Private Berlin (Private 5)

“Uh-huh,” Mattie said. “Tell us about your stepfather. Your mother said he’s had people killed, but she had no particulars.”

His lips curled as if he’d tasted something sour. “Those are the rumors.”

“From?”

“The rumor mill,” he said.

“Any particulars?” Mattie demanded.

“Just look at his projects,” Rudy said. “It’s there if you really want to dig. Check Africa.”

“We plan to,” Katharina said. “Is that what Chris Schneider called you about last Monday?”

Mattie frowned. She knew nothing about any call to Rudy. The billionaire’s son looked surprised as well. “How did you…?”

“We ran Schneider’s phone records,” Katharina said. “Yours came up.”

“Why’d you look?”

“He’s dead,” Mattie said. “Murdered.”

Rudy appeared shocked but then said, “Yes, Schneider called me. He was about to meet with my stepfather and wanted to know if Hermann really is the ruthless corporate bastard he’s made out to be in the press.”

“What did you say?” Katharina asked.

Rudy’s smile resembled a hyena’s. “I said that my stepfather in person is much, much worse, someone who’d cut his mother’s throat if he thought it would fetch him a euro.”

CHAPTER 40

“WE GET IT—you don’t like your stepfather,” Katharina said. “Why?”

Rudy Krüger picked up one of his paintbrushes from the palette and considered one of his masterpieces before responding. “Because Hermann is a pure corporate capitalist pig, emphasis on pig.”

“Example?” Katharina pressed.

He tossed the paintbrush back on the palette. “How about the way he treats my mother? Twenty years ago he made her sign a prenuptial agreement that limits what she’d get in a divorce. It’s what keeps her tied to him. She’ll never give up the money no matter what he does. Plus, she honestly believes he loves her deep down.”

He snorted and shook his head.

“How much does she get in a divorce?” Mattie asked.

“Ten million euros.”

“Not terrible,” Katharina observed.

“If your husband is worth three and a half billion, and you were married to him when he made most of it?”

Mattie said, “I see your point, but what can she do?”

“What can she do?” Rudy Krüger laughed caustically. “She can show some backbone and character and leave him.”

“That’s your advice?”

“It’s either that or she learns to live with three mistresses and a house full of whores.”

“What do you know about Olle Larsson?” Katharina asked.

The billionaire’s son’s head pulled back like a turtle’s toward its shell. “Who?”