‘Good day, Herr Hauptkommissar Fabel,’ said Norbert Eitel. ‘This is my father, Wolfgang Eitel.’ Eitel senior extended his hand and gave a sharp nod of his head. Fabel almost expected to hear heels clicking. ‘And this is Wilfried Waalkes, our head of legal affairs.’

Fabel and Maria exchanged smiles. The lawyer. Fabel introduced Werner and Maria. Fabel studied the lawyer for a moment. Waalkes was a Frisian name, but the lawyer’s ‘Guten Tag’ was in a geographically indistinct Hochdeutsch.

‘What can I do to help you?’ said Norbert Eitel, a wave of his hand indicating that they should all take a seat around the oval conference table. Before Fabel could answer he added: ‘Can I get you anything? Coffee … tea?’

‘We’re fine, thanks.’ Fabel answered for everyone. The lawyer and Eitel senior took their places. ‘We would like to ask you about Angelika Blüm. Could you tell me what kind of relationship you had with her, personally and professionally?’

‘Personally, not much … professionally none. To be frank, Angelika would look down her nose at our publications. She considered herself to be in a different league.’

‘And you don’t agree with her assessment?’

Norbert Eitel laughed. ‘I had a very high regard for Angelika’s abilities. But I also happen to consider our titles as a quality market offering. My main contact with Angelika was through trade events and mutual friends. We were acquainted.’

‘And you, Herr Eitel?’ Maria addressed Eitel senior. ‘What contact did you have with Frau Blüm?’

Wolfgang Eitel tilted his head back and regarded Maria down his aquiline nose. ‘None. Well, we met just the once, at the Altona Krone … that would be a couple of weeks ago.’

‘But I dare say she was not particularly popular with either of you …’ Maria left the thought hanging.

‘I don’t understand …’ Norbert Eitel employed the geniality of his features in a confused smile while his father remained expressionless.

‘Frau Blüm was about to publish a story alleging you were engaged in property speculation that involved foreign interests.’ Maria kept an even, authoritative tone as she spoke. Fabel stared hard at Norbert Eitel, determined not to show any surprise at Maria’s bluff. Eitel’s smile showed no sign of shifting and its endurance, in itself, made it seem fake. Maria had hit the mark. But it was Norbert’s father who spoke.

‘Herr Hauptkommissar Fabel, we were not aware that Frau Blüm intended running any kind of story on either my son or myself. It is true that we have property interests. It is true that we do business with other nations. My own career was based on importing and exporting. If Frau Blüm was about to run a story about us then not only were we totally unaware of it, I can assure you we have no idea what the grounds for such a story would be.’

Fabel changed tack. ‘I believe you served in the Ostfront during the war. You commanded Ukrainians, didn’t you?’

A spark became a flame that became a raging dark fire in Wolfgang Eitel’s eyes. But nothing of it leaked out into his voice, his expression, his movements.