killer.'
'I don't like doing this,' the chief constable said. 'Oppenhuyzen is essentially a good man, and he's been tortured by excruciating nerve pains. There seems to be no cure for his ailment.'
'Weakness,' the commissaris said, 'attracts evil. I do have four suspects. Three men weakened by greed, and a lady whose very lovingness may have made her slide into darkness. In a way I favor Mem, because if she committed evil she meant it for good.'
'Lately I have suffered from toothache,' the chief constable said. 'When it hurts, I'm not myself. My poor adjutant has been in pain for years, although at times he seems to have fought it successfully. He sometimes seems at peace.'
The radio came to life. 'Sir, next turn off the highway and then a sharp right will take us to the new quarter. The restaurant faces the boulevard.'
'What did he have to gain?' the chief constable asked. 'Free cognac and expensive cigars? He paid for that trip to Singapore himself, I'm fairly sure. Or are things worse than I dare to think? A bank account in Switzerland, maybe? I hope we won't be turning up any hidden surprises.'
'Sir?' the radio said. 'Next block. We'll be hanging back now. There are no exits on the side. If we set ourselves up at the rear of the restaurant, we can catch them if they try to escape.'
'Very well,' the chief constable said. 'Prepare your weapons. No hesitation while arresting the subjects. I want the crew of car number two to back me up. All others watch the rear.'
'Understood,' four voices answered.
The shopping center was guarded by two high apartment buildings. The Volvo parked. The commissaris got out. He waved at a passing Deux Chevaux, of a bright orange color. The occupant waved back.
De Gier got out of the Deux Chevaux. The commissaris introduced the sergeant. 'A coincidence?' the chief constable said. 'Will you be coming with us?'
'If you please,' de Gier said.
'I was addressing your chief,' the chief constable said. 'I'd rather have you wait outside. You can expect Chinese suspects. The two men over there are mine, and the two over there are mine too. Please introduce yourself to them. I'm a little short of time now.'
The chief constable walked into the restaurant, followed by the commissaris. There were no clients seated at the tables, but young Chinese surrounded the bar.
'Police,' the chief constable said loudly. 'Checking your residence permits. Your papers, please.'
The Chinese in the rear backed off, and the Chinese in front approached, running around the chief constable and the commissaris. They came back again, trying to get away from the policemen now appearing at both sides of the large room. One man remained at the bar, neither young nor Chinese, a fairly heavy man with a rather red face. He wore a tweed suit. 'Evening,' the man said.
'Evening, Adjutant,' the chief constable said. 'I had hoped not to find you here. Stay where you are, never mind what goes on.'
Behind the bar, an old Chinese smiled at the confusion. The commissaris slipped behind the counter. The old Chinese offered his hand. The commissaris shook it. 'Wang,' the Chinese said.
'A good evening to you, Mr. Wang.'
The young Chinese were shouting at the policemen.
'What are they saying?' the commissaris asked.
''Rotten egg,'' Mr. Wang said.
The young Chinese made fast beating and kicking movements, turned rapidly on their own axles, breathed sharply in and out. The policemen were quiet behind their drawn guns.
'What are they doing?' the commissaris asked.
'Gymnastics,' Mr. Wang said. 'Karate. Like in the movies. You know that type of movie? 'Sah! Tohl Wah!''
'I hardly ever go to the movies,' the commissaris said.
'They say that when they fight,' Mr. Wang said. He blew and hummed simultaneously. 'Never heard that sort of sound? They do that too, when participants close in on each other.'
The young Chinese were humming and blowing.
'And where does that get them?' the commissaris asked.
'When they do it in the movies,' Mr. Wang said, 'they're paid.'
'You're under arrest,' the chief constable said loudly. 'All of you, turn to the wall and put your hands behind your necks. Right away. Hop.'
'Hop isn't here,' Mr. Wang said.
'Your Dutch is impeccable,' the commissaris said.
'I was born here,' Mr. Wang said. 'I don't want to be Chinese anymore. I prefer to be nothing.'
'Weren't you nothing from the beginning?' the commissaris asked.
Wang reached for a bottle of cognac and two glasses. 'Are you a Buddhist?'
'You're not right in the head,' the commissaris said. 'A Buddhist is something. Why should I be anything at all?'
Wang poured the drinks. He gave the commissaris a glass. 'I beg your pardon. Your very good health.'
'I beg your pardon too,' the commissaris said. 'Your very good health.'
The chief constable was accepting the weapons found on the young Chinese. 'Would you like a bag?' Mr. Wang asked. Two revolvers, a pistol, and sue knives were pushed into a white plastic sack. The chief constable put the bag on the counter and looked at Adjutant Oppenhuyzen. He put out his hand. 'Your weapon, too, and your identification. Apply for leave in writing. It'll be granted, for the rest of your years, forever, amen, Adjutant.'
Oppenhuyzen gave him the requested objects.
'Go,' the chief constable said, 'and never be seen again.'
Oppenhuyzen smiled inanely, pushed himself off his stool, said 'Good evening' dreamily, and wandered to the door.
De Gier came in after the suspects had been led out. Eddy rested on the sergeant's hands.
'Away,' the chief constable said. De Gier turned about. 'Not you,' the chief constable said. 'I meant the rat. What's a dead rat doing here? Did you find him outside?'
De Gier turned about again. He offered the rat to the commissaris.
'For me?' the commissaris asked.
'For Douwe, sir. Didn't Cardozo say Douwe still needed a gift to present to your suspects?'
'Would you like a bag?' Mr. Wang asked.
Eddy was shoved into white plastic.
'Friend of yours?' Mr. Wang asked.
'Yes,' the commissaris said. 'Sergeant de Gier. He'll go far, I keep thinking.'
'I meant the rat,' Mr. Wang said.
'In a way,' the commissaris said. 'I haven't known him U that long, and I already have a friend, a turtle, who lives in my rear garden. I rather prefer quiet friends. Eddy liked to rattle. I didn't take to the sound.'
The young Chinese were shouting on the parking lot. ''Rotten egg,'' Mr. Wang said. 'Their conversation is monotonous. I hope to be without it for a while.'
'Coming?' the chief constable asked the commissaris.
'I should go back to Amsterdam,' the commissaris said. 'Rinus, you take me. Cardozo has my car. And then you can drive back to Friesland. You'll be off tomorrow again, and can sleep late.'
The commissaris thanked the chief constable for the adventure and Mr. Wang for his hospitality. He carried Eddy in his bag to the Deux Chevaux.
De Gier waited for the question that wasn't coming, for the commissaris was asleep.
'You're home, sir.'
'What?' the commissaris asked. 'Right.' He got out. De Gier took him to the door of his house and handed him Eddy in the bag.
'Thank you,' the commissaris said. 'Have a good trip back, Sergeant.'
