Chapter 16: The Box Karl Told Me to Hide
Alexander was still holding the photograph when he turned toward me.
"Mom, what did Dad mean about Martin?""
I couldn't answer immediately.
The police officers were moving through Sophie's apartment, photographing the broken door and collecting evidence. Anna was speaking with Inspector Brandt near the entrance.
But all I could hear was Karl's voice.
If Martin ever comes asking for the box, don't give it to him.
I had promised my husband.
And I had kept that promise for six years.
"Mom?""
Alexander's voice was quieter now.
I looked at him.
"Your father gave me something shortly before he died.""
"What?""
"A small metal box.""
He frowned.
"The one we found in your bedroom?""
"No. Another one.""
Alexander looked toward the photograph.
"Where is it?""
I swallowed.
"Hidden in the apartment.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because your father specifically told me not to.""
"Did he say why?""
"He said the contents could put us in danger if the wrong person found them.""
Alexander stepped closer.
"Mom, people are already breaking into apartments, forging your signature, and trying to frame you. We can't keep secrets from each other anymore.""
He was right.
I looked at Anna.
She had finished speaking with the inspector and approached us.
"Helga, what is it?""
I explained.
Anna's expression became serious.
"Where is the box?""
"Inside the old storage compartment behind the wardrobe.""
Inspector Brandt overheard us.
He immediately advised against retrieving it without police supervision.
But he also agreed that the box might contain evidence connected to the ongoing investigation.
We returned to my apartment with two officers.
I led them into the bedroom.
The wardrobe had belonged to Karl's parents. It was heavy oak, with a narrow panel at the back.
Karl had shown me the compartment years ago.
He had installed it himself.
I moved the lower drawer, pressed a small wooden latch, and heard a click.
A hidden panel opened.
Inside sat a black metal box.
Alexander stared.
"How long has that been there?""
"Since 2020.""
One officer photographed it before carefully removing it.
There was a small keyhole.
I reached into my pocket and took out the old brass key Karl had given me.
It fitted.
The lid opened.
Inside were three things.
A thick envelope.
A small digital recorder.
And a photograph of four men standing outside the old company building.
Karl.
Martin.
Ewald.
And Markus Vogel.
But there was something different about this photograph.
Karl had crossed out Martin's face with a black pen.
On the back, he had written:
The man who signed the original agreement was not the man who approved the transfer.
Alexander looked at me.
"What does that mean?""
I shook my head.
"I don't know.""
Anna opened the envelope.
Inside were photocopies of bank records and a document titled Beneficial Ownership Declaration.
She examined it carefully.
Then her eyes widened.
"Helga, this is important.""
"What?""
She pointed to a name.
The company that had received the disputed €176,000 was not owned by Ewald.
It was owned by a private holding company.
And the beneficial owner of that holding company was Martin Keller.
Alexander stared.
"Martin?""
Anna nodded.
"According to this document, yes.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"But he told us he was being threatened by Ewald.""
"Both things could be true," Anna said.
"He may have been threatened and still benefited financially.""
The officer placed the digital recorder into an evidence bag.
"Can we listen to it?"" Alexander asked.
"Not until it's examined properly," Inspector Brandt replied over the phone. He had been updated on our discovery and was now arranging to meet us.
But the envelope contained another document.
A handwritten note from Karl.
If Martin tells you the money was taken without his knowledge, he is lying.
I sat on the edge of the bed.
For six years, I had thought Martin was my husband's closest business friend.
He had attended the funeral.
He had helped me organize the paperwork.
He had even brought food during the first weeks after Karl died.
Had all of it been an act?
Alexander crouched beside me.
"Mom, look at me.""
I did.
"We're going to find out what happened.""
I nodded.
But I was afraid of what the answer might be.
That afternoon, Inspector Brandt arranged for the recorder to be examined.
The device was old, but the audio files were intact.
We gathered in a secure room at the station.
The first recording began with Karl's voice.
"Martin, I have given you every opportunity to explain.""
Martin answered.
"You don't understand the situation.""
"I understand the numbers.""
A chair scraped.
Then Martin said:
"Ewald arranged the transfers. I only signed the documents.""
"You approved them.""
"Because he told me the money would be returned.""
"And when it wasn't?""
Silence.
Then Martin spoke again.
"I had no choice.""
Karl's voice became sharp.
"You always have a choice.""
Another pause.
Then came a sentence that made my blood run cold.
Martin said:
"You think you're protecting Helga and Alexander. But you don't know what you've already put them into.""
Karl answered:
"Then tell me.""
Martin lowered his voice.
"Your son is already connected to the company.""
Alexander went rigid.
The recording continued.
Karl sounded stunned.
"What are you talking about?""
"His name appears on a guarantee.""
"Alexander never signed anything.""
"That's what you believe.""
A loud noise interrupted them.
Then Karl said something almost too quietly to hear.
"If you've used my son's name, I'll destroy every document you have.""
The recording ended.
Nobody spoke.
Alexander stared at the table.
"My name was on a guarantee before I even married Bianca.""
Anna nodded.
"It appears the arrangement began much earlier than we understood.""
I looked at the officer.
"Can you identify when this recording was made?""
He checked the file information.
"September 2019.""
Alexander shook his head.
"That was months before I met Bianca's parents.""
I remembered the date.
September 2019.
Karl had returned from a business meeting that evening and told me he needed to protect Alexander from a financial arrangement he didn't understand.
I had asked what he meant.
He said:
"Some people don't steal your money first. They steal your name.""
Now I understood.
Inspector Brandt entered the room.
He listened to the recording again.
Then he asked Anna for the documents.
"These materials give us grounds to question Mr. Keller further.""
"Can you arrest him?"" Alexander asked.
"Not on this evidence alone. But we can investigate whether he knowingly participated in the fraudulent transfers.""
I looked at the photograph.
"Where is Martin now?""
The inspector checked his phone.
"He was contacted this morning. He agreed to come in for questioning.""
"Did he arrive?""
The inspector looked up.
"No.""
He turned his screen toward us.
A message had just arrived from Martin's assistant.
Martin Keller had left his office two hours earlier.
May you like
He had taken a suitcase.
And nobody knew where he had gone.
