Bad Wolf Read Online Free PDF Page B

a nod. “Helping single mothers and their children.”
    “Precisely. A really fantastic cause,” Emma declared. “Once the baby is born, I won’t be able to do much else. At the moment, I’m helping out a little at the organization, planning the big celebration for my father-in-law’s eightieth birthday in early July.”
    “And is your husband still in some disaster zone?”
    “No. Three weeks ago, he came back from Haiti and is now giving speeches all over Germany for DW. I don’t see a lot of him, but at least he’s home on weekends.”
    A waiter came over with a tray, and Emma and Pia each took a glass of mineral water.
    “Hey, it’s really great to see you again.” With a smile, Pia raised her glass. “Miri will be glad to hear that you’re back in Germany, too.”
    “The three of us should get together. Maybe chat about old times.”
    “Good idea. Here, I’ll give you my card.” As Pia rummaged in her shoulder bag for a business card, she felt her cell phone vibrating.
    “Excuse me a moment,” she said, handing Emma her card. “I have to take this.”
    “Your husband?” Emma asked.
    “No. My job.”
    Today was Pia’s day off, but if murder was suspected and her colleagues belonged to a different Kripo unit, she was the one they’d call. It was as she’d feared: A girl had been found dead in Eddersheim.
    “I’m on my way,” she said to the officer on duty, who was already at the scene. “Half an hour. Text me the exact address.”
    “You’re with the Criminal Police?” Emma asked in astonishment as she held up the card. “Detective Superintendent Pia Kirchhoff.”
    “As of today, chief detective superintendent.” Pia gave her a wry smile.
    “What do they want you for at this time of day?”
    “They found a body. And unfortunately, I’m on call.”
    “You work in Homicide?” Emma stared at her in surprise. “Jeez, that’s exciting. Do you carry a revolver, too?”
    “A pistol. And it’s not really that exciting. Mostly frustrating.” Pia grimaced and stood up. “Well, at least I’ll spare myself the big good-bye with everybody. If anyone asks about me…”
    She shrugged. Emma also got up.
    “You know what? Why don’t you come to our summer party? Then at least we’ll get to see each other again. And if Miriam feels like it, bring her along, too, okay? I’d really love to see both of you.”
    “I’d love to come.” Pia gave her friend a hug. “See you soon.”
    She managed to escape unnoticed. Ten after ten! Crap. A dead girl. It was going to be a long night, and since she was the only one on call in her department, the unpleasant task of notifying the parents would fall to her. Facing the disbelief and despair of the victim’s family members was the worst part of her job.
    As she walked down the pedestrian street to her car, her cell phone rang again and the display lit up. The duty officer had texted her the address: Mönchhofstrasse in Hattersheim-Eddersheim. By the locks. Pia got into her car, turned on the ignition, and rolled down the windows to let in some fresh air. She typed the address into her GPS, fastened her seat belt, and drove off.
    Calculating route, the friendly female computer voice informed her. The route is in the direction displayed.
    Distance: 22.7 kilometers. Arrival time: 22:43.
    *   *   *
    Hanna turned down the little cul-de-sac at the edge of the woods. Her house stood at the end. The exterior floodlights, which were activated by a motion detector, bathed the house in bright light. She braked to a stop. She hoped she wouldn’t find Vinzenz waiting there, or even Norman. But then she saw a bright red Mini with Munich plates parked in front of the double garage door and gave a sigh. Meike had apparently arrived a day early. She parked next to Meike’s car and climbed out.
    “Hi, Meike!” she called, smiling, although she wasn’t exactly in a cheerful mood. First the ugly argument with Norman, then the conversation with Wolfgang