’

  Leopold nodded, still confused. ‘I’m tired.’

  ‘You can go to bed soon.’

  Together with Marie she helped Leopold out of the black suit he’d put on especially for his move to the home and when the old man was finally in bed, she started to unpack the suitcases. Afterwards she carried both suitcases into her father’s study then put all the files and books back on the shelves and propped up the bent stalk of the orchid with a stick. She decided that tomorrow, as soon as the flower shops opened, she’d buy another orchid for her father.

  She tiptoed back to the bedroom. Marie was sitting at Leopold’s bedside, engrossed in a book.

  ‘How is he?’ Olivia whispered.

  ‘He seems quite relaxed.’

  ‘I need to go out again. Can I leave him with you?’

  ‘No problem, Frau Doctor. Your father’s in good hands with me.’

  Olivia went through to the hallway and tried calling Levi but again he didn’t answer.

  What did he mean when he said he had a lead? she wondered. What lead? She tried again, but this time his phone was switched off altogether. Olivia paced up and down the hallway, feeling increasingly anxious. What did he mean?

  Finally she couldn’t bear it any longer and dialled Levi’s landline.

  ‘Rebecca Kant,’ said a soft woman’s voice at the other end.

  ‘This is Olivia Hofmann, the psychiatrist . . .’

  ‘I know who you are,’ Rebecca interrupted.

  ‘I’m sorry to bother you, but I can’t get hold of Levi on his mobile. He mentioned a trip to Burgenland. Do you know what he might have meant by that?’

  ‘I don’t deal with Levi’s appointments. I’m not his secretary,’ Rebecca said coldly.

  ‘I didn’t mean it like that, but do you happen to know the address he was setting off to?’

  ‘No, and will you please excuse me now?’

  ‘Please have a look on his desk. It’s really very urgent,’ Olivia implored.

  ‘All right,’ Rebecca said with a sigh.

  It took a while, and Olivia was beginning to think that Rebecca had simply dropped the receiver, but then she was back.

  ‘I found a note with an address at Lake Neusiedel,’ Rebecca said, passing it on to Olivia. ‘Is something wrong with Levi? Is he in danger?’

  ‘No, don’t worry. He’ll be questioning a witness.’

  ‘Levi’s not with the police any more,’ Rebecca said quietly. ‘When he was injured so badly, I sat at his bedside for weeks. I don’t want anything like that ever to happen again.’

  ‘No reason to worry,’ Olivia said, trying to reassure the other woman. ‘Levi is fine.’

  ‘I very much hope so,’ Rebecca said. ‘Please tell him I love him and am waiting for him.’

  Rebecca put the phone down and Olivia remained still for a few seconds, not quite sure what to do.

  ‘How do I get to the Burgenland?’ Olivia didn’t own a car, and it was already late afternoon. She toyed with the idea of postponing the journey to the next day, but she was too worried. No, she needed to find out what had happened. After a moment’s hesitation, she dialled Simon Berger’s number. ‘Hi, Simon, it’s me, Olivia.’

  ‘Olivia, what a surprise!’ Simon sounded genuinely pleased. ‘Shall we meet up? Listen, I’m sorry about what I said the other evening. You know, my inappropriate questioning.’

  ‘Forget it,’ Olivia answered. ‘Can you drive me to Lake Neusiedel in the Burgenland?’

  ‘Of course. Sunset by Lake Neusiedel. How very romantic.’ Simon sounded genuinely enthusiastic.

  ‘No, I’m only asking you for a lift.’ Olivia stopped him in his tracks. ‘I’m looking for someone. Can you do me this favour?’

  ‘Oh, that’s a shame. And here was I thinking you were inviting me to a romantic dinner by the lakeside.’

  ‘Yes or no?’ Olivia said in response. She had no intention of flirting with Simon Berger.

  ‘Yes, of course. I can do that. Shall I pick you up at home? In about ten minutes?’

  ‘No, I’m in the Ninth District with my father.’ Olivia gave him the address.

  A quarter of an hour later a four-wheel drive stopped in front of the house. Simon jumped from the driver’s seat and rang the bell.

  ‘It took a bit longer. The traffic,’ he apologised as Olivia met him at the door.

  ‘Nice motor. Must have cost a bomb,’ Olivia said, looking at the car.

  ‘Well, it belongs to a friend and it’s over five years old, but it drives OK.’ He patted the bonnet as if it were a horse.

  ‘Did you have an accident?’ Olivia asked casually, pointing to a long scratch on the wing.

  ‘Happened a few days ago when I was parking,’ Simon said coolly. Then he bent down to whisper in Olivia’s ear, ‘I’m not that interested in cars.’

  ‘Good for you,’ Olivia said. Michael had been obsessed with the damn things. ‘How about gambling?’ she asked.

  ‘Gambling? What do you mean?’ Simon looked at her uncomprehendingly.

  ‘Well, games. With dice or cards and things.’

  ‘No, that’s not my thing. Why do you ask?’

  ‘Oh, nothing. Don’t know what I was thinking,’ Olivia said evasively. She was still paying off Michael’s gambling debts. ‘Come on, let’s go.’

  While they were threading through the late afternoon rush-hour traffic, Simon told her about his work at the clinic.

  ‘So why did you choose the psychiatric clinic for your stint as a junior doctor?’ Olivia asked. ‘Do you want to specialise in psychiatry later? You’ll earn a lot of money as a consultant.’

  ‘I don’t really care about money,’ Simon said, looking straight ahead. ‘I want to help people suffering from mental illness.’

  ‘That’s rare among young people,’ Olivia said. ‘Most of them are after a lot of money and as fast as possible.’

  ‘Well, I’m different,’ Simon said. He shot her a swift glance. ‘W
ould you accept me as your patient?’

  ‘You mean for me to act as your psychiatrist?’

  ‘Exactly.’

  ‘Well, why not. Do you have problems with your girlfriends?’ Olivia asked ironically.

  ‘No, but please do consider me as your patient.’ Simon held his hand towards her. ‘Agreed?’

  ‘You’ll have to sign a declaration of consent first,’ Olivia said, finding the situation increasingly strange.

  ‘Do you have a form on you?’ Simon flicked the indicator and pulled up on the hard shoulder. ‘I’ll sign it right now, this minute.’

  ‘What’s the matter, Simon?’ Olivia asked, folding her hands in her lap.

  ‘I’ll only talk once I’m your patient.’

  ‘OK. Consider this as the declaration of consent,’ Olivia said, pulling a creased scrap of paper from her bag. Simon signed it without looking, then put his foot down and carried on towards Lake Neusiedel.

  ‘Five years ago, I helped Lisa Manz escape from the clinic,’ he said. ‘I was a student at the time and got to know her as my patient. I felt sorry for her. Her father bullied her, but at the clinic she was treated by Nils Wagner. That was like jumping from the frying pan into the fire. I had to help her.’

  ‘Why didn’t you tell all this to the police at the time?’ Olivia began to see Simon through new eyes. His face was screwed up, and he was clenching the steering wheel so tight that his knuckles had gone white.

  ‘If I’d admitted to it, they’d have fired me. I’d have lost my place at med school, and I couldn’t risk that.’

  ‘You’ll have to talk to the police,’ Olivia insisted, ‘or shall I do it for you?’

  ‘As my psychiatrist, you’re bound by confidentiality,’ Simon reminded her. ‘You’re not allowed to say anything.’ With a determined expression, Simon drove faster. ‘I took Lisa to a derelict house – she was to wait there until they gave up searching for her. After that I planned to take her abroad. She’d have been safe from Nils and her father.’

  ‘So you were the last person to see Lisa alive?’

  ‘No. The last person was Lisa’s murderer.’