by Val Penny
“And he keeps a rifle here,” Colin added. “Fully registered and quite legally, of course. He uses it for competitions and target practice.”
“Now this is getting interesting,” Hunter replied.
“And look at TripAdvisor, Boss.” Nadia pointed at the computer screen.
“I really don’t have time for that, Nadia.”
“No, Boss, look here. The Lizard has praised Reinbold by name on three separate occasions when he was working at different hotels in the Gemuetliche Erholung chain. That is important, because The Lizard is a platinum card holder with the group. His comments are influential with Heinrich’s bosses.” Nadia said.
“Really? Good work,” Hunter smiled.
“And we know Heinrich lied about not knowing George was here. Ian Thomson told us that The Lizard would accept any well-paying job, but that he wasn't a good shot,” Tim said. “Could he have sub-contracted George’s murder?”
“Heinrich certainly had a grudge against George,” Colin said.
“The postcards sent to George coincide with Heinrich’s moves to different branches in the hotel chain,” Nadia added.
“Very interesting. Yes. Colin, see if you can find any more on Heinrich. Nadia, let me know if you find any more about what Merkel was doing in London before Mrs Pratt’s funeral. And see if you can find the copy of Ms Dormer’s marriage certificate. Tim, you're with me.”
Hunter left the room, with Tim in tow.
Chapter Forty-Two
Bear got to the hospital much faster than the speed limits should have allowed. He had phoned Mel’s parents in Aberdeen and told them about the incident. He was anxious that they should not hear about it first on the television news.
“No, Mr Grant, I don't know exactly what happened. I wasn’t there. She was with DI Wilson. I understand that they were arresting a suspect when he attacked her.”
Bear could hear the panic in the other man’s voice.
“Yes, I promise I will keep you and Mrs Grant informed. I have just spoken to the doctor. She has had an x-ray and is just about to be taken for a scan of her head and neck now. No, they don’t know if she will need surgery. I will call you as soon as I hear more.”
Bear could tell that Mel’s dad covered the mouthpiece of the phone and spoke to his wife. He heard the woman sobbing. Her dad said they were leaving now and would be in Edinburgh in three to four hours, traffic permitting.
“Of course, Mr. Grant. If you are driving, do you want me to phone your wife’s mobile number with any news I get?”
Mr Grant repeated the question to his wife and agreed that would be best.
“I’ll do that. I see them coming with her now to take her for the scan. I’ll ring off and follow behind. I don’t want her to wake up with none of us here. I’ll see you soon. Yes, I promise faithfully to call with any news at all, good or bad.”
***
Tim entered the interview room with Hunter, and noticed that Andrew Barley abruptly stopped talking. He shut the door behind them. Tim found the interview room stuffy and claustrophobic. Whatever the cleaners used made no impact on the airless quality of the dismal little room. He stood at the door, feet apart, hands behind his back, stared at the floor and listened to Hunter.
Hunter took a deep breath. Tim knew he would regret doing that, because he would immediately discover that the room smelled unpleasantly of rotten eggs. He believed this was, in part, due to the nervous demeanour displayed by the suspect opposite them. Tim leant against the wall and watched Hunter glance at Andrew Barley. He noticed Barley look up from his papers and sigh.
“Mr Reinbold, thank you for agreeing to help us today. I know you are a busy man,” Hunter said quietly.
Reinbold nodded and glanced at Andrew Barley, who smiled at him.
“You have not been entirely honest with us, have you, Mr Reinbold? You claimed that you had had no contact with your Uncle George and did not know he lived in Edinburgh before we told you. But that was not true. You told your company that you had family in Edinburgh. So you were well aware that George lived here, weren’t you?”
“That is true. I’m sorry.”
“Your computer shows that you followed your uncle’s career closely over the past five years.”
“Since my mother died. I was alone in the world. It is not a nice feeling.”
“You are an adult. It isn’t as if you were a tiny child being left as an orphan.”
“I know, but I travel a lot in my job. I cannot put down good roots or keep close friends. I often felt very alone.”
“But you loathed your uncle, and hated what he had done to your family.”
“He was all I had left. I decided to try to get to know him.”
“Did you really? How did you do that?” Hunter asked scathingly.
“I wrote to him.”
“Like this?” Hunter pushed the plastic bag containing the postcard from behind the clock towards Heinrich and Barley.
“What is this?” Barley asked.
“This is one of the postcards your client sent to his uncle every time he moved jobs or visited a different place. Isn’t that so, Heinrich?”
“It is.”
“But in German it reads only ‘Beware your sins will find you out.’ No signature, no address, no identification of any sort. These were not true attempts to get to know your uncle, were they?”
“No, not really.”
“Not really? Not at all!” Hunter shouted. “You’d sent him postcards from all over the world. Unsigned postcards. Cryptic postcards. That was unnerving for George. Indeed, the menacing cards terrified him. He increased the security within his home each time he received one. Did you think about that?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know. I thought I wanted to get to know him, but more I wanted to punish him for all the suffering he gave to me and my mother. Do you know, no you cannot know, what it was like, growing up in East Germany as the bastard child of the Stasi? The Stasi despised my mother and me, the townsfolk spurned her. It was bloody awful. All the while he was here, doing fine. Getting rich with a fine home, good job and fancy books like a western fat-cat.”
“When did you learn about your uncle’s collection of first edition books?”
“Not long ago, a few days ago, probably even after he was dead. I overheard a guest in the hotel talk about Winnie the Pooh and the new owner Reinbold. Then I read a bit in a paper. We get newspapers to the hotel for guests. I knew it had to be him.”
“Yes, yes. But for the first time? When did you find out for the first time, Heinrich?” Hunter asked tetchily.
Heinrich Reinbold smiled. He looked at Hunter.
“Are you a detective who is only asking questions to which he knows the answer?”
Hunter pierced him with his keen eyes. “What do you think?”
“You are a man with short brown unfashionably styled hair: you are not so tall as to be noticed, but it is clear you are a detective of worth. You do not skip on preparation for this interview. So I suppose that I might as well tell you truly what I know.”
“That will certainly allow us all to get out of here a great deal quicker. Feel free to go ahead, Mr Reinbold.”
“Years ago. Every household had a family Bible when I was growing up. I asked my mother for ours. She brought out a small book with a few notes in the front. It was not a proper family Bible. Those are big books. Expensive. They have all the history of the family.”
“I can imagine,” Hunter nodded.
“I asked my mother where our proper family Bible was, and she burst into tears. She cried a lot when I was young. She told me about Uncle Georg having to run away, and how the only things of value in the house were the family Bible and an old book written by an acquaintance of my great-grandfather. The old book was a signed first edition; very rare, hugely valuable. Both books were given to Georg so he could sell them when he needed money.”
“But he never did sell them.”
“I searched. I became a member
of as many libraries and book collectors clubs as I could. The family Bible was nowhere, so I knew he must still have it. And that first edition book was so valuable and so rare it would have been auctioned if it were ever offered for sale. But there was no trace of it. Maybe now, I will get it back at last?”
“Above my pay grade, Mr Reinbold. When did you meet Max Merkel?”
“He was a guest in the hotel in Edinburgh here.”
“Oh, for God’s sake. Let’s not go through all that again. When did you really first meet Max Merkel?”
“It’s true. I had not seen him before.”
“But you knew of him: who he was?”
“Since I was a little boy, I knew who he was. Then he went away. To Berlin. To study antiques. Much later, I heard his name as an expert antique dealer. But I kept my distance. I knew better than to get too close to Max Merkel. He hated me. He hated my family. He hated my uncle as much as I did. I understand that. I have always understood. I am probably the only person who did truly understand. Because it was his father that Georg killed. Like me, he grew up fatherless. It cannot have been easy in his household either.” Heinrich Reinbold stared at Hunter.
“And did you hate Merkel, Mr Reinbold?”Hunter asked.
“No. I did not hate him. But I had no wish to be his friend. His father was a ruthless, dangerous man. I believed he might be dangerous too.”
“I think we should take a break now,” Andrew Barley said.
“Just a couple of additional questions, please, Mr Barley,” Hunter said. “Where do you keep your rifle, Mr Reinbold?”
“At my gun club. I joined it almost as soon as I arrived here. I enter many competitions. It is my hobby. But I only use it in competitions.”
“Have you used the pistol since you arrived in Scotland?”
“No, your guns laws are very strict. I was not permitted to bring a pistol into this country. I only have my rifle.”
“Have you used the rifle, even at the gun club since you arrived here?”
“No. I’ve been too busy with the hotels opening.”
“How long have you known Lenny The Lizard Pratt?” Hunter asked.
“Mr Pratt? I do not know him well, but I have known him for some years. He is a valued platinum card member of our chain of hotels. When he books into any of our establishments, his favoured status is flagged up. He always gives very generous tips, Mr Pratt. That way, everybody wants to assist him, to serve him. Everybody on the staff likes him. He talks to all of us like we are people. If we do a good service, he names us in his reviews. The directors see that and it helps us get bonuses and promotions. Platinum card members are important guests to us.”
“And did you help him by asking to test drive a car from Thomson’s Top Cars the evening before your uncle was murdered?”
“Yes, anything for Mr Pratt. But I knew nothing about a murder, of course.”
“Of course. And were you instructed to ask to drive the beautiful Bentley or the old Volvo?”
“Period car. We do not say old. It is a period car. I like cars, but when would I ever have another chance to drive a Bentley, detective? There was no contest.”
Hunter got up and walked out. He thought he now knew how it was done.
Chapter Forty-Three
Colin walked into the incident room with Nadia. He was carrying a tray with coffee for himself and a tea for her. She held the door open with her foot, as her hands were full with a bag of cheese and onion crisps, biscuits and a bag of Twiglets.
“Which is my tea?” Nadia asked.
“The brown cup, that says tea. Mine is red and says coffee.”
“Sorry, I didn’t hear the cups properly!”
“Ha, ha! Very funny just remember to give me the Twiglets then there will be no problem. They’re mine!” Colin snatched the bag from the table.
“I won’t be fighting you for them. How can you eat those things? They’re disgusting!” Nadia wrinkled her nose.
“And that from the girl who likes moon cake!” Colin smiled.
“What's all the hilarity? Too much happiness isn’t good for you. Quieten down, you pair,” Hunter said crossly as he entered the room.
“Have you heard from Bear, Boss?”
“Yes. Mel’s had x-rays and she's just back from a CAT scan. They’re waiting for the results of that before deciding whether she needs an operation.”
“Oh, God!” Tim said quietly.
“Why oh why didn’t I cuff that nasty little bully myself?” Hunter muttered.
“Don't torture yourself with that, Boss,” Tim said. “Her parents are driving down from Aberdeen. They should be at the hospital any time now.”
“Facing them will be a little slice of Heaven.”
Hunter looked around the room. Each tired face in front of him remained committed to solving this case. He smiled at them. His team had certainly put in the hours. He knew they would do that for any murder victim, but for George they had gone that extra mile and put in their emotion too. No wonder they were exhausted.
Hunter had liked and respected George. He just wished George had felt able to trust him enough to explain his fears. Then, maybe, Hunter thought, he could have protected his friend.
“Oh George, why wouldn’t you let me in? Would’ve, could’ve, should’ve,” Hunter muttered.
“Sorry, Boss, I didn’t catch that,” Colin said.
“I'm just muttering, Colin,” Hunter tried to smile, but it came out more like a grimace. “All Tim and I need to do is to interview Ms Dormer and Mr Merkel, and then I think we can all go home. Colin, have you and Nadia got me a copy of Ms Dormer’s marriage certificate?”
“It’s on its way, being faxed from Register House. We’re lucky they got married in Scotland.”
“And, did you manage to check Merkel’s movements in London?” Hunter asked.
“Yes indeed, Boss. Your hunch was right; he wasn’t just there for the art show he talked about. Your London contact had him followed and he took time out to visit Country and Hound.”
“And? What is Country and Hound when it’s at home?”
“It’s a shop in Mayfair, Boss. It’s been there for ever, and deals in new and used guns. They normally only deal in rifles and shotguns, but you were right, the manager confirmed to our colleagues down South that Merkel took a handgun in to them. It was disassembled and all in pieces. A Smith & Wesson .38. The manager was very uncomfortable about talking to the police about it, because it is completely illegal to have such a weapon here.”
“I bet he was!”
“His argument was that as the gun arrived in pieces, the parts were cleaned and returned to the customer in pieces, they were just bits of metal, not a pistol,” Colin said.
“I doubt our colleagues will agree with him! I certainly don't. Why did. Just like he return the bloody gun to Merkel?”
“He is a long term and respected customer. He assured the man it wasn't his, but for a European client.”
“I can't see that being accepted by the Police in London. Anyway, was it the same calibre as the one used to shoot George?”
“The very same. With instructions that it should be taken apart, thoroughly cleaned, and left in pieces. HeMerkel collected it the following morning.”
“Do we know if it’s the same gun? Did we find it in his case, Colin?”
“No. And it’s not in with his things now, Sir. Although his own pistol is there, in bits, all spotlessly cleaned.”
“I suppose he’d returned the other one to its rightful owner,” Hunter said.
“Perhaps we could get the ballistic expert to test both pistols?” Colin asked.
Tim entered the room, backside first, carrying mugs of coffee for himself and Hunter.
“Ooh, teacher’s pet. Getting the boss’s coffee, Tim,” Nadia teased him.
“I grabbed a mug when I was getting yours, Boss, I hope that’s okay?”
“No problem. Why would Merkel need a pistol, though? And how dare he bring it into
our country surreptitiously,” Hunter mused.
“Well, if I had clients like Mansoor and I were dealing with such valuable artifacts, I might want one too,” Colin said.
“You wouldn't stay on our thin blue line for long, if you did!” Hunter said.
“I saw PCs McKenzie and Larkin too. The search of Reinbold’s office and accommodation is completed. They found a few things they didn’t expect,” Tim said.
Hunter sipped his coffee. “I bet they did. And anything on the computer?”
“Nothing on that back yet, Sir.”
“Let’s grab a sandwich from the machine and then go and speak to Ms Dormer, shall we, Tim? Colin, interrupt us when that copy marriage certificate comes through.”
***
Bear met Ross and Ginny Grant as they entered the hospital. Both parents looked exhausted and emotionally drained.
“They’ve put her into an induced coma,” Bear said.
“Oh God, Ross!” Ginny sobbed. “Our baby is going to die!”
“No, not at all, Mrs Grant,” Bear said quickly. “I am told it is quite normal to do this for a head injury, until the results of the CAT scan are evaluated and the doctors decide what to do for the best.”
“Of course, thank you, Bear. But you can't know that,” she said.
“Shall we go and sit in the cafeteria? I’ll get us some sandwiches and coffee. I think we could be here a while.” Bear directed the worried parents and found them an empty table. He didn’t bother to ask them what they wanted. He was quite sure they wouldn’t taste a thing when they were so worried. But he did think they should eat. He bought three large coffees, plus a selection of sandwiches and slices of cake, and took the food to the table. Then he sat down to tell Mel’s parents again, face to face, everything that he knew.
Chapter Forty-Four
Andrew Barley was sitting beside June Dormer as Hunter and Tim walked in.
“You are having a busy day today, Detective Inspector Wilson,” he said.