hurt.â
âIâll get to the hospital on my own, Patrolman. As soon as a KP officer shows up, have him report to me. In the meantime, I want you people out of here and all entrances secured.â
The cop was confused. âThe man out there is dead ⦠Shall we call for the coroner?â
âThis is a simple suicide, for the moment. The victim is not German, and whatâs more, he has diplomatic immunity.â
âThe woman ⦠she was armed.â
âShe too is not German. Return her weapon to her, with my apologies. She will be allowed to remain in the apartment.â
âVery good, sir.â The cop turned on his heel and began issuing orders.
Roemer quickly searched the bedroom, beneath the mattress, in the drawers of a large chest and in the Schrank. But there was nothing else of interest.
The apartment had quieted. Leila stood in the doorway, looking very angry.
âHave you called your embassy?â he asked.
âThey are on their way.â She held out her hand. âI want it.â
âWhat?â
âWhatever it is you found in here. Letters. Notes. Files. They are of no concern to you, and in fact may contain information classified by the State of Iraq.â
âA pretty speech,â Roemer said.
âI demand â¦â
âYouâre in no position to demand anything, Fräulein Kahled. You are on German soil now.â
âThere will be a lot of trouble over this, Investigator.â
âThe name is Walther Roemer.â
âHow do you know my name?â
âYou would be surprised at the extent of my knowledge.â
Someone called his name from the corridor. Roemer walked out to the living room as Lieutenant Manning, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, his long tan overcoat open, charged through the open door.
âGuten Morgen, Lieutenant,â Roemer said wearily.
Manning took in Pavliâs body, Leila just behind Roemer and the wound in Roemerâs arm.
âHeâs dead,â Roemer said. âSelf-inflicted gunshot wound.â
âHas an ambulance been called for you?â
âIâll manage on my own,â Roemer said. âThe boy is Ahmed Pavli, an Iraqi citizen, with, Iâm told, diplomatic immunity. However, he was, and this scene is, material to our investigation into the Sharazad Razmarah murder.â
Manning looked at Pavliâs body. âDid he kill Sarah?â
âI donât know.â
Manning looked up. âThe woman?â
âLeila Kahled. An Iraqi who also enjoys diplomatic immunity.â
âYouâre a cop?â Manning asked her.
âYes, Lieutenant,â Leila said. âAnd I wish this apartment to be secured immediately.â
Manningâs eyebrows rose. âHas your embassy been contacted, Fräulein?â
âIt has.â
Manning looked at Roemer, then back to Leila. âVery well, we shall wait until the proper diplomatic authorities arrive. But I will have to ask you to remain on the scene. There will be questions.â
âNaturally,â Leila said gruffly.
âAnd now, Investigator Roemer, if you would care to step outside, I would like to have a word with you,â Manning said.
âSure.â But before Roemer left he hunched down over Pavliâs body.
âDo not touch him â¦â Leila started, but then she realized Roemer was just closing the manâs eyes.
Roemer followed Manning outside. A crowd had already formed, and the uniformed police were busy dispersing it.
âAre you all right?â Manning asked. They stopped at his unmarked car.
âJust a superficial wound. Hurts like hell, though.â
âWhat happened up there?â
âThe man shot himself.â
âWhat brought you here?â
âHe was Sarah Razmarahâs boyfriend. I came to talk to him.â
Manning nodded. âAnd the woman?â
âI think Pavli telephoned her this