Read Online Deadly Communion by Frank Tallis - Free Book Online Page A

around and glanced at Haussmann: ‘I won’t say anything while he’s here.’
    ‘Haussmann is my assistant,’ Rheinhardt replied. ‘Everything I know, he must know too.’
    ‘What I’ve got to say … it’s personal.’
    Rheinhardt sighed, then looked over at his assistant and said: ‘Haussmann — would you mind waiting outside?’
    ‘Not at all, sir.’
    Haussmann bowed and left the office, closing the door with just enough surplus force to declare his wounded pride.
    ‘So,’ said Rheinhardt, steepling his hands and tapping his fingertips against his pursed lips. ‘How did you learn about poor Adele?’
    ‘From my friends … and it was them who told me about you.’
    ‘And who might your friends be?’
    ‘They were at Rainmayr’s when you went to ask him questions.’
    ‘Ah yes — Lissi and Toni?’
    ‘Yes, that’s them.’
    Fräulein Sykora fell silent and she looked around the room. She then said: ‘Do you pay for it?’
    Surprised, Rheinhardt drew back a little.
    ‘Pay for what, exactly?’
    ‘Information.’
    ‘Well, that depends.’
    ‘You do pay, though, don’t you? How much?’
    ‘When citizens provide us with serviceable information, it is our practice in the security office to reward them — sometimes — with a small gratuity.’
    ‘We used to talk,’ said Fräulein Sykora. ‘Adele and me — we were good friends.’
    ‘And what did you used to talk about?’
    ‘Things … Rainmayr.’
    Pryska Sykora pursed her lips and rubbed her thumb and forefinger together.
    Rheinhardt found two kronen in his pocket and placed them on his desk.
    ‘Let us assume that I am interested in what you have to tell me,’ said Rheinhardt. ‘But you will have to be a little more forthcoming.’
    Fräulein Sykora nodded.
    ‘Adele was angry with Rainmayr. She wanted more work and he wouldn’t give it to her. She used to curse him. She even threatened him.’
    ‘How did she threaten him?’
    ‘He’s an artist. You know what artists are like with their models.’
    ‘Fräulein Sykora, are you implying that Herr Rainmayr was intimate with Adele Zeiler?’
    ‘He had his way with her, yes. When she was younger. And she told him she’d go to the police if he didn’t give her more work.’
    ‘Do you have any proof of this?’
    ‘It’s what she said to me.’
    ‘When?’
    ‘She was always saying it — I can’t remember when.’
    Fräulein Sykora leaned forward and picked up the coins. She examined them in her open palm.
    ‘This isn’t very much, inspector.’
    ‘When did you last see Adele?’
    ‘Friday night.’
    ‘Where?’
    ‘We bumped into each other on Lange Gasse.’
    ‘Had she been to see — or was she going to see — Rainmayr?’
    ‘She was going to see someone else. A gentleman friend.’
    ‘Where?’
    ‘A private dining room.’
    ‘Which one?’
    ‘I don’t know.’
    ‘Did she mention the name of this gentleman friend — or say anything about him?’
    ‘No. She just said she was meeting him and that he’d promised to give her a gift.’
    ‘What kind of gift?’
    Pryska Sykora shrugged.
    Rheinhardt picked up his pen and made some notes.
    ‘I know other things … about Adele.’
    The girl rattled the coins in her clenched fist.
    ‘Where do you live, Fräulein Sykora?’
    ‘Above Kirchmann’s Coffee House.’
    ‘With your family?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘May I ask … how do you pay for your lodgings?’
    ‘I don’t. Herr Kirchmann said I could stay in the attic room if I …’ she paused and diverted her gaze before adding ‘… helped out in the kitchen.’
    Rheinhardt doubted that the arrangement between landlord and lodger consisted of such an uncomplicated exchange of alms for labour.
    ‘Tell me,’ said Rheinhardt. ‘How long had you been acquainted with Adele Zeiler?’
    ‘About a year.’
    ‘And how did you get to know her?’
    ‘She used to come into Kirchmann’s with some of the other Rainmayr girls. When it wasn’t busy I’d join them.’