The Ice Queen: A Novel Read Online Free PDF

utmost tact. No screwups,” he said, to Bodenstein’s annoyance. Since K-11 had been moved to Hofheim, Bodenstein couldn’t recall a single investigative screwup on his watch.
    “What about the housekeeper?” Nierhoff asked.
    “What about her?” Bodenstein didn’t quite understand. “She found the body this morning and was still in shock.”
    “Maybe she has something to do with it. Goldberg was quite wealthy.”
    Bodenstein’s anger grew. “For a registered nurse, there are probably less obvious opportunities than shooting someone in the back of the head,” he noted with light sarcasm. Nierhoff had been concentrating on his career for the past twenty-five years and hadn’t taken part in an actual investigation that whole time. Yet he still felt obliged to offer his opinion. His eyes darted here and there as he pondered and weighed the pros and cons that might emerge from this case.
    “Goldberg was a very prominent man,” he said at last in a low voice. “We’ll have to proceed with the utmost caution. Send your people home, and make sure there are no leaks.”
    Bodenstein didn’t quite know what to make of this strategy. In an investigation, the first seventy-two hours were crucial. Evidence grows cold very fast, and witnesses’ memories grow fainter the more time passes. But of course Nierhoff was afraid of precisely what Dr. Kirchhoff had prophesied this morning: negative publicity for his office and an abundance of diplomatic red tape. Politically, it might be a sensible decision, but Bodenstein didn’t see it that way. He was an investigator; he wanted to find the murderer and arrest him. An old man advanced in years, who had experienced abominable things in Germany, had been murdered in cold blood in his own house. It went completely against Bodenstein’s perception of good police work to waste valuable time for tactical reasons. Secretly, he was angry that he had even bothered to include Nierhoff. At any rate, Nierhoff knew the head of his department better than Bodenstein imagined.
    “Don’t even think about it, Bodenstein.” Nierhoff’s voice sounded like a warning. “High-handed behavior could have a very unfavorable influence on your career. You probably don’t want to spend the rest of your life in Hofheim running after murderers and bank robbers.”
    “Why not? That’s the reason I became a policeman in the first place,” said Bodenstein, irritated by Nierhoff’s implied threat and the almost contemptuous dismissal of his work.
    With his next words, the chief commissioner made matters worse, even if they were meant to be conciliatory. “A man with your experience and your talents should assume responsibility and hold a leading position, Bodenstein, even if it’s uncomfortable. Because that’s precisely what it is, I can tell you that.”
    Bodenstein was trying hard to keep his composure. “In my opinion, the best people belong in the field,” he said, his tone bordering on insubordination, “and not behind some desk, wasting their time on political squabbling.”
    The commissioner raised his eyebrows and seemed to be pondering whether this remark was meant as an insult or not.
    “Sometimes I ask myself whether it was a mistake for me to mention your name at the interior ministry with regard to deciding on my successor,” he said coolly. “It seems to me that you’re totally lacking in ambition.”
    That left Bodenstein speechless for a couple of seconds, but he was able to exercise his iron self-control; he’d had plenty of practice concealing his emotions behind a neutral expression.
    “Don’t make a mistake now, Bodenstein,” said Nierhoff, turning toward the door. “I hope we understand each other.”
    Bodenstein forced himself to give a polite nod and waited until the door closed behind Nierhoff. Then he grabbed his cell phone, called Pia Kirchhoff, and sent her straight to the pathology lab in Frankfurt. He had no intention of canceling the autopsy that had