The Zurich Conspiracy

life’s coming apart at the seams.
    But since she couldn’t do that—and she absolutely wanted to take Sali’s skis with her—she propped her elbows up on the table and put her hands over her face. She looked at the almost empty salami platter and felt Sauter’s eyes on her. She was sure to have dark rings under her eyes and her hair, which she’d rather carelessly tied up, was sticking out in all directions.
    A few customers at the next table were playfully squabbling over the cheese crust on the bottom of the empty fondue dish. “That’ll cost you the next bottle of wine, Peter!” someone shouted. It sounded like an echo from a distant world. People who have a fondue, get worked up over a badly chosen Christmas present, take their dog to the vet to be dewormed, write letters to the editor, have an allergic reaction to nuts or strawberries or milk, buy a Loyn bag for their fortieth birthday. People who’d never run over a child by accident, who’d never get cancer, who’d never lose all their money in the market, who’d never hate a person from the bottom of their heart.
    “I’ve heard there are people who never look in the mirror in the morning and don’t recognize themselves anymore,” Josefa said.
    Sauter cleared his throat, as always when about to say something personal. “I’m not a great talker, Frau Rehmer, but I understand what you’re saying perfectly well. I…When I discovered that my wife, my ex-wife, had a lover for months, I hardly recognized myself anymore. Certain thoughts go through your head, and you get feelings you’d like to forget later. I don’t want to go there again, but maybe it was a good thing I was there once. I understand a lot of things better now.” He mashed a bread crust with his strong fingers.
    “As a police officer you’ve got to learn, in the middle of everything…of all those enormities you’re confronted with, how to keep your world separate and in one piece. And that’s usually through the family. In my case it definitely was. When that fell apart—it was bad. At times I really lost it. But I still have good, close contact with Kevin, I have my work, and I did not turn into a drunk.”
    “Something else? Dessert? Coffee?” the waitress interrupted. Josefa raised her head, and to her surprise ordered the lemon sorbet she’d seen on the menu.
    “A double espresso,” Sauter said.
    Josefa moved her hand back and forth on the checkered tablecloth, like seagrass pushed by the waves. She was composed now and covered up her embarrassment with some mockery. “So there’s a chance you’ll get to heaven in spite of everything?”
    Sauter grinned. “Absolutely. And you too, Frau Rehmer. You too.”
    She returned his smile and added, ritually establishing the familiar form of address between them, “My name is Josefa.” And before he could respond, “I like the name Sebastian. So cool.” Then she began to laugh at herself.

The black delivery van had been standing for half an hour in front of the abandoned factory. The compound was deserted; railway tracks led from the cavernous, dismantled hall into nothingness. An old tow truck was tipped over on its side on the icy ground. The lettering on the outside factory walls was barely decipherable. The air was filled with the screaming of gulls drifting past on their way to the lake.
    The fingers of the man in blue overalls drummed on the steering wheel. When he yawned, his breath came out of his mouth in white puffs. It was ice cold in the truck, but he didn’t dare turn on the motor. He wanted to be able to hear the slightest sound. He had come here in a company truck. The furniture moving business he worked for was well known. Their customers included companies like Loyn. His presence in this place could be easily explained if need be.
    His supplier was reliable but cautious. They knew each other, but nevertheless there was always a little distrust in the air. Neither party wanted to put himself in a dangerous position.
    Some gulls were trying to break up the frozen earth with their bills, but suddenly they flew off in all directions. The foreman saw a midsized truck approaching. That had to be him. The truck went past and disappeared behind the factory. The man in blue overalls got out and went over to it on foot. When he reached the vehicle, the door opened and he swung up inside. A brief greeting, a quick exchange of glances with the man in the driver’s seat.
    “The goods are first