It was never a surprise to Müller what Jäger or other members of the Ministry for State Security knew about her home life. After all, Emil – the twins’ father and her ex-partner – had been a Stasi agent. That’s why he’d become involved with her – because the Ministry wanted him to. Nevertheless, the mention of her children made her wary. ‘Yes,’ she finally replied. ‘But they’re probably in different parts of the school, I would think. I doubt they’ll see much of each other.’

‘Of course, you’re right. But if you like, I could ask Jens to keep an eye out for them.’

Müller wasn’t sure she wanted the son of a Stasi man keeping an eye out for any members of her family – particularly the children she’d fought so long to have. But perhaps it was an innocent enough offer. Certainly, there was no point in getting Jäger’s back up unnecessarily.

‘Thank you. That’s very kind, Klaus.’

Chapter 20

20

Hetzdorfer Straße 11 was part of one of the new blocks that had been completed within the last year in Gorbitz – just round the corner from the block where they’d found the witness to the fight, Petra Abt. So new, the supposedly ‘green’ areas between the blocks were still mounds of earth and rubble covered with patchy snow – rather than the lawned play areas they were shown as on the architects’ plans.

Müller and Tilsner had brought Schmidt with them this time, hauling him off other work the Dresden Kriminalpolizei had tasked him with.

‘It seems as though the inquiry is now going in a completely different direction, Comrade Hauptmann,’ he said. ‘May I ask, what has prompted this change of course?’

As Tilsner manoeuvred the Wartburg into a parking space in front of the block, Müller handed Schmidt the copy of Bodo Achterberg’s dental records. ‘The Ministry for State Security have conveniently unearthed these, Jonas. An exact match for the dental records of our victim.’

‘Conveniently?’ queried Schmidt.

‘Perhaps that’s unfair,’ said Müller, climbing out of the car. ‘But Oberstleutnant Jäger has arrived to take charge of the Ministry for State Security side of our inquiry – and almost immediately, these dental records appear.’

Schmidt held the piece of paper up to the light. ‘They seem to be genuine, although it’s only a copy so it’s difficult to tell.’

Müller turned and held her forensic officer’s gaze. ‘While Tilsner and I doorstep his neighbours, could you perhaps stay in the car and – from these records – draw up your best guess of what his teeth actually looked like? You know, if he smiled, and someone was looking him straight on. Any missing teeth, any visible fillings, any visible problems.’

‘Of course, Comrade Hauptmann. With pleasure. Just a diagram – or does it need to be lifelike?’