Nemesis: Innocence Sold Read Online Free PDF Page B

inwardly. Speak of the devil. “Why don’t you ask him yourself?” Dirk suggested and looked over Matthias’s shoulder.
    “I can’t. I promised her I wouldn’t talk to Stephan about it. She didn’t say anything about you or Sven.”
    There was deep laughter behind Matthias. “I only caught half of that. Who am I supposed to take a look at? Who are you, you slick operator, forbidden to recommend to me directly?”
    Laughing, Matthias greeted Stephan and pointed to Dirk. “Ask him. You and I have never spoken about it.”
    “Sandra Meinke, the little woman with the short brown hair. She’s helped us a few times. Maybe you’ll remember her from when you impersonated a drug dealer.”
    “Sure. She made a good impression on me. So what’s the problem?”
    “I don’t know,” said Dirk, looking at his friend.
    Sighing, Matthias looked at the cloudless sky. “Well, theoretically, it could be that she’d applied for the opening on Stephan’s team but wouldn’t be considered for it because she’s too young and her last evaluation was abysmal. The latter, however, could be attributed to her particular superior. I’d say she’s earned a shot at a personal interview.”
    Now Stephan was also looking at the sky. “Presumably you’re right about that—Kaspar sifted out all the applicants who were suitable, and her name wasn’t among them. Presumably he sent her application back immediately. If I’d seen her name, she’d certainly have received an invitation to an interview. But that can still be arranged. Happy?”
    “Yes and no. There’s a problem.” Matthias pulled a Snickers from his jacket pocket, opened it, and took a bite.
    Dirk waited impatiently for him to continue, but he knew Matthias’s love for sweets of all kinds too well to hurry him. Finally, Matthias shrugged. “All right, I’ll say this straight out because I can’t think of a diplomatic way to put it. She knows Mark and his job but has no idea he and his boys are stationed in Germany. Their relationship is . . . well, difficult, I’d say, and that could create complications.”
    Sven and Leo were approaching. Dirk quickly exploited the opportunity to put in a good word for Sandra. “That’s not really a problem. She has never said anything about Mark’s involvement in the case back then. If she has kept silent up to now, she’ll continue to do so, even if she finds out the SEALs are in Germany. I’d say she’s earned a chance.”
    Stephan nodded in agreement but didn’t have a chance to comment.
    A policeman in uniform passed Sven and Leo and came to a stop directly in front of Dirk. “Dirk? There’s something going on at your place. Your cell phones are turned off, so your wife tried to reach you via the station. Something about Tim. You should go to the University of Lübeck medical center as soon as possible, but it’s nothing life threatening. Alex was pretty agitated—there seem to be problems of some kind with colleagues in Lübeck, too.”
    For a second, the ground seemed to sway under Dirk’s feet; then Sven caught him. “Take a deep breath, partner. You heard his life wasn’t in danger. Stephan, Matthias, please take over here; we’re driving to Lübeck.”
    Stephan quickly laid a hand on Dirk’s shoulder. “Let us know as soon as you know something.” Dirk managed to nod and jumped into Sven’s BMW.
    With his siren and police lights already switched on, Sven steered the car through the cordoned-off area as quickly as possible. “It’ll take less than thirty minutes to get there. Take out your phone, and call Pat’s girlfriend. Alex will have turned off her phone, but Maria will surely be able to give you some basic information.”
    Blinking, Dirk followed Sven’s advice. Pat O’Reilly was a member of Mark’s team, and they were old friends. He was annoyed that he hadn’t thought of Maria, who worked as a pediatrician at the University of Lübeck medical center. “I should have thought of that