responsible. That’s at least one good thing about those horrible budget meetings. I know him well enough to arrange an informal conversation outside the constraints of protocol.” Unexpectedly, Stephan raised his head. “By the way, Mark, would it be a problem for you if Sandra Meinke started working in my department?”
“What?” Surprised by the change of topic, Mark had to think for a second to register whom Stephan meant. “No, of course not. Why, because she tried to arrest me twice? Apart from that she’s made a good impression.”
The hint of a smile could be seen on Stephan’s face. “Sven has already told me about your relationship. I’d love to have been there, and it’s not like she was completely wrong, right? But nothing’s certain yet—she’s coming to an interview tomorrow around noon.”
The man Stephan was calling finally answered. After apologizing for calling so late, Stephan explained what was going on and arranged a meeting for the following day.
“One other thing, Stephan, have you heard anything from Daniel?”
Stephan looked shocked, and Mark couldn’t blame him. For good reasons, he kept his friendship with Dirk and Pat separate from his role as team leader, and he was mindful that Stephan and Doc were also close friends. For the first time he had crossed a boundary he’d set himself.
“Nothing since he met with Russell. But I don’t think you need to worry about your team breaking up. I’m sure he’ll stay here.”
Mark gave a small nod. He wasn’t happy with how well Stephan had guessed his own fears.
“Another thing, Mark.” Sven stood next to him and looked at him with an indefinable expression. “Probably this is clear to each of us, but I’d like to say it anyway: Dirk’s not going to let the perpetrator get away. Or does one of you seriously think that he’s just going to go back to business as usual? We all know the skills he possesses, but we also know his limits. We have to make sure he doesn’t lose control.”
These words were not without a certain comic effect, spoken as they were by a man whose fits of rage were legendary. “That’s exactly why I want to go over to his place, Sven. He’s obviously obsessing over this. But I don’t think he’s losing control.”
“No matter what you call it, we mean the same thing. But that’s exactly what I wanted to hear, Mac.” Sven laughed. “SEALs against a pedophile. That’ll be interesting.” Sven dropped onto his chair and gazed at the whiskey collection on the shelves.
“Leave some for me,” Mark said with a wink and closed the door behind him. SEALs on German territory, chasing a ring of pedophiles? Things were getting interesting.
Mark quietly opened the door of the house with his duplicate key. It was characteristic of their relationship that he first took a quick look into the bedroom on the upper floor to ensure that Alex and Tim were asleep cuddled up next to each other. The glow of light and loud music coming from Dirk’s study on the ground floor had already revealed where he would find his friend.
To avoid waking Dirk, he opened the door cautiously, although he doubted Dirk was asleep. Mark grimaced when he recognized the music. Dirk had surely not chosen Deep Purple’s “Child in Time” at random. Dirk had his eyes closed and his hands locked behind his head and didn’t react to Mark’s arrival.
Ian Gillan had hardly ended his screaming orgy and the last of Ritchie Blackmore’s guitar riffs had barely faded when the song began again, and after the insistent tones of the Hammond organ and Gillan’s complaint about the line between good and evil with which the child should be familiar, Mark had had enough. He bent down and reached for the remote control. The stereo fell silent, and Dirk’s eyes opened. His gaze was cloudy, and the normally brown irises showed a greenishness Mark knew all too well. He took a closer look at the whiskey on the coffee table. He had given Dirk
“What?” Surprised by the change of topic, Mark had to think for a second to register whom Stephan meant. “No, of course not. Why, because she tried to arrest me twice? Apart from that she’s made a good impression.”
The hint of a smile could be seen on Stephan’s face. “Sven has already told me about your relationship. I’d love to have been there, and it’s not like she was completely wrong, right? But nothing’s certain yet—she’s coming to an interview tomorrow around noon.”
The man Stephan was calling finally answered. After apologizing for calling so late, Stephan explained what was going on and arranged a meeting for the following day.
“One other thing, Stephan, have you heard anything from Daniel?”
Stephan looked shocked, and Mark couldn’t blame him. For good reasons, he kept his friendship with Dirk and Pat separate from his role as team leader, and he was mindful that Stephan and Doc were also close friends. For the first time he had crossed a boundary he’d set himself.
“Nothing since he met with Russell. But I don’t think you need to worry about your team breaking up. I’m sure he’ll stay here.”
Mark gave a small nod. He wasn’t happy with how well Stephan had guessed his own fears.
“Another thing, Mark.” Sven stood next to him and looked at him with an indefinable expression. “Probably this is clear to each of us, but I’d like to say it anyway: Dirk’s not going to let the perpetrator get away. Or does one of you seriously think that he’s just going to go back to business as usual? We all know the skills he possesses, but we also know his limits. We have to make sure he doesn’t lose control.”
These words were not without a certain comic effect, spoken as they were by a man whose fits of rage were legendary. “That’s exactly why I want to go over to his place, Sven. He’s obviously obsessing over this. But I don’t think he’s losing control.”
“No matter what you call it, we mean the same thing. But that’s exactly what I wanted to hear, Mac.” Sven laughed. “SEALs against a pedophile. That’ll be interesting.” Sven dropped onto his chair and gazed at the whiskey collection on the shelves.
“Leave some for me,” Mark said with a wink and closed the door behind him. SEALs on German territory, chasing a ring of pedophiles? Things were getting interesting.
Mark quietly opened the door of the house with his duplicate key. It was characteristic of their relationship that he first took a quick look into the bedroom on the upper floor to ensure that Alex and Tim were asleep cuddled up next to each other. The glow of light and loud music coming from Dirk’s study on the ground floor had already revealed where he would find his friend.
To avoid waking Dirk, he opened the door cautiously, although he doubted Dirk was asleep. Mark grimaced when he recognized the music. Dirk had surely not chosen Deep Purple’s “Child in Time” at random. Dirk had his eyes closed and his hands locked behind his head and didn’t react to Mark’s arrival.
Ian Gillan had hardly ended his screaming orgy and the last of Ritchie Blackmore’s guitar riffs had barely faded when the song began again, and after the insistent tones of the Hammond organ and Gillan’s complaint about the line between good and evil with which the child should be familiar, Mark had had enough. He bent down and reached for the remote control. The stereo fell silent, and Dirk’s eyes opened. His gaze was cloudy, and the normally brown irises showed a greenishness Mark knew all too well. He took a closer look at the whiskey on the coffee table. He had given Dirk
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