Pieter nodded. It was worth a try.
“But then the receptionist broke off to take a call,” Kaatje continued, “and after that she completely clammed up, didn’t utter a word or even glance at me. I guessed you’d been causing trouble or something.”
“Who me? Would never enter my head.”
He took one final look at the buildings opposite. Something made a shiver pass down his spine and he didn’t think it was just because of the frosty morning.
“Come on, let’s head back. I have to update Huijbers before he makes his big announcement.”
Chapter 9
Commissaris Dirk Huijbers
When they arrived back at Amsterdam Central Police Headquarters just after midday, preparations were already underway for the press conference. The media suite on the second floor was starting to fill up with reporters and TV camera operators, and at the far end of the room, a long table was set out from where Commissaris Huijbers, flanked by two senior police district commanders, would shortly deliver his briefing to the press. A buzz of anticipation hummed through the air as rumours were already swirling around concerning just what was going to be revealed. It was probably only a matter of time before the news of Nina Bakker’s abduction broke, and Huijbers seemed jumpy and twitchy, no doubt concerned that someone might steal his thunder before he made the official announcement.
Climbing the stairs with Kaatje, Pieter caught sight of his superior standing in a side room, baseball hat on his head and talking animatedly with his media liaison officer. Hoping to sneak by without being spotted, Pieter slid quietly past the door. A loud shout however brought him up short.
Giving Kaatje a look, he popped his head around the doorframe.
Huijbers was scowling at him, and he made a show of looking at his watch.
“Get in here. And bring her with you.”
He and Kaatje walked through the doorway and the liaison officer made a hasty departure, no doubt glad to have an excuse to leave.
“What the hell took you so long?” Huijbers demanded. “I told you to be back in plenty of time to update me.”
“The traffic was a nightmare, you know what it’s like.”
“Well, it’s too damn late now. I’m due to give my briefing in five minutes to the world’s media, I can’t just change my script at short notice.” He waved a sheaf of papers in the air. “How the heck will it look if I’m behind the curve with the latest information on the case, and the media get wind of any breakthroughs before me?”
Pieter and Kaatje just shook their heads and acted dumb.
“Well, I’ll tell you. It will make me look like an incompetent fool, someone who can’t keep up with events. The job of a police commissaris is to portray an air of calmness and control, to allay people’s fears, to make them feel safe in their beds at night. Instead, I could go out there and end up looking like a complete idiot.” He pulled the baseball hat down tighter.
“Well there’s nothing much to report, and if there were, I doubt the media will find out.”
“Oh, you think so, do you? Let me tell you something Van Dijk. While you and your partner here have been driving around cosying up to each other-”
Kaatje opened her mouth to protest at this, but Huijbers held up one finger to still her words while he continued to tear into Pieter.
“-I received a telephone call from a very disgruntled citizen of our good city, complaining about your behaviour. A Mr Julian Visser, one of the eye specialists out at that new clinic. Have you heard of him? Well I can tell you, he was not very happy, he gave me a real earful telling me all about your little visit this morning. And about your spurious and possibly slanderous allegations concerning matters of a very private nature. Particularly your accusation that Mr Visser might have a predilection for little girls.”
“That’s ridiculous, I was only questioning him-“
“Shut up! What on earth possesses you to come out with something like that to a member of the public, who tells me he was just doing his level best to help us with our inquiries? He could file a complaint, or even litigate and sue for damages. You’ve blackened his name, he claims, and left him shaking and very emotional.”
Pieter just about managed to roll his eyes before Huijbers continued.
“What if he went to the press? While I’m in the middle of the fucking press conference? What a bloody mess you’ve dropped into my lap, Van Dijk. Mind you, I shouldn’t be surprised, you made a total balls up in the spring, so I guess I should be used to it by now.”
He threw up his arms in dismay, the full repertoire of his amateur dramatic skills coming to the fore.
“Ah! I don’t have time for this! I’m meant to be out there announcing that we have a child abduction case on our hands instead of wasting my time with you. But don’t you worry, you haven’t heard the end of this. You can update me later, and in the meantime, I will try and calm Mr Visser down.”
Huijbers finally turned his gaze onto Kaatje, and then looked back at Pieter.
“And pray do tell me, what is officer Groot doing with you? She’s meant to be working with De Kok on the files section.”
Pieter stared back. “I thought the experience might be good for her.”
“She’s a rookie! Rookie officers aren’t meant to be working on high-profile cases. Her job is to be De Kok’s assistant, not your little helper.” He flashed a furious look at Kaatje. “You, get back to your job!”
With that he stormed out of the room and bulldozed his way through the swing doors to the media suite,
