Back out on the stairs Pieter and Kaatje hesitated, feeling uncomfortable and awkward. After a moment he caught her gaze and was sure he saw a slight tear in her eye, but she quickly turned her face away.
“I’d best get back,” she mumbled and scurried away down the steps.
“Kaatje,” he called out, but she was already gone, and now he felt even worse.
Pieter went through the doors to the media suite and took a seat at the back, his mouth working silently and his hard flinty eyes glowering at Huijbers.
Standing on the pavement in the cold winter sunshine, Kaatje Groot shook away the hot tears, angry with herself, annoyed at Pieter for not saying more in her defence, but mostly furious with that cretin Commissaris Huijbers.
She set off walking fast, hoping the brisk pace would shake off her temper.
Ten minutes later found her at Café Zoku on the corner of Marnixstraat and Lauriergracht Canal. This was her favourite lunchtime spot, overlooking the iced-over water and the arched bridges and tree-lined canal, their branches all frosty and white and skeletal. It was a quiet and peaceful corner of the busy city, and just far enough away from HQ to discourage any of her work colleagues from walking here on their break: they mostly preferred the burger place or the Brown Café pub just opposite.
Going up to the second floor she found a window seat and ordered a latte and a panini. The TV above the counter was tuned to one of the 24hr news channels, which was currently showing the live police press conference. A couple of patrons and the waitress were watching, but Kaatje turned away, not interested in what Huijbers had to say.
For thirty minutes she sat and ate lunch, warming her cold fingers on the hot cup, and planning her next move.
If Huijbers thought he could intimidate her into dropping this, then he was wrong. This was her big chance to impress, and maybe gain a permanent position in the homicide division. Besides, she quite liked Pieter Van Dijk.
Tobias had spent the morning buying Christmas presents.
In the Netherlands the traditional time when Sinterklass – St Nicolas – left presents for the children was on December 5th, but of course Nina hadn’t come to live with him until after then. Nevertheless, he was determined that this year would be the best ever Christmas for them both, the first time they had spent it together, and so he had wandered the stores around Dam Square looking for gifts.
The huge tree at the centre of Dam looked especially beautiful this year, he thought, and he wondered about bringing Nina along one evening to see it. The idea lifted his spirits after his earlier tears. Yes, perhaps he would risk it. They could even go to Tinkerbell’s toy store, she would like it there.
He decided to wander over to the flower market, which at this time of the year was transformed into a long, sprawling Christmas Market along the frozen canals. He strolled around the stalls, mingling with the crowds, looking just like any other shopper enjoying the festive season. He bought some Appelbeignets – some sweet apple fritters – as well as a tin barrel of Kerstikransjes biscuits to hang on the tree. This reminded him that he needed to pop over to the nurseries in Westerpark to buy a real fir tree. In fact yes, they could choose one together, and then take it home and spend one evening decorating it.
For the first time in a long time, Tobias smiled, feeling a warm glow pass through his heart and putting a spring in his step.
He doubled back down the wide thoroughfare of Rokin, making for Scheltema book shop, and as he rode up in the glass elevator to the children’s section, he felt his mobile vibrate in his coat pocket. He looked at the caller ID as he stepped out, and Tobias felt his world shift again.
The darkness came back, all the joys and fun of Christmas were shoved violently to one side in an instant, and his hand shook in sudden debilitating fear.
Finding a quiet corner amidst the bookshelves, he brought the phone to his ear and quietly said “Hello.”
The female voice at the other end simply replied: “Have you been following the news?”
“No,” he croaked, his voice suddenly dry. “Why?”
“The police have just announced that the girl is missing, presumed abducted.”
There was a long pause while the news sank in. Somewhere close by, a pair of footsteps went past, and Tobias waited until whoever it was had strolled away. “Right,” was all he could think of to say.
“Which was only a matter of time. So nothing changes,” the woman told him in a calm and smooth voice. “But their investigation will be stepped up. Is the girl somewhere safe?”
“Yes, I told you where I was keeping her. Everything is secure.”
“Good. Where are you now?”
“I’m at work,” he lied, and then added quickly: “But there’s nothing to worry about. There’s absolutely no way she can get out. And even if she did, where could she go?”
Again there was another long pause, and Tobias felt a trickle of sweat go down the back of his neck beneath his scarf.
“Don’t get too friendly with her, you hear? When the time comes I will be in touch again, and you know what you have to do.”
“I… uh…” Tobias stammered, “I’m not sure… if I can… do-“
“Tobias, we’ve discussed this before. Everything has been arranged. You agreed to this, so don’t let me down.”
“It’s just that, well you know… Nina-“
“Who?”
“Sorry, I mean the girl… well, she’s actually quite-“
“Listen to me carefully Tobias,” the voice cut in, “because I am only going to tell you this once. Our mutual acquaintance Mr Roost, you remember him don’t you? Yes, of course you do, you’re hardly likely to forget your meeting with him, are you? Well, Mr Roost here, he is getting quite
