Tilsner leant forwards, blowing smoke in the woman’s face. ‘But then, you want to co-operate with the Kriminalpolizei, don’t you? So that we say nice things about you in our report. So I’m sure you’ll accede to Comrade Müller’s polite request.’ As he said this, Tilsner cracked his knuckles. The piece of theatre almost made Müller laugh out loud.

The woman sighed and gave a small nod.

‘If you could deliver them back promptly in time for the start of classes tomorrow, please, Frau Müller, I’m sure I can overlook the rules this once.’

*

The deputy director didn’t show any inclination to want to accompany them on their tour of the school, and Müller thought it would be better not to alert her to who they wanted to interview. So they didn’t ask for directions to Olga Voights’s office – Room 1015. Based on her knowledge of most buildings in the Republic, there would be plenty of signs showing which rooms were located where. If not, they could ask if they got lost by targeting a staff member who was less likely to become suspicious.

They followed the room signs down various corridors adorned with the sporting achievements of the pupils. Cups, shields, pennants – and ubiquitous photos of victorious children of all ages shaking hands with the great and the good. Erich Honecker, his wife Margot – now nicknamed the Purple Witch thanks to her strange-coloured hair rinse, but at one time, Müller had to admit, an attractive woman – and Honecker’s predecessor, Walter Ulbricht. The former East German leader had been virtually airbrushed from history, despite doing so much to build up the reputation of Oberhof for elite winter sports. Müller tried to keep her collar up as they passed the classrooms and gyms, just in case Johannes or Jannika spotted her through any of the glazed doors.

Eventually they reached Room 1015, and Müller knocked on the closed door. No answer.

‘What do we do now?’ asked Tilsner.

Müller turned and furrowed her brow. Just then, another staff member passed and solved their conundrum.

‘If you’re looking for Frau Voights, you’d be best off trying the laundry,’ he said.

‘Which way?’ asked Müller.

The man pointed to a sign on the wall. ‘Just follow the notices. You’re nearly there.’

*

In the humid, almost choking heat of the laundry, the two detectives were soon able to locate Frau Voights. When she realised who they were, the woman – in Müller’s view – immediately became overly nervous, almost as though she wanted to run away.

She went into a side office, and then came out wearing a winter coat – which looked ridiculous given the heat of the room – and carrying a briefcase. Then she gestured with her eyes for Müller and Tilsner to follow her.