Private Berlin (Private 5)

“He is,” Mattie said.

Dietrich ignored her. “Herr Krüger, I know this is hard, but I need you to identify your mother. Your stepfather is apparently nowhere to be found.”

Sounding dazed, Rudy Krüger said, “It’s her.”

“You can’t see her from here.”

“It’s her car.”

“Please, sir, I need you to look at her face. We’ll drape the wound.”

Rudy looked at Katharina and Mattie. “Would you go with me?”

Dietrich appeared displeased, but Mattie said, “Of course we will.”

The billionaire’s stepson was shaking like a leaf. His lower lip trembled as he walked up beside his mother’s car. Mattie could see her in there. Her body was rocked to the right. A stream of drying blood ran out of her mouth.

Tears rolling down his cheeks, Rudy Krüger nodded. “It’s her. My mother.”

Then he spun around, doubled over, and vomited.

CHAPTER 51

WHEN RUDY KRÜGER’S spasms subsided, Mattie and Katharina led him away.

“I need some water,” he said dully.

“I’ll get you some,” Inspector Weigel answered and hurried off.

The rain had stopped and the wind had picked up, blowing leaves from the trees in front of Agnes Krüger’s home. Rudy Krüger sat on the wet front steps looking wounded and alone.

“Herr Krüger…” Dietrich began.

Mattie stepped in front of the high commissar and in a low voice said, “Remember what you felt like last night? Give him a minute.”

Dietrich was a man not used to taking orders and not used to other people knowing his affairs. But in a measured tone, he replied, “Just so, Frau Engel.”

Weigel came up and handed the billionaire’s stepson a bottle of water. “Thank you,” Rudy Krüger said. “You’re very kind.”

Dietrich waited until he’d drunk it before informing him that no witnesses to his mother’s murder had come forward yet. There’d been a driving rain at the time and none of the neighbors seemed to have heard anything unusual.

“Where were you an hour ago?” Dietrich asked when he’d finished.

“Me?” Rudy Krüger said. “I was at a rally for Tacheles.”

“Anybody see you?”

“Hundreds,” he said. “I was a speaker. I’ve been there since this morning.”

“Any idea who’d want to kill her?”

Rudy’s expression turned to outrage. “The same person who probably killed Chris Schneider: Hermann Krüger. Or someone working for him. I promise you. When will you arrest him?”

“I’ve got to find him first,” Dietrich said. “Hear his side of things.”

“Jesus Christ,” Rudy Krüger moaned. “Jesus, it’s just…”

“What?”