She was leaning against the kitchen island. Floris whispered something in her ear, and she laughed, baring her teeth. Sara Möhring, he decided, was a girl with two sides: the unapproachable model, and the slut who had let a boy like Brian take her virginity in the kitchen of her father’s restaurant. Was that really her first time? he wondered. Maybe that was just what she told Brian. Sara and Brian seemed to be cut from the same coarse cloth. Had those two agreed to share the loot from the robbery, or had Brian promised her a reward in exchange for her tip-off—just like Ralf was supposed to get a cut for his services as a driver?

One thing was certain: this family was pretty fucked up.

He poured the Coke down his throat and got up from the table. Walked over to the window and peered out. So much space. So many possibilities. He wondered if there was any disturbed soil out there somewhere.

“Is it OK if I take a look at your backyard?” he asked Sara.

She regarded him with slight surprise. “Yeah, sure. Go ahead.”

16

16

“Sorry I’m so late.” Werner took off his coat and scarf. He gestured toward the garage with his chin. A heavy bassline was pounding through the wall. “Nice and busy in there, huh? The driveway looks like a bike park. I left my car on the other side of the street. Who does that old Polo belong to?”

“It’s Ralf’s.”

“Should I know him?”

She shook her head. “A friend of Sara’s.”

Werner poured out a glass of whiskey and held up the bottle. “Do you want one?”

“Better not. I’ve already had some wine, and I need to be at work early tomorrow.” She glanced at the clock. It was only ten thirty, but given the way she felt now, she could have sworn it was the middle of the night. “I told myself I’d stay up until everyone had gone home, but that’s not going to happen.”

“You go on up to bed. I’ll keep an eye on things down here.” He looked at her over the rim of his glass. “Hang in there. On Sunday, we’ll be in England. Have you packed yet?”

She smiled wearily. “When was I supposed to find time for that?”

“Well, you don’t need to take much with you. As long as you bring a nice dress and a decent pair of walking shoes.”

“Thanks for the fashion advice,” she laughed.

He lifted one corner of his mouth. “Plus a raincoat, a warm sweater, and a pair of high heels.”

“You’re making me very curious, Werner. What will we be doing?”

“Everything.” He gave her a teasing look.