‘But decided against it at the last moment and instead shot a bullet through his own head?’ Bonhoeffer laughed. This was clearly a madman before him. Anouk’s kidnapper, perhaps?

He wondered whether the revolver in the man’s hands actually worked. The section behind the barrel looked as if it had burst somehow, while the trigger seemed to be missing too.

‘Did you abduct the girl?’ he asked Tiago straight out. Maybe Veith had caught him in the act. In such circumstances there was every reason to get him out of the way. But what the devil does he want from me then?

Even if you couldn’t tell a criminal’s deeds just by appearance, Bonhoeffer doubted very much that he had a perverted rapist before him. On the other hand, the man had managed to smuggle a weapon through security and presumably killed the officer with it, for whatever reason.

‘I haven’t laid a finger on anyone,’ Tiago protested. ‘I was the one about to be killed. I’m the one who needs protection.’

Bonhoeffer smiled and said, ‘Perhaps you ought to repeat what you’ve just said, but without brandishing that revolver.’

The phone rang in his pocket, but before the captain could take the call Tiago ordered him to put it on the table.

‘Listen here, I’m needed on the bridge,’ Bonhoeffer lied. ‘You don’t have much time left to tell me your demands. They’ll soon notice I’m missing.’

‘I don’t have any demands. Who do you think I am?’

A fucking awful combination, Bonhoeffer thought. Mad and armed.

Veith must have discovered Tiago’s hiding place, cabin 2186, the love nest where he’d held Anouk prisoner. Yes, that made sense – after all, the girl had been found near there.

‘Where’s the mother?’ Bonhoeffer said, venturing a direct confrontation with the man.

‘The mother?’ Tiago asked. He sounded bewildered, but that might just be acting.

‘Anouk’s mother. Is she in the blue shelf? If so, your hideaway’s been busted. My people are on their way there as we speak.’

‘What the hell are you babbling on about?’ Tiago asked. ‘I don’t know any Anouk. Only a Lisa.’

‘Lisa?’ Now Bonhoeffer was lost for words. ‘How…?’

‘Here,’ Tiago said, pulling an enveloped from his back pocket. With one hand he shook out two pieces of paper.

‘What’s that?’ Bonhoeffer asked.

‘A plan,’ Tiago said. ‘I’ve been meaning to hand it over for ages.’ He passed Bonhoeffer the first of the two pages.

The captain smoothed out the paper on the table and started to read.

Plan:

Step 1: Put security camera out of order.

According to Querky’s list Nr 23/C. Access via outside steps on deck 5.

Step 2: Put farewell note in Mama’s cabin.

Step 3: Lock cabin door and connecting door.

Bonhoeffer looked up. ‘Where did you get this?’