Until the Debt Is Paid by Alexander Hartung Read Free Book Online

happened to Betty. Then you can run me in.”
    Zoe’s hard face turned a little softer. “There is only one reason why I get called. I’m a medical examiner.”
    Jan nodded. “Did sh e . . .  ?” His voice broke.
    Zoe shook her head. “She was in the kitchen when the gas line blew. She died instantly.”
    “Where is she now?”
    “She was taken to the medical examiner’s office. The identity has not been confirmed yet, because the body was fully burned.”
    Jan swallowed. “My little Betty,” he muttered.
    Zoe, looking embarrassed, turned her head away. Despite the many crime scenes she’d worked, she’d never had to tell someone the bad news about a loved one.
    “Did she have anything we can use to identify her?” she said.
    “A nose piercing.” Jan wiped at his eyes. “I also bought her a Gucci necklace, with these two nameplates that look like military dog tags. Her name’s on that.”
    “She did have a necklace on, but the force of the explosion drove the metal into her chest. I’ll find it during the autopsy.”
    Zoe took out another cigarette. Gauloises. No filter. She fired it up with a silver windproof lighter and blew smoke into the air without taking her eyes off Jan.
    “What do you want to do now?” she said.
    “Go to the pen. What else is there?”
    “Why did you run away?”
    “The evidence against me, it’s conclusive. But I didn’t murder the judge. Someone wants to pin it on me, and if I’m in custody I can’t find out who.”
    “You couldn’t trust your fellow cops after all these years? Now, instead of looking for clues to clear you, they’re busy with a manhunt to bring you in.”
    Jan hung his head, ashamed. “I’ve acted like an idiot. But when my DNA matched the crime scene, I just wanted to run.”
    Zoe sucked at her cigarette and exhaled loudly.
    “Who’s that walking mountain behind you?”
    “That’s Chandu. He helped me get away.”
    “You mean Chandu Bitangaro, the bouncer?”
    “You know him?”
    “I used to go to a club where he kept watch on things.”
    “Really? Which club?”
    “You don’t want to know. He’s connected to heavyweights in the Berlin underworld, you do know that, right?”
    “He’s not as much of a criminal as everyone thinks. Lots about him is just made up, could never be proven.”
    “Hiding you probably won’t improve his record.”
    “Listen here, Zoe.” Jan pointed at her. “Call Bergman for me, have me picked up, whatever, but if you ever mention Chandu helping—”
    Zoe blew smoke in his face. “Spare me the threats, Janni. Save it for kindergarten. And do not piss me off or I’ll add a broken nose to that wound on your forehead.”
    Zoe’s face had tensed up, just a bit. A person had to know her to recognize how dangerous the change was. Jan had no doubt she’d pop him one.
    He changed the subject. “How do you really know so much about him?”
    “My job in forensics, it gets a little boring. Not exactly CSI: Las Vegas . So when I get bored, I click around and check out how the latest investigations are going.”
    “But the files are password protected.”
    Zoe shrugged. “Not the old ones.”
    “Why don’t you just apply for homicide squad?”
    “I’m a scientist, Jan. I graduated with biology and medical degrees. I never wanted to go to the police academy.”
    “Doesn’t matter,” Jan sighed. “So, get out your cell phone and call Bergman. I’ll wait at the door.”
    “Why would I do that?”
    “There’s a manhunt for me. You might not be a cop, but you’re still working in the same club.”
    She shrugged. “You might be a bore with limited intelligence, Jan, but somehow you are a good detective. I’m sorry about your girlfriend. So, what I’ll do is, I’ll go finish another smoke before I tell Bergman that I saw you.”
    “Why would you do that?”
    Zoe paused. “Most think I’m just this superficial bitch, but I am a good judge of people. My dad, he was a lying bastard who brought