‘I will not submit,’ Roddeck told the Neue Preussische Zeitung. ‘A Prussian officer will not be intimidated.’
His brave stance is especially remarkable given the undeniable gravity of these threats, which have already claimed the life of Lieutenant von Roddeck’s faithful orderly, who led a harsh but proud existence as a disabled war veteran before dying a violent death some days ago at Nollendorfplatz.
It is all the more inexplicable, therefore, that the Berlin Police should refuse our endangered author any form of personal protection. Particularly when the investigating officer, one Detective Inspector Gereon Rath, still has nothing to show for his efforts, despite the eye-opening testimony of Lieutenant von Roddeck, who has provided the aforementioned inspector with a forensic account of the background to these threats and the potentially lethal danger arising from them.
The article went on, taking up almost half a page, but for Rath the byline sufficed. Martin Frank, you piece of shit, he thought.
True, the piece might not have been as sensational as those usually carried in Der Tag or B.Z. am Mittag. Displaying all the hallmarks of the Kreuzzeitung’s old-fashioned, militaristic posturing, its content was nevertheless highly defamatory. Even so, the scurrilous conjecture – garnished with the odd swipe at Jews in the officer corps – was by no means the worst thing about the article. No, the worst thing was the threefold appearance of the name Gereon Rath, on one occasion complete with police rank.
No wonder the commissioner wanted to see him. When he reached the office, however, the wooden bench outside was already occupied. ‘Good morning, Inspector,’ Ernst Gennat said. ‘Do you have any idea how much I hate climbing stairs? Usually I speak to the commissioner on the telephone.’
‘My apologies, Sir. I had no idea the case would create such waves.’
‘You’ve been talking to the press again, I see.’ Gennat held the offending paper in his hand.
‘It was Herr Frank who telephoned me. He didn’t say he was reporting on the case.’
‘You should have told me he called.’ Buddha produced a second newspaper from under the Kreuzzeitung. Der Tag. ‘What about this? You may not be mentioned by name, but this Weinert’s an acquaintance of yours, am I right?’
‘Yes, Sir. He also telephoned me. But only after I spoke with you the other day and…’
‘You might at least have told me about this mysterious new witness.’
‘After our conversation I didn’t hold out much hope of working the case again…’
‘So you fed your friend Weinert with information so that the commissioner would come under public pressure.’
‘To help you, Sir.’
‘Thank you, but in future keep me informed of new developments as they come in. This witness of yours. Is he reliable?’ Rath nodded. ‘And he confirms the suspicion that Wosniak was murdered by a veteran previously assumed dead?’
‘Looks that way.’
‘Not such a busybody after all, your Lieutenant Roddeck.’
‘Perhaps not.’ Rath was contrite. Best get some practice in. The police commissioner was bound to deal out more of the same.
A wiry, scar-faced man emerged from the commissioner’s office. Rudolf Diels, the new head of Section 1A, from the Interior Ministry and appointed personally by Göring. What might he want here, to free up even more CID officers for the Politicals?
Diels issued a brief, polite greeting to Gennat and disappeared. Rath watched him as he went. They were around the same age, and already Diels was head of the Political Police. Rath wondered if he’d ever make it past detective inspector.
‘Please proceed, gentlemen,’ Dagmar Kling said. Levetzow’s secretary had appeared behind Diels in the doorway. Gennat rose from the bench, breathing heavily. For a moment Rath was tempted to offer him an arm, but decided against it.
Magnus von Levetzow looked stern behind his desk. ‘So, gentlemen, there you are.’ Rath und Gennat sat on the uncomfortable chairs the commissioner kept for guests. Nothing had changed since the Zörgiebel years. ‘You know why you are here,’ Levetzow began.
Rath left the talking to Gennat. ‘I believe I have the reason here in my hand.’ Buddha lifted the newspapers.
‘How is it the press are better informed about developments in a murder inquiry than I am?’
‘Might I remind the commissioner that the case was shelved last week on the instructions of the Daluege Bureau.’
‘Since when did the Daluege Bureau adjudicate on such matters?’
‘It was they who transferred Chief Inspector Böhm out of Homicide, and decreed that Officers Gräf and Rath be seconded to the Political Police to help thwart a Communist conspiracy…’
‘Yes, yes, I know all that.’ Levetzow waved dismissively. ‘No one said we should shelve a murder inquiry, especially given such explosive developments.’
‘We haven’t, Sir.’ Rath interjected before Gennat could say anything, ignoring his superior’s angry glance. ‘With respect, I tasked my secretary with collating all fresh evidence, and liaising with me on a daily basis.’
‘Then why haven’t you been liaising with me?’
‘Apologies, Sir,’ Gennat said, ‘but we didn’t want to bother you with details. Might I remind you that in the course of the last few days I have repeatedly requested that my men be reinstated.’
‘I have just spoken with Senior Government Councillor Diels. Starting from next week, we will be reassigning all CID officers currently seconded to the Political Police to their respective departments.’
‘Then Diels’s theory has been vindicated?’ Rath asked, and instantly regretted it.
‘Pardon me?’
‘Well,’ Rath stammered. ‘Word is that Diels doesn’t believe in the conspiracy theory being propagated by Göring. As far as he’s concerned, this van der Lubbe is a lone hand.’
‘Who told you this?’ Levetzow furrowed his brow.
‘I heard it somewhere. In the canteen most likely.’
The commissioner gazed suspiciously at him. ‘Gentlemen,’ he said at length. ‘The police cannot afford such press coverage. Especially now.’ Rath had expected nothing less. ‘Never again,’ Levetzow slapped the newspapers with the flat of his hand, ‘do I wish to read anything like this! We’re not dealing with the usual scandal sheets here.’
On the contrary, Rath thought. Der Tag was a ‘scandal sheet’ at best, but no doubt a Nazi gauged things differently. Certainly as far as anti-Semitism was concerned, the paper left little to be desired.
‘I don’t think I need tell you what must be done,’ Levetzow concluded his lecture. ‘Inspector Rath is to be released from Political Police duty with immediate effect, to devote himself to the Wosniak investigation. I will see to the personal safety of Lieutenant von Roddeck myself.’
‘Thank you, Sir,’ Rath said zealously. Gennat remained silent.
‘I don’t expect thanks,’ Levetzow said. ‘I expect results.’
‘Then you can rest assured, Sir. Progress will be swift. With our new witness…’
‘I’m not interested in the progress of your investigation,’ Magnus von Levetzow thundered. ‘All I want is for you to track down this mass-murdering Jew!’