The Zurich Conspiracy

of a scandal, primarily because her marriage was already on the rocks and she assumed her husband would exploit this incident in any divorce proceedings.
    “Frau Hartwell and Pius Tschuor could not agree on where to go from there. Then Schulmann was murdered. When Frau Hartwell found out about it a few days later, she phoned Herr Tschuor. He said that they had nothing to fear even if the police found the tape at Schulmann’s. He said Schulmann had apparently secretly taped other people who would be of more interest to the police than the previously mentioned sequence on the tape. She said Tschuor sounded very confident and at ease.
    “Frau Hartwell did not know what to think of that, but she could only sit and wait. When asked if she was afraid Tschuor might blackmail her, she stated that he would never make the tape public because Hans-Rudolf Walther, Loyn’s owner, wanted to subsidize a book of his photographs. She said Tschuor would never want to scuttle the project because of a scandal.”
    Zwicker paused. “Any questions?”
    The young woman spoke up, “Does this mean we suspect Tschuor killed Herr Schulmann to gain possession of the tape?”
    Zwicker moved a hand to his right. “Peter, will you explain that?”
    A corpulent man took the floor. “We have discovered that Tschuor began training to become a nurse after high school. He did not begin a career as a photographer until later. We are now trying to ascertain whether Tschuor obtained the substance that knocked Schulmann out.”
    Zwicker took over. “If that turns out to be the case, then it strongly points to a means and a motive—that Tschuor could have actually panicked because of the tape.”
    “And the Westek case?” another officer asked.
    “We’re still on it, but it looks very promising—excuse me a moment.” Zwicker retrieved his cell phone from his pocket, answered it, said a few words, and then put it away.
    “They found Tschuor’s car at the cave.”
    “And Frau Rehmer?”
    “Still no trace of Rehmer or Tschuor. There’s some hope that they will both be found in the cave.”
    “How do things stand between Rehmer and Tschuor? Is she in peril?” The question came from their female colleague.
    Zwicker rolled his ballpoint pen thoughtfully back and forth between his hands before he answered.
    “We assume she suspects nothing, or else she wouldn’t have gone into the cave with him. The question is whether Tschuor is counting on the fact that she is not suspicious, or whether he’ll panic again.”

He’s trying to kill me. He’s planned it all. He took off before the water came in. Josefa was quivering. The warm blanket she was clutching with stiff fingers crackled. I’m going to die here, and nobody will know what really happened .
    She felt something warm running down her legs. She’d urinated. Out of fear.
    The light from the carbide lamp grew dimmer and dimmer. Josefa thought about Sali. How would they explain it to him? And who would tell him? He won’t understand. He’ll just think that another person has gone from his life forever. That’s how he’ll see it. People aren’t reliable. Their promises are lies. People turn away without a word of explanation. They’re all traitors, Sali, hypocrites leaving you high and dry .
    She began to cry. Her whole body was racked with cramps. She was overcome by a longing for her mother that rolled over her like a storm-tossed wave. She couldn’t stop crying. And this time nobody would say, Josefa, you mustn’t cry or we’ll all fall apart.
    The tears gradually ebbed away. She was completely exhausted. And then the cold came back!
    Will I freeze to death? Will my body slowly stop functioning ? She stared into the light, her eyes burning.
    She tried to keep herself awake. But fatigue was stronger.
    Feb. 10, 2 p.m.
    Call from Sebastian Sauter (Pol. Crimes). Asks whereabouts of J.R. Had information from E. Ardelius, R.’s neighbor. Sauter knows A. and R. from Pol. Dept. investigation. A. asked Sauter if something happened to R. Sauter told by A. about cave. Sauter very interested in case. Will keep him informed.
    She gave a start. It was dark all around her. She felt beside her, everywhere. Cold stone. The lamp. It must have gone out when she was asleep.
    Don’t be afraid, Josefa. It’s only the dark.
    They must be starting to search for me now.
    So much time’s gone by. They must be searching by now.
    It’s so cold. So bitterly cold. Move your hands, Josefa. Fingers.