There were two Schutzpolizei cars, which Fabel guessed were from the Uhlenhorst Polizeikommissariat, parked immediately before the bronze and glass doors that gave entry to the brightly lit marble lobby. A uniformed SchuPo stood guard at the door while a second listened as a tall man in his sixties talked animatedly to him. Fabel parked behind the police cars and he, Maria and Werner got out, just as Paul and Anna pulled up. Fabel strode over to the uniformed policeman who was listening patiently to the older man. The policeman’s epaulettes told Fabel that he was a Polizeikommissar. Fabel flashed his KriPo shield and the policeman nodded acknowledgement. The taller, older civilian, who had the dishevelled look and red-rimmed eyes of someone disturbed from a deep sleep opened his mouth to speak. Fabel cut him off by speaking directly to the Polizeikommissar.

‘No one’s tried to gain entry yet?’

‘No, sir. I thought it best to hang on until you got here. I’ve two men on the door of Frau Blüm’s apartment and there’s no sound from within.’

Fabel looked in the direction of the civilian.

‘This is the caretaker,’ the SchuPo answered Fabel’s unspoken question.

Fabel turned to the caretaker and held out his hand. ‘Give me the master key for Frau Blüm’s apartment.’

The caretaker had the supercilious, semi-aristocratic look of an English butler. ‘Certainly not. This is an exclusive residence and our occupiers are entitled to—’

Again Fabel cut him off. ‘Fair enough.’ He turned to Werner. ‘Get the door-ram from the trunk of the car, would you please, Werner?’

‘You can’t do that …’ fumed the caretaker. ‘You need a warrant …’

Fabel didn’t even look in the caretaker’s direction. ‘We don’t need a warrant. We are investigating a murder and we have reason to believe the occupant is in danger.’ He jerked his head in the direction of the car. ‘Werner … door-ram?’

The caretaker spluttered apoplectically. ‘No … No … I’ll get the keys.’

The elevator doors slid open onto the third-floor corridor, a wide, immaculate expanse, brightly illuminated by downlighters that splashed pools of light on the pristine marble. Fabel gestured with his hand for the caretaker to lead the way. They followed a slow sweep in the hall and came upon two officers, one on either side of an apartment door. Fabel placed a restraining hand on the caretaker’s shoulder and moved forward, indicating to Werner and Maria that they should come with him. With a silent motion of his hand he gestured that Anna and Paul should move to the other side of the door, next to the second SchuPo. All eyes were on Fabel. He gestured to the caretaker by holding a finger to his lips and whispered: ‘Which key?’

The caretaker fumbled for the appropriate key. Fabel took the keys, smiled and nodded to the caretaker, miming a pushing movement with the palm of his hand to indicate that the caretaker should now back off. The mime act continued: he pointed to himself and to Werner, then held up a single finger followed by two fingers to indicate that he and Werner would take the lead. Fabel and Werner drew their weapons and Fabel pressed the door buzzer. They heard the electronic rasping of the buzzer inside the apartment. Then nothing. Fabel nodded to Werner and put the key in the lock. He turned the key and swung the door open in a single fluid movement. The lights in the apartment were on. Werner slipped through the door followed immediately by Fabel.