Wrong Place, Right Time 5

»So, you are saying your girlfriend is, for some obscure reason, at the Hartenstein mansion, and she then sent you a riddle to lure you there?«

Annika Gruber’s idea of having a coffee somewhere had meant that she had ordered two mugs at the McDrive, and now, they were sitting in her car, at some parking lot. At least, she had paid for the coffee.

»If you put it that way, it sounds a bit strange – maybe, you want to check the evidence?«

He took his phone, opened the conversation with Silvana and handed it to the Policewoman. She scrolled through it, and the moment she smirked, Marcus remembered that the conversation contained a selfie of Silvana – topless.

»Cute!«, she commented, and, handing him his phone back, she stretched, as if to hint that the adjective would also fit her. Then, she asked:

»Would you mind phoning her, Marcus – you allow me calling you that?«

»Sure – Annika!«

He took the phone and dialled Silvana’s number. Annika could hear the dial tone, followed by the mailbox. Now, Marcus frowned.

»So, what’s your part in all this, Annika? Usually, the Police doesn’t show up at someone’s home if this someone has got an ordinary car accident. So, what do you assume? An insurance fraud?«

Annika giggled, and when he, slightly annoyed, asked what was so funny, she once again showed her overweening smile.

»Martina Hartenstein is the co-CEO of one of Germany’s bigger insurance companies. I am quite sure she doesn’t have to rely on fake accidents to gain a few Grand!«

Becoming serious, she added:

»Both Martina Hartenstein and her daughter weren’t in the wreck, and shortly after it was found, we got an information from our colleagues in Hesse, where the accident happened: obviously, the two women have been brought to a hospital.«

»So?«

Marcus didn’t understand the problem: obviously, there was an answer for the question of Martina and Lisa Hartenstein’s whereabouts. Annika answered:

»Usually, if someone gets to the site of an accident and informs the ambulance, the Police automatically gets informed, too. And even if, by some coincidence, an ambulance drove by, saw the accident and rescued the injured – why did they send the message some two hours after the accident has happened? The wreck was discovered at 6 pm, and according to our colleagues from Hesse, it has been lying there for at least five to six hours! So, why didn’t we get the information much sooner?«

Marcus felt a growing unrest. This sounded at least a bit strange, and then, there was the fact that Silvana didn’t answer her phone. Of course, it could be that she was just at the cinema, or somewhere else where she didn’t check it – but the last time all had started with someone not answering her phone had been Marlene’s kidnapping to Venice.

»So, what will you do now? Get a search warrant?«

Annika didn’t hide her contempt for people only knowing Police work from TV:

»Since the accident took place in Hesse, our colleagues there will investigate – if there’s need for an investigation. If this is just a case where someone forgot to inform the Police, and Martina Hartenstein will confirm what the hospital said, not much will happen. As long as she doesn’t try to get money from the insurance company, it’s her business how to deal with the accident, since no one else was involved, and the damage she caused to public property is minor. If she pays the towing of the car, everything will be fine – if that’s the whole story!«

Marcus wasn’t a Policeman, but he was also no fool.

»So, if all you have to do is to wait for further information, why have you been at the mansion? Did the Police Station run out of doughnuts?«

Annika held his view and asked:

»Who could know where your girlfriend is right now? BTW, how does it come you only get some cryptic hints from her, instead of a real invitation?«

Marcus hesitated. He hadn’t questioned the way things went right now, with him and Silvana having something like a relationship, but not sticking together like most couples did. Since he had been occupied with his thesis, it had been quite convenient.

»It’s complicated!«, he grunted and scrolled through the list of contacts. He knew that Silvana’s parents were on a holiday trip without her, so, it would be unlikely she was with them. So, he dialled Marlene, but she was not available on both her land line and her cell phone, too.

»All right, there is one more person who could know – I just hope that I am not interrupting something intimate!«

Hilmar did indeed sound a bit out of breath, and he was whispering when he answered the phone. It was now 11pm, and though he had still been awake, he feared that Ella would wake up if he would speak inside the room.

»Marcus? What do you want? I am at Norderney, together with my daughter! If you woke her up, I-«

»Is Marlene with you?«, Marcus interrupted him. Hilmar’s silence was like an answer, and then, he replied:

»We agreed on a few days of radio silence, until I would be back from my trip with Ella! I thought she’d be in Würzburg!«

After a short silence, he added:

»I contacted her two hours ago – but didn’t get an answer yet! Why are you asking?«

Marcus took a deep breath. If the explanation for this was that Marlene and Silvana were at the cinema and had turned off their phones, he would have disturbed Hilmar’s time with his daughter for nothing. However, they both knew that this wasn’t the only possible explanation.

»Hilmar, I am maybe overreacting, but maybe, something has happened! Listen, if I don’t call you back within the next, let’s say, three hours, everything’s okay, and I only owe you a coffee for interrupting your sleep!«

»Double Espresso, no sugar!«, Hilmar replied, and Marcus hung up. He had heard the subtext in Hilmar’s words: let’s hope it isn’t more than that!

»What further information do you expect to get within these three hours?«, Annika asked from his left. »I hope you are not planning something that could be considered burglary?«

Marcus wasn’t sure, but somehow, she didn’t sound as strict as she could have.

»Could you please just get me back to my bicycle?«, he dodged her question and stared on his phone, hoping that Silvana would reply to his message.

***

»So, here we are!«

Karl had insisted that they drove to Emma Dietrichs’ home immediately. She lived at Heuchelhof, a modern district dominated by skyscrapers from the 1970s. During the 20 minutes ride there, Ben had tried to know his new partner better.

Karl seemed to have read the memo he had sent him and learned it by heart; in addition, he didn’t show any hesitation towards abduction, and he looked as if he had some experience, though he had been a bit enigmatic about his past in North Africa.

However, there was something uncanny on Karl; Ben couldn’t put his finger on it, but somehow, it seemed that Karl didn’t work primarily for the money, but for some more or less devious passion. Ben hoped that this would not become a problem.

The house was a concrete block with four floors, and about 20 apartments in it. There was light behind several of the windows, and the information Ben had gotten from Schmidt did not include which floor Emma was living at.

»Okay, let’s have a look!«

For situations like that, Ben always had a pile of pink flyers, advertising a beach party at one of Würzburg’s clubs. The flyers were two years old, but they would explain why Karl (since he was looking Oriental, it would be even more convincing if he put the flyers to the letter boxes) was at the house’s lobby in the middle of the night.

Karl wore his baseball cap and had a small backpack over his shoulder, making him appear like thousands of other immigrants who earned a few Euro by doing menial work like distributing flyers. In addition, none of their targets knew who he was.

The only problem was that they had still no proper photos of the three women either. Ben had the picture of Emma Schmidt had sent him, and from the company’s homepage, he knew that Martina Hartenstein had indeed some resemblance to the woman they had kidnapped: both had dark curly hair, and both were at about the same age. There had been no photo of Lisa, and so, they only knew she was a 19 year old blonde.

Ben remembered how Karl’s eyes had sparkled for a moment at Lisa’s description. Perhaps, he fit the cliché of Arabs preferring blondes.

From his car, he could see Karl enter the lobby. Then, some minute later, he frowned, as a woman left the building. Of course, it wasn’t unusual that someone went out later in the night, but this woman somehow seemed – nervous. She was looking around as if she was expecting to be watched, and when she stepped onto the sidewalks, Ben noticed it was Emma Dietrichs.

»Fuck!«

For a second, he feared that Karl had done something silly and frightened her. Emma looked to the left and to the right, and Ben sank down on his seat, but tried to keep an eye on Emma who now approached his car that had been parked beside a Litfass column, the only place left.

»What does she want here?«

Emma now once again looked around on the empty street; then, she squeezed herself into the tiny gap between the Litfass column and his car. To Ben’s amazement, she then reached under her skirt and pulled down her pantyhose and panties. A moment later, she crouched, and eve through the closed door, Ben could hear a sigh of relief.

»Eh – Miss?«

He opened the door, and right in front of him, Emma was squatting, her pantyhose and panties at her knees, her skirt gathered in her left hand. She gasped and stared at him. Then, she finally managed to stammer:

»C-could you p-p-please t-turn around?«

Grinning, Ben turned his head, but remained on his seat, and he could hear the rustling as Emma adjusted her clothes. Obviously, she thought that she had to explain her behaviour:

»My guests – are occupying the bathroom!«

»And I thought you were including my car to your territory by marking it!«, Ben joked and turned his head, getting a glimpse of Emma’s panties before she pushed down her skirt. The blonde giggled nervously and wanted to go away when Ben reached into his breast pocket.

»You look as if you could need a cigarette! Don’t worry, I will remain in the car, just pick one!«

After a few seconds of hesitating, Emma picked a cigarette from the pack he offered her. Her fingers trembled, and so, he offered to light it for her. Emma inhaled, coughed, and then, she chuckled, her cheeks still red with embarrassment.

»Sorry for-«, she pointed at the ground behind her, »I mean, I only have one bathroom and-«

»I have seen nothing, and I don’t know your name! By the way, I am Ben!«

»E-Emma«, the blonde replied, managing to draw on her cigarette without coughing this time. Now, Ben could see a shadow behind her, and Karl’s voice asked:

»Emma Dietrichs?«

The girl’s jaw dropped, but before she could spin around or utter a sound, Karl had slung his arm around her, clamped her mouth shut and forced her to her knees. Ben was surprised by the speed of Karl’s attack, but he reacted quickly and held his gun to Emma’s chin. The girl’s eyes widened, and she let out a muffled scream. Karl tightened his grip, and then, he said in a calm, yet threatening voice:

»We only need the key to your apartment, Emma. Do you really want to defend it with your life?«

After another muffled shriek, Emma stopped struggling, and Karl added:

»Gag her!«

This caused another moan from Emma, and Ben rummaged through the glove box until he had found a roll of tape. He more and more found into his professional routine, and he prepared three pieces he put onto the steering wheel, so he could pick them one by one to seal Emma’s lips. Karl looked at the tape and said:

»You better stuff her mouth! I am sure that Emma brought everything you need with her – underneath her skirt!«

Emma whimpered, and Ben felt hilarious, abashed and excited at the same time. Perhaps, Karl was crazy – but perhaps, in a way that would be useful to keep their captives under control.

He drew his knife, and Emma once again struggled in Karl’s vice grip. Ben knew that he now had to swallow his surprise and act like a reliable partner in crime, though he was sure that a little bit of »good kidnapper – bad kidnapper« wouldn’t be bad either.

»Hold still, Emma«, he ordered in a calm voice, »or I might cut you!«

Emma’s chest heaved as she panted when Ben now reached under her skirt. He pushed down the pantyhose a little and felt for the waistband of her panties, feeling the warmth under her skirt, and how the girl trembled with fear.

Carefully, he cut the seams, and then, he pulled the cut panties from between her legs, hearing her mmph from above. He even adjusted her pantyhose and brought her skirt in order before he looked at the garment. Emma’s choice of underwear were white silk bikini briefs with a thin lace trimming. He grinned wolfishly as he balled them up.

»Hm, still warm! Now, open wide, Emma!«

Karl withdrew his hand, and Emma, obviously too frightened to scream, parted her lips, only retching once or twice as he pushed the gag deep into her oral cavity before he made her close her lips and placed the tape pieces over them, smoothing the edges as he did so.

Karl then took the tape and tied her wrists to her back. Holding Emma’s arm, he stepped back so Ben could get out of the car. He then explained to the frightened girl:

»As said, this is all about your guests. Are they both at your apartment, Martina and Lisa?«

»Mhhmm!«

Emma nodded, her loyalty for her employer obviously ending where the fear for her life began. Ben brushed through her hair.

»Don’t worry, if you do as we say, you won’t get hurt!«

»Better don’t make promises you can’t keep afterwards!«

The remark caused Emma to mew, and Ben wasn’t sure whether Karl was just playing his »bad criminal« role. He thought of something else:

»Where are your keys?«

»Mmhmm! Uuhmm! Mph!«

The answer wasn’t helping, and so, Ben looked around. Emma hadn’t been carrying a handbag, and her skirt had no pockets. Then, he discovered a bulge in the breast pocket of her coloured blouse, and he reached inside to pick the keys.

»He, duty before fun!«, Karl joked, and Ben grinned:

»This is duty! Now, your guests: you said one is at the bathroom. Do you think she’s still there?«

After a few moments of considering, Emma nodded. Ben wondered what could take Martina or Lisa so long, but after all, it had forced Emma to relieve herself outside. He asked whether the other one was still awake, and this time, Emma indicated she didn’t know.

»All right, you will now accompany us. Please, don’t try anything that forces us to hurt or even kill you!«

Emma mewed, but when they went to her sides and hooked their arms into her bound ones, she didn’t offer any resistance, and when ordered, she lowered her head, so her long hair would hide her gag.

They reached the lobby and the elevator unseen, and then, at the corridor leading to Emma’s apartment, Karl pressed his ear to the door. He could hear both some music and male voices: obviously, the TV was running.

Ben watched in silence as Karl carefully opened the door, and even Emma seemed rather fascinated or paralyzed than trying to warn her guests. At the corridor, there were no less than five doors. The first had some frosted glass in it, and behind it, they could see a dim light and hear male voices come from the TV. The music was behind another door, with the light switch outside indicating it was the bathroom.

Karl pointed at the frosted glass door, and whilst he drew his gun, Ben slung his arm around Emma’s neck and raised his knife. He doubted that the girl would try something, but he wanted to be sure that they looked determined.

The door didn’t open soundless, and so, the woman inside noticed them. Karl could only see the back of a head protruding from behind the backrest of a couch that was facing the TV, so he stood behind what seemed to be Martina Hartenstein.

»Emma?«

A hand appeared, holding a remote, and the TV was muted.

»Could you please ask Lisa if she has finally finished her bath? I need to go!«

Karl’s left now pinched Emma’s nipple, and as the girl squealed through her gag, Martina turned her head. Before she could do or say something, Karl darted forward and grabbed her scalp, whilst he pushed his gun’s barrel into her open mouth. Marlene spluttered and coughed, but when she realized the situation, she stopped fighting, and when Karl told her not to make a sound, she nodded the little his tight grip allowed. Karl withdrew the barrel from her mouth, but now aimed at her chest and still held her hair in a vice grip.

»Now, let’s take care you won’t disturb your daughter before we do!«

There was still the music coming from the bathroom, sounding very loud now that the TV was muted. On Karl’s whispered orders, he made Emma sit on the couch and tied her ankles with tape. Then, he tied Martina at hand and feet, too, before he prepared three pieces of tape. All the time, Karl kept her scalp in his grip, tenderly brushing over her temple with his gun. Martina, however, looked as if she had her fear under control. She even asked:

»Did Ketteler send you?«

Instead of an answer, Ben approached her with his knife. Martina still wore the light dress she had chosen for her plan, and she did not panic as Ben reached under it, her voice just accelerated:

»Please, whatever he’s offering you, I can pay you more – much more – Uuhh!«

Her negotiations ended in a high-pitched shriek as Ben had cut the sides of her panties and yanked them from between her legs. He looked at the garment that resembled the one he already owned: flimsy, light blue silk with lace trimming. He balled them up, and Martina gulped as she realized where they would go.

»Tell Ketteler he’s a dirty pervert!«, Martina hissed, and she didn’t fight as Ben gagged her with the panties and taped her lips shut. Karl looked at her and grinned.

»The choice of gags was actually my idea! Mission command, as they say in the Army!«

He chuckled and added:

»Quite fitting, since now, the two of you are going commando!«

Martina snorted, and Emma’s cheeks reddened. The two men now leaned against the wall, opposite to the two captives. From the corridor, they could still hear the music. In a low voice, Karl explained:

»We could of course now storm inside and spare you waiting, but maybe, your daughter would find time to scream, and then-«

He didn’t finish the sentence, but a gesture with his gun told them about the consequences it would have for Lisa if she screamed. So, they sat respectively stood there and waited in silence. Ben had to admit that Karl was doing his job well – maybe too well. Ben would have to take care that Karl didn’t degrade him to become the side character in his own show!

In the room, there was only the heavy breathing from the two gagged women, accompanied by some rustling when Martina shifted her position. The music stopped, and then, after a pause in which Lisa had obviously left the bathtub, they could hear the sound of an electric hairdryer.

The two men made their captives get up and forced them to hop into the corridor. Here, Ben stepped behind them and slung an arm around their necks, the knife loosely resting on Martina’s ample chest. Karl meanwhile rushed into one of the other rooms. As he came back, he held something in his hand: a pair of white panties that looked like the ones Emma used to wear. Draping these over his shoulder, he prepared three strips of tape and pinned them to the door frame. Then, he waited, his gun in his right.

The door opened, and Lisa stepped out. She frowned as she saw her mother stand in the corridor. Then, she noticed the gag, and the man behind her. Before she could utter a sound, Karl had grabbed her and stuffed the balled up panties into her mouth. The girl was so perplexed that he had sealed her lips with the tape before she even mewed. However, the sight of the knife glistering so close to her mother’s heart, and the gun pointing at her own, made her stop and she just stared at the intruders with eyes like saucers.

Karl also stared at her, and Ben had to admit that the blonde girl in the white bathrobe was a beauty. The silk gown reached to her calves, but it couldn’t hide an excellent figure. To his confusion, the once so cool Karl now seemed a bit like hypnotized, and he cleared his throat. Karl grinned.

»Sorry, just a memory!«

As if to prove that he was still concentrated on their job, he added:

»Lovely Lisa here might be freshly bathed, but I am afraid she will raise too much attention on the streets if she goes out like this! So, I think I will help her to get dressed!«

He directed the girl into the guest room, and Ben ordered:

»Have an eye on the other two – I will help her find something decent!«

There was an angry glance in Karl’s eyes, but he just nodded and at gunpoint, he made Martina and Emma hop back into the living room. Ben approached Lisa who stared at the knife in his hand.

»If you do as I say, I won’t have to use it! Now, let’s go!«

On the left side of the bed, the clothes Lisa had been wearing when they had left the mansion were still lying: a mini-skirt, a sleeveless blouse, a white strapless bra and a black thong. Ben pointed at the garments.

»Use these! Minus that!«

He took the thong and put it into his pocket. Lisa groaned; then, she took the skirt and, trying to put it on without opening the belt of the bathrobe. When she was finished, she reached for her bra, but Ben shook his head.

»The blouse will do!«

»Uuhmm! Mmhmm!«

The girl pleaded through her gag, but Ben just raised his knife. With a mew, Lisa opened the belt and let the bathrobe slide to the floor. Ben had to oppress a gasp: the girl’s breasts were not only big, but also firm, and they seemed to defy gravity. He could imagine how they would bob when she walked or jumped, and he felt a tingle in his loins. Ben was almost relieved when she had put on the blouse, though he could still see her aureoles through the thin cloth.

When Lisa had also put on her sandals, he taped her wrists, but, knowing they would have to get to the car now – and because he didn’t want to risk getting too excited when Lisa would hop in front of him –, he spared her ankles as he led her to the living room. Here, a more than strange sight expected him:

Karl was sitting on the couch, his left arm loosely over Emma’s shoulders. Opposite to them was Martina, squatting over a big vase, her cheeks aflame, and her chest heaving.

»maybe, you remember«, Karl said over his shoulder, »when we entered, she mentioned that she had to go. And since the trip will be quite long, I offered her to relieve herself. Unfortunately, it seems that Martina can’t when someone’s watching!«

Ben thought of scolding Karl for his obvious glee in humiliating the captives. However, if they were frightened, they would be easier to handle. So, he showed up his knife and said towards Martina:

»Maybe, she will be more cooperative now that her daughter is here – so close to my blade!«

Lisa whimpered, and then, four pairs of eyes stared at Martina who blushed even deeper and panted, mumbling something unintelligible into her gag. Then, she lowered her head, and a moment later, there was the sound of water dropping into the vase.

When she had finished, Ben ordered Karl to have an eye on them again whilst he quickly searched the apartment for a few things. Having filled a bag, he returned, relieved that obviously, Karl hadn’t played another game of humiliation. He cut the ankle ties of both Martina and Lisa, and then, he said:

»We will now get you to our car. Of course, there may be other people, and you may be tempted to alert them, or try to run away! So, for one last thing!«

He ripped six small pieces of tape from his roll; then, he carefully taped them over the captives’ eyes before he placed their sunglasses on their noses. He had also found a few FFP2-masks, and he now used three of these to hide the gags, too. As a final touch, he used three silk scarves and draped them over the captives’ heads before knotting them under their chins. By bringing the blade close to their faces, he tested the effectiveness of the blindfolds, and then, he said:

»Now, remember we still have the gun and knife, and though we don’t want to, we won’t hesitate to use them if necessary! So, just follow us and keep your heads down!«

He then shouldered his bag and grabbed the arms of Martina and Emma, leading them onto the corridor where Karl, who was leading Lisa, had looked outside if it was empty before he had opened the door. To avoid getting surprised in the lobby, they took the stairs instead of the elevator a good precaution, for there, they had to wait until a giggling couple had disappeared in the elevator before they could continue the short trip to Ben’s car.

The backseat was quite stashed when all three captives were sitting side by side. Whilst Karl kept an eye on the street, Ben fastened the seatbelts and then taped each girl’s legs at knees and ankles. He let out a breath of relief when he then sat down on the driver’s seat, placing his bag beside him. Karl entered, watching the captives in the inside mirror.

»Beautiful cargo!«, he said, adjusting the mirror, trying to peep under Lisa’s skirt. Ben started the engine.

»Cargo we better deliver now!«

Karl showed a wolfish grin as Ben brought back the mirror in its original position. Then, he leaned back and was either sleeping or resting his eyes whilst Ben was finding his way out of Würzburg, hoping that there would be no Police control on their way.

***

The trip back to the mansion had lasted just 5 minutes, and none of them had talked, but now, after she had parked at the side of the street, Annika switched off the engine and looked at Marcus.

»I hope you remember that illegally entering someone else’s house is a criminal act – and I am a Policewoman!«

Marcus was sure she didn’t sound that determined, and so, he cocked his head and replied:

»Come on, Annika, you want it too!«

Annika took a deep breath.

»Well, if I am suspecting a criminal act, it’s my duty to at least have a short look!«

Since Marcus’ bike was parked in the carport, they inspected the door, and Annika tried the handle. It was locked.

»Can you please look over there, if there’s a toolbox?«

Marcus obeyed, but when he had reached the shelf, he heard a metallic sound, and as he turned around, the door was open. Annika put something back into her pocket and grinned.

»I just needed a little distraction, so you wouldn’t look over my shoulder!«

They entered the mansion, but after they had looked through the rooms, they could tell that there was no one but them inside. In addition, there was no evidence that a crime had happened.

»At least, we now know that both Silvie and Marlene have been here! And they have both left their phones behind!«

They had looked inside the guest rooms, and Marcus had recognized Silvana’s clothes. He wasn’t 100% sure about Marlene’s garments, but at least, someone with her size and choice of clothes had been in the room.

»So, not two, but four women have vanished – and of only two, we have at least a clue where they could be!«

»That about sums it up!«, Annika agreed, not commenting that Marcus had spoken of them as »we«. After she had allowed him to follow her inside, they could almost be called partners in crime.

Since it was an emergency – and since he remembered her code –, Marcus had even looked at Marlene’s phone, but this only proved that Hilmar had called and texted her several times. Then, he had an idea, and he changed for the address book.

»Look! Martina Hartenstein! So, we now know that at least Marlene had contact to the real owners of the mansion! And Silvana was with her! So, the two cases are connected! Annika, spare me the usual sermon about me keeping my nose out of a criminal investigation, for I won’t listen!«

The Policewoman looked at him, and then, she replied:

»I think it is time you call your friend on Norderney!«

***