Müller and Tilsner. Jäger didn’t need it spelling out for him. The little upstart in front of him might be talking about a ‘chance to put things to rights’, but Jäger knew it was almost certainly something else.

His last chance. And he couldn’t help but feel he was being set up to fail.

Chapter 10

10

Dresden

February 1982

Despite being in the middle of a murder inquiry, Müller still had the future of her children preying on her mind. In the midst of a case like this, there was no way she would be able to have them with her in Dresden, despite the Republic’s excellent childcare facilities. The agonising decision almost became a fait accompli when Rosamund rang her saying she’d had a fall on an icy pavement. Müller’s adoptive sister, Sara, had been helping her mother out temporarily, but Rosamund made it clear that couldn’t continue.

‘I’m not getting any younger, Karin, and your father’s no longer around to help.’

‘Are you going to be all right, though?’ asked a concerned Müller.

‘I’ll be fine, I’m sure. My thigh’s turned a horrible purple-yellow colour, but the doctor insists it’s just bruising, nothing more. But I think we’re going to have to take Herr Meyer up on his offer. It’s a great opportunity for Johannes and Jannika and they’ll still be in the bosom of the family each weekend. They’ll love being with children of their own age.’

Müller gritted her teeth and said nothing for a moment. Even if she had, finally, agreed to the scheme, it wasn’t supposed to turn out this way. She’d imagined taking them to the school herself, with tearful hugs and kisses, before they ran off to join their new friends. Instead, the decision was being made for her, while she was hundreds of kilometres away. But it wasn’t Rosamund’s fault. And perhaps she was being selfish – after all, she hadn’t actually provided an alternative solution. Instead, she’d chosen to dedicate herself to her job, working for the Republic – for better or for worse.

‘Karin? Are you still there?’

‘Yes, sorry, I was just thinking.’ Müller heard herself sigh. ‘You’re right. It’s the only alternative. The important thing is that you get better, Mutti.’

‘I’m sure it will turn out for the best, Karin. And if they really don’t like it after a few weeks, I promise you we can try to work something else out.’

*