Roland Bassermann. The name meant nothing to me. All I knew was that this man was the person Ellis had been investigating prior to being attacked. Lying in bed in a backpacker’s hostel in Port Adelaide, my mind refused to sleep, wondering who he was and how he fit into everything that was happening. Ellis had found out something significant, something he wanted to tell me about. Had it led to him being attacked? Maybe I would never know, but the thoughts wouldn’t stop swirling and eventually I eased myself out of bed and turned on the bedside light. Lily didn’t stir.
Ellis’s laptop was unresponsive when I tried to turn it on, so after a couple attempts at rebooting it, I crept out of the room and down to the common area. It was late, or early depending on how you looked at it, and the lounge was empty except for a couple of guys drinking beer in the kitchen. Someone had left the TV on and a rerun of M*A*S*H* played to an empty couch. I slipped into the seat in front of the computer and turned it on. Once it had warmed up, I pulled up a search engine and typed in the name Roland Bassermann. It took very little searching to find out why Rudolf Henschke thought that Ellis could be in danger. The man was a cold-blooded murderer.
A member of the Nazi party since the early 1930s, he’d worked with the Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg, procuring cultural artefacts for Hitler during the war. His tactics were brutal and several witnesses had given testimony regarding his treatment of work crews used in transportation of the goods. At the end of the war he’d been one of the key players in hiding stolen artefacts, eliminating any witnesses who could verify their whereabouts. He’d gone into hiding himself when the Nuremberg War Tribunals began, and while there were vague reports of sightings, none of the leads had led to an arrest. He remained on the list of wanted Nazi war criminals to this day. What the connection was to my grandparents’ murders was less clear.
I went back to bed, no more settled than before, to spend the rest of the night scratching at bedbugs, staring at the water stains on the ceiling and listening to drunken residents returning to their rooms. The sound of an ambulance passing by woke me from my fitful doze several hours later. Light filtered through the flimsy curtains, illuminating the tired room. Lily’s bed was empty. After a moment of panic, the sight of her duffel bag in the corner reassured me that she intended to return and I breathed a bit easier.
My eyes were gritty and my head ached. Roland Bassermann hadn’t left me alone the entire night and I was determined to trust Ellis’s instinct. I dialled Detective Norton.
‘I appreciate you contacting us with this information,’ he said when I’d finished my story. ‘I’m not sure if the attack on Ellis Fischer is related to the investigation of your grandparents’ murders or not, but we’ll look into it.’
I heard the sound of typing, then he put his hand over the mouthpiece as he said something to a person lurking in the background.
‘Have you checked out Henschke and Dof?’ I asked.
‘Yes, we’ve confirmed they were still in Sydney at the time of your grandparents’ murders. That doesn’t preclude the idea that someone thought Walter Kubel was here under the guise of Karl Weiss though. Karl did have his ring.’
I didn’t respond, letting the confirmation of Henschke’s innocence sink in, although it was no more than I’d expected.
He let the silence lie for a minute before continuing. ‘You may like to know that we do have one potential suspect in custody. An armed suspect was apprehended after allegedly breaking into a house on Wattle Terrace.’
Only three streets away from Oma and Opa’s house. ‘Do you think he killed my grandparents?’ I was surprised by how much I wanted him to say ‘yes’. How I wanted him to say they’d solved it, that it was over. That everything else that had been happening was a figment of my overactive imagination. Mine and Lily’s. That Henschke’s allegations had nothing to do with their deaths. It hardly seemed possible it could be true.
‘We’re investigating whether the two break-ins are related. It would leave a lot of unanswered questions, though.’
‘I agree.’ The brief hope vanished. ‘Look, I’ll be honest, I really feel like there’s more to it than that. There have been some weird things happening since my grandparents died. Lily getting those phone calls, the Nazi hunters coming round all of a sudden. And . . .’ I hesitated. ‘I think I’m being followed.’
‘What makes you think that?’ His voice was suddenly sharp, attentive. ‘What happened?’
‘There was this guy standing outside a pizza place,’ I said. ‘He was watching me.’
‘You were inside the shop?’
‘No, in a room across the street.’
‘He was watching you as you went in?’
‘I – I’m not sure. I didn’t notice him until I looked out the window.’
‘I see. And what made you think he was following you?’
‘Well . . . He was walking down Franklin Street the same time as I was, and then I saw him again, waiting outside the pizza place.’
‘Have you seen this man before? Do you know him?’
‘No.’
‘And he was following you down the street?’
I thought back. ‘No, he was ahead of me.’ It didn’t seem logical anymore. Had he been following me?
He was silent, typing again.
‘It’s hard to say from what you’ve described whether he was following you or not. I’d advise you to be vigilant, walk with others if possible, and if you feel you’re in danger, call triple 0.’
I nodded, although he couldn’t see me. What had I wanted him to say? That he’d search for the guy? Comb the city for an unidentified man who hadn’t even committed a crime? Just happened to glance at my window while he was waiting for his pizza?
‘Our investigation shows that your grandfather approached the bank about withdrawing a large amount of money the day before their deaths. Do you know anything about that?’
Lily. The money she’d asked for. Opa must have changed his mind. I hesitated. ‘They never mentioned it.’
‘Have you had any contact from your sister?’
‘I – yes. Just last night. I did tell her you wanted to speak to her.’
‘Is she there with you now?’
My gaze flicked to her empty bed, the sheets rumpled and grey. ‘No, she’s gone out.’
Even over the phone, I thought I could hear the disappointment in his voice. ‘I see. You said you fought with Lily over money. Would she have asked your grandparents for money?’
I knew she had. But how could I say that without implicating her? She didn’t do it. She wasn’t capable of murder. Not of anyone, let alone Oma and Opa. I had to believe that. ‘She may have. Oma did give her money over the years, as have I, but not very much, I don’t think. You should really talk to Lily about this.’
‘When do you expect her back?’
‘I – I don’t know. I was still sleeping when she left.’
He paused, as if he was trying to figure out if he should believe me, but his voice was neutral when he spoke. ‘Not to worry. But please, ask her to contact us. We need to get her involvement, if any, cleared up.’
‘I will.’
I heard him draw a breath. ‘Juliet, I know this is tough for you. There’s a counselling service available, for relatives of victims—’
‘I don’t need counselling. I need answers.’
‘I wish I had them for you.’
~
I’d thought Lily would be back by the time I returned from the shower, a quick scrub in tepid water after waiting futilely for the hot water to kick in. But the room was still empty. I stood at the window, looking down at the peak-hour traffic streaming towards the city. The drive-thru at the McDonald’s across the road was backed up to the red and yellow ‘enter’ sign on the street. The sky was cloudless, the rising sun throwing long shadows from the buildings onto the cars below.
Ellis had been onto something. Roland Bassermann was dangerous. And no matter what Detective Norton said, I knew that neither of us thought Oma and Opa had been killed by a random burglar.
Was Ellis all right? Had he regained consciousness? The vision of him lying on the floor, his hair crusted with blood, was dangerously near the surface of my mind. I pressed my fingers to my lips, stared sightlessly out the window. I’d ignored his calls and now he was in hospital. I couldn’t just stand around doing nothing.
Making a decision, I scribbled a note to Lily on an old receipt from my handbag, then grabbed my phone and my room key and ran down the stairs.
With my jacket pulled close, I stood waiting for twenty minutes until the taxi pulled up, stamping my feet to keep warm and cursing Lily for making me abandon my car on a side road near the airport the previous night. I understood her logic, but if I’d had my own transport I’d already be at the hospital.
Ellis’s mother was with him when I arrived. I retreated to the waiting area until I saw her leave and get into the lift, peeked cautiously through the door to make sure he was alone. I shouldn’t have come at all. Lily would kill me when she found out. But despite what Jeong had said, I was sure Ellis was here because of the research he was doing for me. Not coming hadn’t seemed like an option.
He lay in the hospital bed, his dark curls springing from the stark white bandage around his head. His face was pale, a sallow, ashen pale that sent a jolt of alarm through to my core. It was only when I saw him that I realised how much I’d hoped he’d be awake, that I could talk to him, hear his voice, see him smile. But he lay still, and only the soft rise and fall of his chest reassured me that he was still alive.
I sank into the chair by his bed and tentatively wound my fingers through his. His hand twitched and then stilled as if in acknowledgement of the touch. His eyelids stayed closed, his breathing regular. I hadn’t dared speak to the nurse, didn’t know if he’d regained consciousness, if he’d been given drugs or a sedative to make him sleep. At least he was breathing on his own, an oxygen tube and an IV drip the only visible signs of intervention.
He seemed undisturbed by the bright lights and the noise in the corridor outside his room. His mother had brought flowers and the scent undercut the stringent antiseptic smell of the hospital. The air was thick with it, hot and stifling. I sat for a moment, watching him, waiting, knowing that his mother could return at any moment, or one of his sisters, but unable to move.
‘I’m sorry,’ I whispered at last. ‘I shouldn’t have doubted you.’ His fingers twitched again and I squeezed his hand, brought his fingers to my lips. Long, slender fingers, the nails bitten to the quick. I wanted to tell him how much he meant to me, how much it hurt to see him lying there like that, how I wished things were different. But my throat had closed over and I couldn’t get any words out. I straightened up, lay his hand carefully by his side. ‘Get well,’ I said. ‘Please just – get well.’
I closed the door softly behind me and hurried down the corridor away from the lifts.
Outside, I dug out my phone and turned it on. After seeing Ellis, I knew I needed to find out what was on his computer. What he’d found out about Roland Bassermann. There were three missed calls and a message from Angela. I opened the message.
Thoroughly enjoyed our little getaway. Hope you found your sister?
Had it only been yesterday we’d flown back from Sydney together? It seemed like weeks ago. I hit the call button and heard the phone ringing before I realised that I shouldn’t be using the phone. I’d done it instinctively, desperate to hear a friendly voice. Angela answered before I had a chance to disconnect.
‘I got your message,’ I said. ‘Just wanted to let you know I found Lily.’
‘That must be a relief,’ said Angela. ‘You seemed so worried.’
‘I needn’t have been. She was just where she was supposed to be.’ If under a different name.
‘At that hostel? The woman was right; it was her?’
‘Yes. It was her, and she’s fine.’ I glanced down the street, and started walking the other way, towards the university. ‘Look, I want to apologise for getting so drunk the other night. I’m not usually like that. That wine went straight to my head.’
‘Think nothing of it,’ said Angela. ‘You’re allowed to let loose once in a while. It can’t be an easy time for you.’
‘No.’ She had no idea how much of an understatement that was. ‘Well, thanks again for taking me out to see your father. I’m sorry I can’t talk, I’ve got to—’
‘I understand, you’re busy,’ she said. ‘But before you go, there’s something I wanted to ask you. A favour of sorts.’
I wasn’t in much of a position to grant favours, but she’d piqued my interest. ‘Yes?’
‘My father, he’s a very private man, likes to be left alone, as you saw. I would appreciate if you could keep our visit confidential.’ Her voice was low, as if she was trying to keep it confidential herself. ‘I mean, if anyone asks. His phone number and his address are unlisted. He prefers it that way.’
‘Of course,’ I said. ‘Not a problem at all.’
‘Thank you.’ She sighed. ‘He’s not an easy man. His idiosyncrasies can be troublesome.’
‘I understand.’
‘Although I do think your visit cheered him, if only for a time. He likes to talk about the past, and Millie and I have heard quite enough of it.’
I glanced behind me again. ‘I really should go . . .’
‘Of course, I’m sorry to keep you. I’m sure you’re anxious to get home.’
‘Yes, I am.’ Lily would be wondering what was taking me so long.
‘Give my best to your sister.’
‘I will.’
Slowing my pace, I disconnected the call and tapped the ‘missed calls’ button. Jason’s name came up on the screen. I stopped walking, finger poised over the number. I hadn’t spoken to him in days, not since before Angela and I had gone to Sydney, not since I’d found out he’d talked to Detective Norton. I didn’t know what to say to him. I was so confused, my emotions so fragile, unpredictable. We’d been together for so long; we loved each other. But these last weeks, he hadn’t been there for me. Not in the way that I needed him. My life had been thrown into total chaos, and he’d carried on like everything was perfectly normal, like I was just being difficult. I felt . . . betrayed, and hurt and angry, and at the same time guilty for having those feelings. I didn’t know if I could trust what I was feeling, if it was real or fabricated, brought on by the deaths of my grandparents and all the memories and emotions that had come with it. And with everything that was going on with Lily and Ellis, my grandparents’ deaths, the accusations from Henschke and Dof . . . I didn’t want to think about Jason right now. I wasn’t ready for that conversation. I bailed on the call and texted him that I was busy. I’d call him later.
Pulling up the Internet browser, I scrolled through until I found what I was looking for: a small computer repair shop in Brighton I’d used when I was at university. I was no computer whiz. If I was going to retrieve the information off Ellis’s laptop, I’d need an expert. Starting up the hill again, I turned the power off on my phone and slipped it into my pocket. I’d keep Lily happy and find a pay phone to make the call.
~
Lily was pacing the room when I arrived back at the hostel.
‘Where the hell have you been?’ she said as soon as the door had closed. The room was a mess, her things strewn all over the floor, the cupboard door hanging open.
‘I told you – the hospital. What’s going on?’
‘All morning?!’
I spread my arms out, warding off the attack. ‘Ellis’s mother was there and—’
She pointed a finger at me. ‘And what part of “Don’t use your phone” and “Don’t call the police” don’t you understand?’ She couldn’t keep still, started pacing again.
I put my bag on the bed. ‘I’m sorry. But they need to know what’s going on. This is serious, Lily. How many times have you told me that? Ellis almost died. They can’t solve this if we withhold information from them.’
‘So you told them where we were.’ It was a statement, an accusation. ‘Where I was, when I explicitly told you I didn’t want anything to do with them.’
‘No! I didn’t tell them where we were.’
‘Well, it didn’t take them long to find out.’ She crossed her arms, glaring at me. I looked at her accusing face, the thick black eye make-up concealing almost permanent dark circles around her eyes, the pinched shape of a mouth that rarely smiled.
‘They were here?’
‘Waiting for me when I got back from the shops. They sent someone to my house, too. Talked to Earl. Could you have fucked me up any better?’
I sat on the bed, the springs squeaking under my weight. I didn’t say anything for a minute, absorbing the information, and she sat across from me, her eyes still boring into me.
‘Honestly? It’s for the best. I told you to call them. We can’t withhold information.’ My gaze flicked up to hers and held. ‘Unless you have something to hide.’
Watching her reaction, the niggle of doubt I’d had about her slithered away.
‘How could you say that? I would never—’ She clamped her lips together and looked away. ‘If you even have to ask me that . . .’
I got up and moved to sit next to her. ‘I know you didn’t do this. But the question had to be asked. By me, by the police. You have to admit it looks suspicious. You meet with Oma and Opa, asking for money, they’re killed, then you go into hiding? What did you think everyone would think?’
She shook her head, wouldn’t look at me.
‘What did you tell them?’
‘I have an alibi, if that’s what you’re asking.’
‘Then what’s the problem? Why didn’t you just talk to them in the first place?’
She turned and looked at me. ‘Because I knew they would do exactly what they have done, check me out, check out my alibi. I was desperate, Jules. I was freaked out about those calls, being followed. I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t go home so I – I went to see Trent.’
A sick feeling stirred in my stomach. ‘Oh, Lily, you didn’t.’
She nodded. ‘It was the only way I could think of to get them off my back. I figured no one would fuck with me while he was around.’ She looked down, picked at a fingernail. ‘That’s where I was when you called.’
And why she wouldn’t answer the phone. From what she’d told me about Trent, he was a pimp and a dealer, keeping his girls high so they kept coming back to him. But as bad as that was, I’d sensed there was something more. Something Lily hadn’t wanted to tell me about. She’d gone to Melbourne to get away from him.
‘If the police go knocking on his door like they did with Earl, asking about that night, about me . . . I’ll be looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life.’
I rubbed her back, a useless gesture. ‘It’s okay. You had to tell them. You did the right thing.’ Equally useless words.
She slumped, head in her hands. ‘Fuck me dead,’ she muttered.
I had no words to make it right, tried to be positive. ‘Okay, come on,’ I said. ‘Sitting here feeling sorry for ourselves isn’t going to get us anywhere.’
She glared at me, elbows on her knees.
‘You’re going to let Trent scare you into submission? A couple of nights and he’s got you under his thumb again?’
‘No!’
‘Well, come on. Do something.’
She straightened up slowly, eyed me without smiling, then looked around the room.
‘Okay,’ she said, resigned. ‘We can’t stay here.’
‘All right.’
‘And we have to get you a new phone. I can’t believe I let you walk in here with that thing, but I wasn’t thinking quite straight yesterday.’
‘Fine.’
She reached for a chemist bag sitting on the bed and drew out two boxes of hair colour. ‘After we give you a new look. Love Apple or Mahogany?’
‘Are you serious?’
‘It’s that or shave it off.’ She tilted her head, sizing me up, already sounding more like the Lily I knew. ‘In fact, you’ve got a nicely shaped head. I think the punk look would suit you.’
I got off the bed and went to the window. Traffic passed steadily in the street. The footpaths were empty.
‘If it comes to it, I’ll go Mahogany,’ I said. ‘But not yet. We need to find out what’s on Ellis’s computer. He was onto something, and it may be the information we need to stop all this.’
‘I thought you said it was too damaged to retrieve anything.’
‘Too damaged for me to retrieve anything, but there’s a repair shop in Brighton who might be able to. They said I could drop it off this afternoon.’
Lily stared down at the boxes of hair colour, flipped them over on the bed. ‘All right,’ she said at last. ‘I’ll find us a new place. You do what you need to do, but from now on you follow my rules. Agreed?’
‘Agreed.’
She bent to pick up the clothes lying on the floor, then straightened, two shirts clutched tightly in her hand. ‘Oh yeah, I almost forgot. He wants you to call him. Norton. They – uh – apparently your car was broken into last night.’
‘Oh my God.’
‘And vandalised. They tried to call you, but your phone was off. Asked me if I knew anything about it. Like I might have done it or something.’
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, tried to calm my racing heart. She didn’t say any more, was still watching me when I opened them again.
‘Okay, we can deal with this,’ I said.
‘You deal with it,’ she said. ‘Deal with them. I don’t want to hear from them again.’
‘Lily—’
‘No, I mean it. Talk to them, get them off our backs.’
She turned away from me and started shoving her clothes into her duffel bag.