26
Von Klitzing pored over the open file on his desk. The letterhead read IOCP. A fuzzy black-and-white photograph of Britt Petersen stared back at him.
It was an old photograph, taken before she was married. It didn’t do her justice, in his opinion. It was probably taken at some law society function in Sweden. I wonder how many people are missing her? Her parents have been dead for some time, but there was an aunt and cousins living near Stockholm whom I remember reading about in one report or other.
Neither aunt nor cousins had set eyes on Britt for years. It is truly amazing that such an attractive and intelligent woman could have had so few real friends.
That is the price of ambition, I suppose. Poor dead girl.
Von Klitzing had arranged for their colleagues and members of the Petersen Family to be prepped by Fredrik, with tales of adultery and alcohol abuse. Von Klitzing was convinced he had things under control, and he congratulated himself on his handling of the situation. He was proud of his ability to manipulate the workings of the world to his advantage.
Now, the police need a witness, he said to himself as the door to his office opened, and Eva Von Klitzing stepped into the room. A morning at the hairdresser’s had changed Eva from having a loose resemblance to Britt Petersen into her twin. It was a remarkable transformation. His daughter was even imitating Britt’s typical pose, that slightly arrogant look and posture she would take when being courted by older men. He smiled.
Eva was a chip off the old block. She took the transformation and associated role-playing in her stride. For reasons she could not explain, she had hated Britt Petersen.
Perhaps because we were so alike, she mused.
More likely, it was her knowledge of the threat Britt posed to her father’s company. The plan was to go to the police and take back all of Britt Petersen’s accusations.
“You know what to do, my darling.”
“Yes, Father, of course! I will claim that I acted out of spite and revenge. My acts were retribution against the firm that had poisoned my husband against me.”
“That is splendid! Just stick to the story, and I promise everything will be fine.”
Eva was well aware that she could go to prison for what she was about to do, but she didn’t care about that. Her father was taking notice of her for once in her life, and she was going to milk it for all it was worth.
At 3:00 pm that afternoon, Eva Von Klitzing knocked on the door of the Petersens’ house in Starnberg. There was no answer, but she knew that Lisa Jarvis was home. Their sources had confirmed that the Munich Criminal Police had visited the house in search of Britt and talked to a Lisa Jarvis. Since then, her father had kept Jarvis under surveillance. Eva needed a reason to visit the police station. Going around the side of the house, she found a path leading to the back garden. Lisa was kneeling on a mat, weeding the garden’s central flowerbed.
“Mrs Jarvis?” she called.
Lisa turned, holding up a hand to block the sun from her eyes.
“Hello, can I help you?”
“My name is Britt Petersen.”
“Oh my God, it’s lovely to meet you!” Lisa jumped to her feet, pulling the thick rubber gardening gloves from her hands and slinging them down onto the velour car mat.
“I don’t mean to intrude, but my husband said you would be in today, so I just took a chance.”
“Yes, yes, what can I do for you?”
“I just wanted to pick up a few things. I am moving back to Sweden.”
“Yes, of course. Can I help you? Would you like a cup of tea?”
“No, thank you. I will just pick up a few things, and then I’ll be off.”
“You will probably want to take all your photos and camera equipment with you. I put them in the cellar.”
Many of the rooms were decorated with very artistic black-and-white photographs. After Lisa had found more in boxes in the master bedroom, along with a large Nikon digital single lens reflex camera, she surmised that Britt was a serious photographer.
“I can help you bring them up, if you want?” The last thing I need is a car full of Petersen’s shit. What I need is an invitation to visit the Munich Police, you silly cow, Eva raged internally.
“No, thanks, Fredrik is getting all that shipped. I just wanted to make sure I didn’t leave any personal items behind.”
“Well, you are very welcome to check. I will be here if you need anything. I have only used the drawers and cupboards that were empty for our things.”
“Do you like the house?”
“Oh, I love it, especially what you have done with it. You have such great taste! The pictures, the furniture, it’s beautiful.”
“Thank you. Yes, we were happy here for a while, but our breakup had nothing to do with the house. You should take it. Fredrik doesn’t need it; he is better off in the city.”
“I will have to wait until my husband gets back from his business trip before we can make a decision. Is it okay with you if I make a few changes? Make it feel a bit more like our home?”
“Do whatever you like. I am done with it,” she said bitterly.
“Oh, that’s a shame. I am sorry!”
“Don’t be—water under the bridge.” A pained smile crossed Eva’s face, and she felt herself growing into the role.
“Look, it’s not my place but… ” Lisa hesitated.
“Please, whatever it is.”
“The other day. Well… the police were here asking for you. They said if I were to see you, I should tell them.”
“Did they say what it was about?”
“No, not really, something about the Company, I think? Sorry.”
“Never mind. I will get in touch with them. Did they leave a number?”
“Just a minute, they gave me a card.”
Lisa took off into the lounge, and Eva allowed herself a small smile. Returning with DI Müller’s card, she handed it to Eva, who thrust it into her Gucci handbag before moving to leave.
“Thank you. I will get in touch with them immediately. I am sure it is nothing serious, but I better get off. Goodbye.”
“But don’t you want to pick up your things?”
“Oh, yes, yes, maybe I can come back another time? This police business has made me a little nervous!”
“Yes, of course. I understand.”
With that, Eva was gone. Lisa sat down on the rattan patio chair, somewhat baffled by what had just taken place. Confused that Britt had not taken any of her things with her, she wondered at the fact that she had not even had a quick look around.
Maybe she was more concerned by the police’s visit than she wanted to admit? She thought.
Günther Müller got a call that Britt Petersen was waiting for him in the reception of the building the following morning. Motioning to Monika, who was sitting at a desk opposite him in the open plan offices, they both stood and moved towards the elevators.