After eating his lunch, he headed for the Air Baltic counter. He knew he would need to get over his anxiety about the identity subterfuge and just do it. He felt like a sinner in church the entire time, but he had no difficulty in obtaining his ticket. It was already paid for. By the time the after-midnight flight had loaded, Heinz was exhausted. All he wanted was a Scotch and sleep. He would need the three hours’ nap because he had no clue where he was going to stay once he arrived. The plane was scheduled to land in the wee hours of the morning. He’d probably have to hang out in the airport until afternoon, and then go obtain a room in the nearest hotel. He hoped his Russian was good enough to manage the transaction.
The plane taxied down the runway accelerating until the front end lifted and the back wheels left the tarmac. Once they were airborne, the drink cart came around. Heinz ordered his Scotch on the rocks, sipped it slowly, relaxing, and then, using his jacket as a blanket, leaned against the window and closed his eyes. He was heading into the unknown without a safety net. He just hoped he found an answer that he could live with.
Chapter Four
ELSA KREISS NO SOONER clocked in for patrol duty when she was called into her Captain’s office. Karl Keller sat behind his desk sipping coffee. The rich aroma filled the small space. He didn’t look happy as evidenced by the constant tug he gave to his dark mustache. His balding head tilted at an angle as he glared at her. She wondered just what the hell she’d done to earn his ire so early in the morning.
“I see that your knee troubles you no more. You’ve been successfully completing patrol duty.”
Elsa remained quiet since he hadn’t asked a question yet. She gave a silent nod of assent.
He continued. “So here you are now on your second month back on duty, and I get a call to send you straight away to the LKA, to Direktor Herman Faust, no less. I’d heard a rumor or two flying around, but nothing confirmed, and you’ve been suspiciously quiet yourself.”
Elsa’s mouth opened.
“Save it, Kreiss,” he said. Looking down at her file, he flipped through a few pages, stopping to read one before flipping to the next. Finally, he looked up. “I don’t know whose ass you kissed, but most Schutzpolizei wait years working their tails off, moving up the ranks organically, and only after proving themselves time and again, completing courses, and sweating it out the hard way before being tagged for upper echelon positions.”
“Sir?” Elsa couldn’t hold her tongue any longer. She was confused and taken by surprise. The last time she’d seen Faust was when he and Heinz had dropped by together to check on her home therapy. Sure, Faust had made one passing mention concerning advancement during the Ivchencko affair while she was still in hospital, but he’d not brought it up since so she didn’t put any more thought into his words. They were just praise and encouragement in the heat of a very intense moment. At least, that’s what she thought when more than a month had passed, and no further word was received on the subject. She had to admit, she’d felt disappointed.
“Nein!” He held up his hand, and for a moment, bore a comedic resemblance to Germany’s greatest shame, Adolf Hitler. “I always knew you were Heinz’s little protégé, but I had no idea you’d moonlighted even above his graces. At least he never interfered or tried to throw his weight around here. He left you to fend for yourself and earn your way, and up until this morning, I thought that was who you were. I respected that, but now I just don’t know.”
This pissed Elsa off. Heat bloomed around her ears as she forced herself to bite her tongue. She’d had nothing to do with anyone requesting her anywhere, and now her Captain sat before her all but accusing her of what, screwing her way up the ladder?
She glared at him, waiting for him to finish. He stared back, and the standoff continued until he realized she wasn’t going to back down. Keller cleared his throat.
“Here.” He handed up the file. “Take this, clock out, and go to the LKA office on Tempelhofer Damm.”
Elsa stepped forward and grabbed the file. “When do I return?” she asked.
“You don’t. You don’t work here anymore, Kreiss. You’re their problem now. Dismissed.” He gave her a mocking salute.
She stared at Keller a moment longer. He ignored her, turning to his computer. She spun around and marched out of his office. As she passed his secretary’s desk, she stumbled. Sigrid jumped up, reaching out a hand.
“Are you okay, Elsa?”
Kreiss looked at the woman. She appeared like she always did, sweet, kind, plump, and now wearing a gold and diamond engagement ring. Her partner—scratch that, ex-partner, Hugo Beimer, had proposed to the woman, and Sigrid had said yes. They were set to be married a month after Heinz and Mahler’s own wedding.
“Yes. I’m okay. Just angry and confused.” She straightened up and offered a half-smile to the woman.
Sigrid nodded. “I know. I transferred the call in to the Captain.” She glanced back at his door, then leaned closer to whisper, “He’s not really angry with you, Elsa. He knows you didn’t have a hand in the transfer. He’s just mad at himself.” She looked back once more to make sure Keller couldn’t hear their conversation. “He’s been passed over by the LKA for years, and now they’ve personally requested you, a rookie. It’s just jealousy.”
Elsa blew out a breath. “Well why the hell did he all but accuse me of screwing someone for the reassignment?”
Sigrid shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe because he’s a bit of an asshole?”
Kreiss tried not to smile, but hearing sweet, sensible Sigrid say ‘asshole’ got her.
“He did try and fight for you, Elsa. I heard him tell Faust that you were a good officer, and that a few more years would only make you better. He wanted to keep you on, tried to look out for you, I think.”
Elsa looked over her shoulder at Captain Keller’s open door. Some of her anger melted away. “Well, he has a shitty way of showing his regard.” She sighed. “I’m to leave immediately and report to Faust. I am happy about it, but I’m nervous, Sigrid. What if I fuck it all up?” Elsa turned her green eyes toward the woman.
Sigrid smiled. “You’re going to be great, Elsa. This I know!” She reached out and gave her a hug.
“Thank you,” Elsa hugged her back. “And how is Hugo doing with his training?”
Her partner was called to begin his own new career path only two weeks ago with the SEK. Beimer had made his own impression in their last case, and thanks to her boyfriend, Lukas, had received high praise, and a new commission.
“He’s doing very well although he says he’s bruised and tired all the time from the physical training. And he misses me, of course,” she blushed.
“That complainer! Tell him I said to suck it up, and then tell him I finally got the call!” She held up the file folder. “I thought Faust had either forgotten or decided he didn’t think I was LKA material. God, when Hugo got his new assignment, we threw him a going away party. I get this.” She tossed another renewed look of anger at Keller’s office.
Sigrid nodded. “It’s the old boys club, Elsa. Some things never change.”
“Well, maybe I’ll change them.”
Sigrid smiled. “Maybe you will.”
The two women grinned, sharing a momentary celebration over Elsa’s promotion.
“Sigrid!” Keller’s voice barked. “Bring me the Gunderman file.”
“Duty calls. Good luck, Elsa.” She hugged the short, redheaded woman one last time.
“Thank you, Sigrid. I’ll see you soon. At a wedding, I believe?”
“At two! First Heinz and Mahler, and then me and Hugo.” She waved as she set off for the file room.
Elsa laughed, clocked out, and then cleared out her locker. She left, making her way to the UBahn. She hopped the next car to Tempelhofer Damm. On the ride over, she called Lukas to share her news. At least he would be happy for her, and perhaps later, they could celebrate, just the two of them.
HEINZ FOUND A CHEAP hotel room in the Kseniya Guest Hous
e near the docks. He checked in, handing over his passport to show identification. Martin Lintz was now an official guest. He paid a week in advance in cash. After settling into the single bedroom, and taking a quick shower, he headed out again, shrugging into his coat as he walked out of the front door. Across the street was a café. Heinz stopped there first for brunch and a cup of strong, black coffee, and then grabbed a taxi to the warehouse district on the docks. He wanted to get a look at warehouse number 214 in a drive by first. Once he saw exactly where it was situated, he directed the driver to take him to the nearest car rental service. He couldn’t very well conduct a stakeout in a taxi. Once again, Martin Lintz made a transaction, this time, signing on the dotted Russian line for a Volga Siber, similar to the American Chrysler Sebring. The black vehicle waited in the parking lot, gassed up and ready to go. From the rent-a-car service, he found a small grocery shop where he stocked up on bottled sparkling water and a few snacks. Finding a hardware store was a little more difficult since his command of the Russian language was iffy, but he found a place where he picked up a set of screwdrivers in various sizes—great for picking locks—and even a small pair of hunting binoculars.
What he really needed was a gun. He couldn’t bring his own police issued Glock. It would’ve given him away, but if push came to shove, Saint Petersburg would surely have its own black-market dealers, and criminals were never hard to find. For now, he’d stick to surveillance. With the minimum supplies needed acquired, Heinz threw his purchases on the passenger seat, and turned the wheel of the car, heading back to the docks. He only made one wrong turn before correcting course and arriving at his destination. The only problem now became finding an inconspicuous spot to park.
As he watched, Heinz noticed two other cars pull in from further up the dock. They drove into a fenced area where they parked, and the drivers got out, walking down the ramp to a lower level loading dock. The chain-link fence stood wide open with no one to monitor who came and went. It also sat across, and two buildings down from Warehouse 214. It wasn’t as close as he’d like to be, but it would do. He steered the Volga Siber into the fenced-off parking lot and backed into a space. This allowed him to at least face the warehouse he planned to surveil. Heinz settled in, preparing for a long vigil. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for. He only knew he’d know when he saw it. Then, he would have to figure out what to do with that intel. Whatever he decided, it was going to be dangerous.
Chapter Five
FAUST LOOKED UP FROM the file he was reading. He heard women’s voices coming down the hallway. One was his secretary, Lora, a woman in her forties with short, black hair, and the other came from someone he’d grown quite fond of recently. He smiled to himself, stood up, and walked casually to the door of his office where he stood, hands in his pockets, waiting.
“Well, it’s about time you showed up. I hope this isn’t going to be a regularly occurring problem, Kreiss. Tardiness will not be tolerated.”
Elsa raised an eyebrow. A laugh threatened to burst forth, but she contained herself. “Herr Direktor, I promise you it is not.”
Faust glanced at Lora. “Thank you for bringing this delinquent in. I’ll take it from here.”
Lora smirked, knowing her boss’s dry sense of humor after working for him for the past seven years. “Yes, sir.” She turned to leave, patting Elsa on the shoulder. “Good luck,” she whispered.
Faust waited as Elsa walked inside his office before following her in and closing the door. “Well, how did Captain Keller take the news? Is he green with envy?” He stood behind his desk, a look of glee on his face.
Elsa continued to stand, feeling unsure as to whether to sit. On one hand, this wasn’t the military, but on the other hand, Herman Faust was now her commander which meant the casual rules regarding men and women in social situations did not apply. He was the Direktor, and she, a subordinate.
Faust watched as she stood there, practically at attention. Finally, it hit him. “Oh, sit, sit.” He waved at the chair behind her.
Elsa took a seat, and Faust followed suit sinking down into his old, worn leather chair.
“Well?” He leaned onto his elbows, waiting.
Elsa leaned in as well. “He was not happy. In fact, he practically accused me of sleeping with you to get sent here.” She refrained from stating to get this job because she wasn’t as yet sure exactly what position she would be gaining at the Landeskriminalamt, or LKA as it was commonly called.
Faust let out a loud guffaw. “Ha! He just wishes he had the opportunity. I’ve no doubt Keller would drop to his knees if I asked, all for the chance to work here, the fool. I’ve dodged his verbal hand jobs for years now. Truly, Kreiss, he is a bit of an asshole, and I never took to him. Too self-aggrandizing, that one. I could hear the animosity bubbling inside of him when I gave the order to relinquish you. I thought his head might pop off from all the steam boiling his blood. Good times, yes.” Faust sat back, grinning in a self-congratulatory way.
Elsa stifled a smile. It was plain to see that he enjoyed stealing her away. Why, was another question? “What did Keller do to earn your dislike, Direktor?”
“Herman. You must remember to call me Herman, Elsa, but only when we’re alone or in casual company, of course.” He tapped the desk lightly. “Keller and I go way back. Heinz, too. We were all in the academy together, you see. Long story short, we’d gone out to celebrate the completion of our training. Somewhere around the third or fourth pub we visited we met some lovely ladies.”
“Oh, really?” Elsa smiled, and sat back, legs crossed.
“Yes, yes. You know, I wasn’t always an old, married fart. Anyhow, one of them was particularly beautiful. Like you, she had long, red hair, but her eyes were blue, the bluest I’d ever seen. Well, Keller began to brag he could get her. Heinz and I were never ones to back away from a challenge, and it became a competition, one that I won, mind you.” He smirked to himself.
“And?” Elsa waited, knowing there was more to the story.
Faust’s smirk spread into a full grin. “And, I’m still married to her today. Keller has been jealous ever since, especially since my career also outpaced his own.”
“Helga? Helga is the red-haired girl? Why, Herman, you sly dog!”
“I know. See? I told you. There was a time this old dog could hunt.”
“Well, you’re not an old dog, Herman,” she winked, chuckling. “I can see why she chose you. But what about Heinz? Are you telling me he tried to date Helga too?”
“Heinz was a most excellent wingman as it turns out. I did ask him once, right before Helga and I said, ‘I do’, why he backed off from the challenge that night. You know what he said?”
Elsa waited, enjoying learning more about her mentor. “No, what?”
Faust’s eyes grew distant as he looked out the window, happiness radiating from his face. “He said, ‘Herman, the minute you laid eyes on Helga, I knew it was all over.’ He said, ‘I’ve never seen anyone fall in love so hard, so quickly, and what kind of friend would I be if I tried to stand in the way?’ That’s a good friend to have, Elsa.”
“I take it Captain Keller hadn’t noticed Cupid’s arrow sticking out of your hind end?” The tongue in cheek comment brought Faust back to the moment.
“Indeed. The fool kept trying to make Helga dance with him. She obviously wasn’t interested, not after we were introduced. I tell you, if it wasn’t already love at first sight, her next action would have clinched my heart. Keller made a clumsy attempt to kiss my girl, and she balled up her fist and walloped him. How could I not marry her after that?”
Elsa laughed. “I can see it was a match made in heaven.”
“Most days, yes.” He looked down, bashful.
“Did you two ever have children?” As soon as the question left her lips, she regretted it. An immediate look of pain crossed his face.
Faust noticed her regret and held up a hand. “No, it’s okay. We did have one child, a little girl. Her name was Therese.”
Elsa sat quietly. She mentally focused in on one word; was.
“God took her from us when she was only three years old. A dark time, it was. She was beautiful too. Long, curly, red hair like her mother, and the tenacity of a bulldog like her old man.” He sighed. “It was an accident, no one’s fault, really. At least, that’s what Helga keeps telling me. I still wonder...” His voice trailed off as he stared out the window. “She fell off her tricycle. A few scrapes, but we didn’t realize at the time she’d hit her head harder than we knew. Over the next couple of days, her brain swelled. She lost consciousness. She was in the intensive care unit for a week. The doctors did all they could to reduce the swelling. They kept her in an induced comatose state, but nothing worked. She was already brain dead. It just took her body a little longer to catch up.” He sniffed, surreptitiously wiping his eye. “See? Tenacious. She wasn’t going to give up without a fight.”
Elsa leaned forward, reaching across the desk to pat his arm. “Just like her papa,” she smiled.
“After that, we grieved. We did think about trying again, but it seems we waited a bit too long, and conceiving became more difficult. It just never happened. Now, we have pugs, two of them. Weasel and Monk.”
“I like those names. Very unusual.” Elsa sat back.
“Helga’s idea, both of them. I don’t know where she comes up with these things.” He sat back, clearing his throat. “Well, officer Kreiss, it’s time to learn about what it is you’ll be doing here; don’t you think?” Faust changed the subject.
The Checkpoint, Berlin Detective Series Box Set Page 49