‘If you’re saying you’re a spy, Mr Jones, then perhaps we ought to end this conversation now. I’m an officer with the Republic’s People’s Police. I don’t want to be arrested for espionage. Neither do I want to get involved in international power games. I’m just a detective, investigating a murder, and that’s what I’ll continue to do.’

The man turned to his desk and pulled out a bulging brown envelope. He placed it on the low table in front of Müller.

She laughed and shook her head. Then ostentatiously looked at the centre light of the hotel room, then in each corner of the ceiling, so that ‘Mr Jones’ – if that was even his real name – knew exactly what she was doing.

‘Don’t worry, Hauptmann Müller. I’m fully aware that this conversation may be being monitored. Interhotels are notorious for it. It goes with the territory. As I say, I have nothing to hide. My employers’ motives mirror those of your good Republic. The contents of that envelope are yours to keep. The case you are investigating is – for you – a no-win situation. My information is that is precisely why you were assigned to it in the first place. People here are fed up with you. They want you to fail. But it doesn’t have to all end badly for you. The contents of that envelope will help you build a new career outside of the police – either within the Republic, if that’s what you want. Or even outside it. Should that be your choice, my employers could help facilitate things.’

Müller snorted with derision. She pulled on her gloves and started to stand up. As she did, she leaned across the table, then curled her right index finger against her thumb and flicked the envelope back towards the man – a bit like she’d seen her son Johannes doing with his Tipp-Kick table football players. ‘I’m not interested in bribes, Mr Jones. I’m not interested in threats. If I discover you have any link to the death in Gorbitz, then – mark my words – you will be arrested and will face the full might of the Republic’s legal system. Please have no doubts about it.’

She strode towards the door.

As she did, the man tried one last tactic. ‘By the way, how are your children Hauptmann Müller? Johannes and Jannika, isn’t it? It can’t be easy for you being separated from them while they’re in that sports school in Oberhof.’

The words did make Müller halt, just before she opened the door to the corridor. But she still wasn’t going to give in. ‘If my children come to any harm, and I find out you have anything to do with it, then I won’t be just arresting you, Mr Jones. I’ll be making sure you never leave this country alive.’

Chapter 41

41