Whiplash

Savich said, "I just read on the Internet that because of extraordinary pressure, Schiffer Hartwin has instituted a lottery system for oncologists. If the oncologist is lucky, the patient gets Culovort, and if the oncologist isn't lucky, his patient loses it. It's sad to be diagnosed with colon cancer and be subjected to that."

Kesselring said, "If it were I with colon cancer, or someone I loved, I would be very distressed. I would probably do a lot of yelling. I doubt, though, I would turn to violence."

He stood tall, shoulders back, and addressed them as if from on high. "Of course the immediate task at hand, Agent Savich, the task I have come to help you with, is the murder of Helmut Blauvelt."

Bowie wanted to clap. "Perhaps you can start by telling us why Helmut Blauvelt was sent here, and who he was sent here to, ah, visit."

Kesselring gave a shadow of a smile. "Ah, I see you know Herr Blauvelt's unfortunate reputation. That aside, the directors at Schiffer Hartwin tell me he was here on personal business. Indeed, they informed me they knew nothing of his plans to come to America."

Sherlock said, "He was here on personal business? Mighty dangerous business since Blauvelt got himself brutally murdered. Tell us, then, Agent Kesselring, how you plan to help us straighten this out."

20

"I wish I knew that precisely, Agent. Looking into this murder is the task assigned me, as it is yours. You must know from the files we sent you that Herr Helmut Blauvelt was never arrested for any crime. He has never been shown to be consorting with any criminal organizations or abetting any fraudulent schemes, despite the rumors about him, which you yourselves, of course, have heard. I have heard them as well. They are, I am forced to say, groundless, even if they are delicious tales. We are opening this case with an open mind, simply as the murder of a German citizen on foreign soil.

"According to the company, Herr Blauvelt was their special emissary, a trusted employee of some talent whose job was to collect information and report back the exact nature of any problems he uncovered. He did, upon several occasions, discover evidence of local malfeasance, both within and against the company, but he was never authorized to take action against any individual. That was neither his job nor his responsibility.

"Schiffer Hartwin is very concerned about his vicious murder and that is why they specifically asked my agency that I be sent here, to assist you in discovering the truth."

Sherlock said, "You were not introduced to me, Agent Kesselring. I am Special Agent Sherlock."

"I know who you are, Agent Sherlock." For an instant, Kesselring looked directly at Sherlock, and his eyes went hot and dangerous. Savich went on red alert. What was that all about? Then Kesselring blinked, nodded, his eyes calm again, assessing her.

"Tell me, Agent Kesselring, what problem, specifically, could be so pressing here in Stone Bridge, Connecticut, U.S.A., that required Blauvelt's presence here? Surely you don't believe it was some personal business of his, as Schiffer Hartwin claims?"

He said to her, professor to student, "My superiors sent me here to assist in the apprehension of the person or persons who killed Herr Blauvelt. As for his reasons for being here, the nature of his business, again, Agent, I have no idea yet beyond what Schiffer Hartwin management has told me. Mr. Royal didn't help you?"

"Only that Blauvelt had made an appointment to see him," Bowie said. "Do you have any theory about this, Agent Kesselring?"

"Have you considered that Herr Blauvelt might have been murdered by one of your American muggers, a rather obvious possibility I would think, since his clothes and wallet were taken. He could have been, simply, in the wrong place at the wrong time. Even in Germany these things occasionally occur, to everyone's chagrin and regret."

Bowie said, "Perhaps you could tell us why this American mugger beat Mr. Blauvelt's face into pulp, Agent Kesselring, and cut off his fingers, if all he wanted were his possessions?"

Kesselring went still a moment, taking this in. He said, "A crude attempt at hiding his identity. Occasionally a thug is also a psychopath. Then there is violence, ugly and vicious. We may be searching for such a man, gentlemen-ladies-a man who may be listed in your NCIC-your National Crime Information Center. I doubt this is the only time he has taken a life, and in such a repugnant manner."

Sherlock said, "Why do you think Herr Blauvelt's body was found in Van Wie Park, right behind the Schiffer Hartwin building? Another coincidence?"

Kesselring turned to look at her. Again, his eyes went hard and hot. "That is a curious thing, I will admit. It's the kind of thing that makes our lives crazy."