DeKok leaned back.
“I’ll have to admit that at first I, too, was groping in the dark. It all seemed so … chaotic, a game without rules. I knew I could easily become confused unless I could find something solid. In the end it came down to Marlies van Haesbergen. She spoke the truth and her recollection was accurate. She had seen a dead Vreeden.”
“Surely that wasn’t it?”
“Of course, not,” smiled DeKok. “But her conviction became mine. I had to know why everyone was trying to convince me that a dead Vreeden was alive and on vacation in the Bahamas? One milepost was learning Xaveria Breerode was going to inherit his entire fortune.”
“That I can’t follow.”
DeKok sighed and refilled his glass. He held the bottle up for Vledder with a question in his eyes. Vledder nodded and DeKok leaned forward and refilled the glass that Vledder held out. He looked at his wife. She shook her head.
“Stay where you are. I’ll have a sherry.”
“You see,” said DeKok, after he had replaced the bottle, “almost all of Vreeden’s fortune was invested in his dredging company. If Vreeden were to die, the directors would be obliged to liquidate the company and turn all the cash proceeds over to the beneficiary, Ms. Breerode.”
“Aha,” exclaimed Vledder. “As long as he wasn’t officially dead, the money would stay in the company.”
“And who benefited in that case?”
“Grauw and Middelkoop would have benefited, more than anyone else. They could continue to operate as if nothing had happened.”
“Exactly.”
“But I haven’t got it all, yet,” said Vledder. “What about the kidnapping?”
“Our lives,” he began in a didactic tone, “are often influenced by sudden feelings of sympathy, or antipathy. It does not matter how one knows about the character of people, human behavior is too complex to predict. How else can one explain the feelings of sympathy Vreeden had for Grauw? Vreeden met Grauw over three years ago in a train. It was the Lorelei Express from Düsseldorf. Grauw had a few convictions behind him for fraud. Why Vreeden, on the briefest acquaintance, decided to take Grauw into his company will always remain a mystery. Perhaps Vreeden saw in the fast talking, edgy, Mr. Grauw a possible partner. He may have acted out of fatigue, his judgment dulled by weeks of intricate negotiations in Germany. We’ll never know.”
DeKok paused and nibbled some food. He poured another glass of cognac.
“That’s the last one,” cautioned his wife. “I’m going to make coffee.”
“Yes, dear,” said DeKok to her back, as she disappeared toward the kitchen.
Vledder grinned and shook his head as DeKok held up the bottle.
“I’ll wait for coffee, thanks. But go on with your story.”
“Very well. Grauw soon discovered the backbone of the firm was Vreeden’s expertise, business acumen, and fortune. The fortune was too tempting a target for Grauw. Here’s how a career swindler operates. Grauw’s first act was to isolate his victim by introducing him to Xaveria Breerode. Breerode and Grauw had a history. She had played hostess to prospective victims of his previous swindles.”
“So, she has a past also?”
“Of course, everybody has a past.”
“Not everyone has a criminal past.”
“Yes, yes. Are you going to let me finish?”
“Sorry,” said Vledder soothingly. “Go on.”
“While in the Haarlem jail for one of his crimes, Grauw met Johan Mindere. Grauw made it possible for Johan to be hired as a butler by Vreeden. When Vreeden bought the estate in Ireland, Grauw wanted to have a trustworthy person in place there. Johan recommended his half-brother, Handsome Karl, as caretaker for the estate.”
DeKok drained the last of his glass of cognac. His hand hovered over the bottle, but he resisted the temptation.
“All clear, so far?” he asked.
Vledder nodded.
But I haven’t heard a thing about the planned kidnapping.”
“No, that’s still in the future. The cards had been shuffled. Grauw had set out his net and started to consider plans to get at the loot. But something happened that he had not planned. Vreeden, a confirmed bachelor, fell in love. With Xaveria he found honest affection, sensitivity, and concern for his welfare. Her devotion overwhelmed him. He contacted the notary and had her checked out. The result was a cursory investigation with a meaningless report. He decided to make a will.”
Mrs. DeKok returned with a tray, carrying a coffeepot, cups, saucers, cream, and sugar. She arranged it on the sideboard and took a seat.
“When Grauw learned of it,” continued DeKok, “he was furious. He contacted Xaveria, but she made it clear she would have nothing to do with him. She let him know, in the event of Vreeden’s death, he need not expect anything from her. She even threatened if Grauw continued to bother her, she would speak out about his past. She would also inform Vreeden of his scheming.”
“Nice girl,” grinned Vledder.
DeKok ignored the remark.
“Grauw discussed the shift in Xaveria’s loyalty with Johan Mindere. Together they planned a new approach.”
“The kidnapping.”
“Yes,” nodded DeKok. “Typical of Grauw it was actually a twist on a kidnapping. To deflect any suspicion toward Johan, the plan was to overpower him as well. Paul Vreeden would be kidnapped with his loyal butler. The anonymous kidnapper would demand an enormous ransom. Grauw and Middelkoop would have to decide whether to pay. Grauw knew he could control Middelkoop. He had caught the man in shady practices, payoffs from subcontractors, for instance. Grauw planned to pay the ransom, in order to divert a large portion of Vreeden’s fortune to the conspirators … the butler and Grauw.”
“So Xaveria had nothing to do with it?”
“No, she was innocent. For the actual kidnapping, Johan called his half-brother back from Ireland. They agreed on a mobile hiding place. That’s how they picked Archie, because he was an accomplished carpenter and would be able to soundproof the boat.”
“It all fits nicely together … now,” smirked Vledder.
“But we’re not there yet,” cautioned DeKok. “Everything was set when Grauw ran into his second complication. Shortly before the kidnapping was to take place, Vreeden suddenly died. He collapsed during a routine business meeting in the company boardroom. He and Middelkoop decided to summon Dr. Haanstra. He could only diagnose the fatal heart attack.”
Vledder gripped his head in mock despair.
“All for nothing … the money was going to Xaveria.”
DeKok leaned back in his chair and gratefully accepted a cup of coffee from his wife. Next she served Vledder. Taking a cup of coffee for herself, she reseated herself. Thoughtfully DeKok stirred his coffee.
“We’re almost there,” he said tiredly. “Grauw’s criminal mind was working overtime. He came to what I call a variation on murder.”
“Variation?” asked Vledder, puzzled.
“A murderer victimizes someone who is living, someone he wants dead. Grauw, however, wanted to make a dead man live.”
“What did he hope to gain?”
“You’d have to think like a criminal. Grauw knew how difficult it is to prove death, absent credible witnesses and a body. That’s why someone at the hotel in the Bahamas told Xaveria that Vreeden had left for an unknown destination and had left no forwarding address. Vreeden would go missing and it would take a long time, at least seven years in the Netherlands, before he could be declared legally dead. All that time Xaveria would be unable to inherit. Grauw would have plenty of time to milk the finances of the company for his own benefit.”
“What a conniving monster,” commented Mrs. DeKok.
“But what about Dr. Haanstra?” Vledder wanted to know.
“Grauw found a way to use him, too. First he impressed on the good doctor the prudence of keeping Paul Vreeden’s death to himself. He ordered Haanstra to destroy all his records of Vreeden. When Haanstra reluctantly agree
d, Grauw had him—he was Grauw’s accomplice. Middelkoop went to the Bahamas, posing as Vreeden. He returned almost immediately after you spoke with him by telephone. Meanwhile Grauw had contacted Johan, ordering him to make Paul Vreeden’s body disappear. Johan was reluctant to take on the job and sub-contracted it to his half-brother. Handsome Karl enlisted the help of Black Archie. The rest you know.”
“Yes, I imagine Karl liquidated Archie as a dangerous witness. It seems poetic justice for Johan to murder Karl in the place where he’d buried Archie. That leaves Dr. Haanstra—what happened there?”
“I’m afraid,” said DeKok morosely, “I may have had a hand in his demise. After I visited Haanstra, he became nervous. He called Grauw to let him know the police had been asking questions. Grauw was not positive of the doctor’s reliability and had him murdered to ensure his silence.”
DeKok gave a tired smile.
“This morning, early, Fred Prins and I arrested Grauw and Middelkoop, after confronting them with the facts. Middelkoop immediately confessed to his involvement. But I had to confront Grauw with Johan at Warmoes Street. It took a half hour or so, but he confessed to all the charges. The charges include attempt to defraud, attempt to kidnap, attempt to commit murder, conspiracy to commit murder. The beat goes on. The judge advocate is still compiling a list of all the possible charges.”
“A good case, a solid solution,” commented Vledder.
“Yes, but it would all have fallen apart without the body of Paul Vreeden.” He smiled wanly. “I must say never before have I so intensely wanted to find a corpse.”
Appendix
(Publisher’s Note)
A number of readers have asked questions about bargoens, the language of the Dutch underworld and the gutter. In the Inspector DeKok series, Little Lowee speaks almost exclusively in bargoens. To illustrate some of the peculiarities of the language and to illustrate the difficulty of translating the flavor into any other language, the translator has compiled a sample list of some bargoens words and expressions.
Bargoens Dutch English
biskoepee drukte ado/hubbub
Bokkeslingers Mariniers Marines
brooche voorspoed prosperity
chateisum schorem riffraff
fladder courant newspaper
gabber medeplichtige partner in crime
geilink portie portion
gekat afgekeurd disapproved
geknarst gestrafd punished
glimmerikke ogen eyes
grandige politieman police officer
kasafies papieren papers (IDs)
kezeire ziekte malady
kieskaas straat hoeren street whores
knekelmijn kerkhof cemetery
koole spoortrein railroad
Bargoens Dutch English
kooter kind child
koudje mes knife
kover fatsoen decency
lampe lope betrapt worden caught in the act
nekeiwe vrouw woman
niegus geluk luck
niese vriendin girlfriend
oksenaar horloge watch
Oliekonteland Brabant Brabant
ome kolenbrander hoofd cipier warden
peiger dood dead
planjere huilen crying
prinsemarij politie police
rag monus het beste good luck
sawi verstand understanding
sjaakies bedaard calm
sjat betekend means
slang ketting chain
snabbel fortuin fortune
snabbeltje klein fortuin small fortune
tameier prostitue prostitute
Tofelemoons Roman Katoliek Roman Catholic
triefel vuilak (verrader) filthy person (traitor)
tuimele inklimmen breaking in
van de kist drunken drunk
About the Author
A. C. Baantjer is the most widely read author in the Netherlands. A former detective inspector of the Amsterdam police, his fictional characters reflect the depth and personality of individuals encountered during his near forty-year career in law enforcement.
Baantjer was honored with the first-ever Master Prize of the Society of Dutch-language Crime Writers. He was also recently knighted by the Dutch monarchy for his lifetime achievements.
The sixty crime novels featuring Inspector Detective DeKok written by Baantjer have achieved a large following among readers in the Netherlands. A television series, based on these novels, reaches an even wider Dutch audience. Launched nearly a decade ago, the 100th episode of the “Baantjer” series recently aired on Dutch channel RTL4.
In large part due to the popularity of the televised “Baantjer” series, sales of Baantjer’s novels have increased significantly over the past several years. In 2001, the five millionth copy of his books was sold—a number never before reached by a Dutch author.
Known as the “Dutch Conan Doyle,” Baantjer’s following continues to grow and conquer new territory. According to the Netherlands Library Information Service, a single copy of a Baanjter title is checked out of a library more than 700,000 times a year.
The DeKok series has been published in China, Russia, Korea, and throughout Europe. Speck Press is pleased to bring you clear and invigorating translations to the English language.
Inspector DeKok Series
by Baantjer
DeKok and the Geese of Death
Renowned Amsterdam mystery author Baantjer brings to life Inspector DeKok in another stirring potboiler full of suspenseful twists and unusual conclusions.
ISBN: 0-9725776-6-1, ISBN13: 978-0-9725776-6-3
DeKok and Murder by Melody
“Death is entitled to our respect,” says Inspector DeKok who finds himself once again amidst dark dealings. A triple murder in the Amsterdam Concert Gebouw has him unveiling the truth behind two dead ex-junkies and their housekeeper.
ISBN: 0-9725776-9-6, ISBN13: 978-0-9725776-9-4
DeKok and the Death of a Clown
A high-stakes jewel theft and a dead clown blend into a single riddle for Inspector DeKok to solve. The connection of the crimes at
first eludes him
ISBN: 1-933108-03-7, ISBN13: 978-1-933108-03-2
DeKok and Murder by Installment
Although at first it seemed to be a case for the narcotics division, it soon evolves into a series of sinister and almost impossible murders. Never before have DeKok and Vledder been so involved in a case whereby murder, drug smuggling, and child prostitution are almost daily occurences.
ISBN: 1-933108-07-X, ISBN13: 978-1-933108-07-0
Boost
by Steve Brewer
Sam Hill steals cars. Not just any cars, but collectible cars, rare works of automotive artistry. Sam’s a specialist, and he’s made a good life for himself.
But things change after he steals a primo 1965 Thunderbird. In the trunk, Sam finds a corpse, a police informant with a bullet hole between his eyes. Somebody set Sam up. Played a trick on him. And Sam, a prankster himself, can’t let it go. He must get his revenge with an even bigger practical joke, one that soon has gangsters gunning for him and police on his tail.
“… entertaining, amusing … . This tightly plotted crime novel packs in a lot of action as it briskly moves along.”
—Chicago Tribune
“Brewer earns four stars for a clever plot, totally engaging characters, and a pay-back ending … .”
—Mystery Scene
ISBN: 1-933108-02-9 | ISBN13: 978-1-933108-02-5
Killing Neptune’s Daughter
by Randall Peffer
Returning to his hometown was something Billy Bagwell always dreaded. But he felt he owed it to Tina, the object of his childhood sexual obsession, to see her off properly. Even in death she could seduce him to her. Upon his return to Wood’s Hole on Cape Cod, Billy’s past with his old friends—especially his best friend, present day Catholic priest Zal—floods his mind with classic machismo and rite-of-passage boyhood events. But some of their moments were a b
it darker, and all seemed to revolve around or involve Tina … moments that Billy didn’t want to remember.
This psycho-thriller carries Billy deeper and deeper into long-repressed memories of thirty-five-year-old crimes. As the days grow darker, Billy finds himself caught in a turbulent tide of past homoerotic encounters, lost innocence, rage, religion, and lust.
“… the perfect book for those who fancy the darker, grittier side of mystery. A hit-you-in-the-guts psychothriller, this is a compelling story of one man’s search for truth and inner peace.”
—Mystery Scene
ISBN: 0-9725776-5-3 | ISBN13: 978-1-933108-05-6
Nick Madrid Mysteries
by Peter Guttridge
No Laughing Matter
Tom Sharpe meets Raymond Chandler in this humorous and brilliant debut. Meet Nick Madrid and the “Bitch of the Broadsheets,” Bridget Frost, as they trail a killer from Montreal to Edinburgh to the ghastly lights of Hollywood.
ISBN: 0-9725776-4-5, ISBN13: 978-0-9725776-4-9
A Ghost of a Chance
New Age meets the Old Religion as Nick is bothered and bewildered by pagans, satanists, and metaphysicians. Seances, sabbats, a horse-ride from hell, and a kick-boxing zebra all come Nick’s way as he tracks a treasure once in the possession of Aleister Crowley.
ISBN: 0-9725776-8-8, ISBN13: 978-0-9725776-8-7
Two to Tango
On a trip down the Amazon, journalist Nick Madrid survives kidnapping, piranhas, and urine-loving fish that lodge where a man least wants one lodged. After those heroics, Nick joins up with a Rock Against Drugs tour where he finds himself tracking down the would-be killer of the tour’s pain-in-the-posterior headliner.
ISBN: 1-933108-00-2, ISBN13: 978-1-933108-00-1
DeKok and Variations on Murder Page 16