The Stronger Sex Read Online Free PDF

too.
    When we had reached the city centre and stopped at traffic lights, Karl suddenly turned to me and asked, “Is this going to be a difficult trial?”
    I shrugged my shoulders. “Could be. But it’s difficult to predict these things in advance.”
    He nodded and then looked back at the street.
    Had that been an overture of peace?
    When the lights changed to green he said, “Well, old Klofft has a number of difficult cases behind him already.” He laughed. “It’s nothing new for him.”
    I was right, he didn’t want to break contact between us. I waited for a while and then said, “He’s something of a pugnacious character, right? That’s my impression anyway, pugnacious.”
    He laughed. “And you can say that again. Ah, here we are.”
    He stopped the car outside the chambers. I gave him my hand. “Don’t get out, Herr Schaffrath. I rather think we’ll be meeting again.”
    â€œI think so too.” He shook hands with me.
    I got out and leaned into the car once again. “And keep your ears pricked, would you?”
    He smiled and gave me the thumbs-up sign.

4
    Contrary to my expectations, Hochkeppel was still at his desk. He seemed to have put off his lunch break because he wanted to know about my visit to his friend.
    He sat leaning slightly forward, raised only his eyes from the document he was reading, and smiled. “Well, how did it go?”
    â€œI’d assume you have a pretty good idea of how it went.” I sat down in his visitor’s chair and took Klofft’s folder out of my briefcase. “But before I forget, I’m to give you Frau Klofft’s regards. She told me to say so. In fact she told me twice.”
    â€œOh, did she?” He shifted in his chair. Then he slowly leaned back in it. “And what kind of impression did you get of her?”
    â€œWhat kind of impression?” I shrugged my shoulders. “A very pleasant lady. Clever too, I’d say. But I don’t think she has an easy time of it with her husband.”
    â€œYou’re probably right, yes.” He suddenly sat up straight and looked at me. “Did he… I mean, I hope he didn’t treat her badly in front of you?”
    â€œNo, no, she wasn’t in on our conversation at all. She took me up to him and then went away. I only meant the man isn’t… well, he obviously isn’t well. And I wouldn’t be surprised if he sometimes takes it out on her.”
    He nodded, his mouth twisting. “I wouldn’t be surprised either.” It almost looked as if he had to make an effort not to say something worse about his friend Klofft.
    After a moment’s pause I asked, “What’s the matter with him?”
    â€œInability to respect other people!” He cleared his throat thoroughly and adopted another position in his chair. Then he said, “No, she thinks he’s getting Parkinson’s disease. Or has it already.”

    I nodded. “I don’t know exactly what the symptoms are, but I did notice that his hands tremble. And he sometimes seems to lose the thread of the conversation. That was my impression, anyway.”
    â€œYes, shakiness is part of it. And the mind sometimes misfires too. Also – how to put it? Difficulty moving about. She’s told me he fell over a few times recently for no good reason. It upsets his balance, so to speak.” After a brief pause he said, “That’s why he doesn’t go out any more. Certainly not to his works.” He looked at me with a grim smile. “He’s afraid his people will see what’s wrong with him. He couldn’t bear that.”
    â€œI’d say that’s understandable. Only… you said his wife assumed he has Parkinson’s?”
    He nodded. “But what does his doctor say?” I asked. “Or doctors?”
    He laughed. “You don’t suppose that idiotic macho man would