Chapter 8: The Friend Who Had Been Helping Them
Alexander didn't move for several seconds.
Daniel Krüger had been his closest professional friend for almost ten years.
They had studied engineering together, started a consulting business, and worked on several major commercial projects.
Daniel had been at our home many times.
He had eaten Karl's favorite roast chicken.
He had helped me carry furniture upstairs.
When Alexander and Bianca got married, Daniel had stood beside my son as his best man.
And now his name appeared on a loan application containing Alexander's personal information.
"That can't be right," Alexander whispered.
Friedrich opened the folder again.
"I'm afraid it is.""
"Daniel wouldn't do this.""
Friedrich didn't respond.
Alexander picked up his phone.
"I'm calling him.""
I touched his arm.
"Wait.""
"Mom, he's my business partner.""
"Exactly. Don't give him a chance to prepare another explanation before we understand what we're looking at.""
Alexander reluctantly put the phone down.
Friedrich spread the documents across the table.
"The €65,000 loan was never paid into Alexander's personal account. It was directed to a company called DK Solutions.""
"DK?"" Alexander asked.
"Daniel Krüger.""
My son stared at the paper.
"Daniel told me he had never opened another company.""
Friedrich nodded.
"The company registration lists a different director, but the contact information and banking instructions connect it to him.""
Alexander walked toward the window.
Outside, the streetlights had begun illuminating the pavement.
He stood there with both hands in his pockets.
I knew that feeling.
The terrible moment when the world you thought you understood begins rearranging itself.
"Why would Daniel do this?"" he asked.
Friedrich answered carefully.
"I don't know.""
I looked at the documents.
"Did he receive the money?""
"Part of it.""
"How much?""
"Forty-two thousand euros was transferred to DK Solutions. The remaining amount went through two other accounts.""
Alexander turned.
"Where?""
Friedrich hesitated.
"One account belongs to a company connected to Ewald.""
I closed the folder.
It was becoming clear that these people had been moving money between businesses and personal accounts, using Alexander's name whenever they needed another layer of credibility.
But the question remained.
How had Daniel become involved?
I looked at my son.
"You need to speak to your bank and your employer. But don't confront Daniel until you've secured your records.""
Alexander nodded.
Then his phone rang.
Daniel's name appeared on the screen.
We all looked at it.
Alexander answered and put the call on speaker.
"Hello?""
"Alex! Finally. I've been trying to reach you.""
Daniel sounded cheerful.
Too cheerful.
"What's going on?""
Alexander glanced at Friedrich.
"I need to ask you something.""
"Sure, mate. What's up?""
"Have you heard of DK Solutions?""
There was a brief silence.
Then Daniel laughed.
"Where did you hear that name?""
Alexander's expression tightened.
"Why?""
"Just asking.""
"Are you connected to the company?""
Another pause.
"Alex, this isn't something we should discuss over the phone.""
Alexander looked at me.
"Then we can discuss it in person.""
Daniel sighed.
"Listen. Bianca told me you were having some family problems. I don't want to make things worse.""
Alexander's face went cold.
"What did Bianca tell you?""
"That your mother was struggling financially and that you were trying to arrange some support.""
I closed my eyes briefly.
There it was again.
The story that had followed me for three years.
Poor Helga.
Confused Helga.
Helga who needed someone to make decisions for her.
Daniel continued.
"Look, I only helped with some paperwork. I thought you knew.""
Alexander gripped the phone.
"I didn't.""
"Then you need to speak to Bianca.""
"I am speaking to you.""
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Alex, be careful. Your wife is under a lot of pressure.""
"Did you submit a loan application using my information?""
Silence.
Then Daniel answered.
"I'll come over tomorrow.""
"No. Answer me now.""
"Alex, I'm not discussing this on a phone call.""
The line went dead.
Alexander slowly lowered his phone.
I looked at Friedrich.
"Can the money be traced?""
"Some of it. But we need the original banking records.""
Friedrich gathered his papers.
"I've already advised you to contact a solicitor and the bank's fraud department. Don't sign anything else. Don't acknowledge any of these loans.""
Alexander nodded.
"Thank you.""
Friedrich looked at me.
"Helga, there's something I haven't told you.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What?""
He looked down at his hands.
"When Bianca first approached me about the property authorization, she told me you had already agreed to sell.""
"I never agreed.""
"I know that now.""
"Why didn't you contact me?""
He looked ashamed.
"Because I thought Alexander was handling it. I believed it was a private family arrangement.""
I stared at him.
"Friedrich, you know me.""
"I do.""
"You know I would never sell my home without asking questions.""
He lowered his head.
"You're right.""
I wanted to be angry.
Part of me was.
But I could also see that he was genuinely frightened by what he had discovered.
"Tell me one thing," I said.
"Why did you sign the witness statement?""
He looked at Alexander.
"Bianca told me that Alexander had signed the guarantee in my office.""
"That's impossible," Alexander said.
"I've never been in your office this year.""
Friedrich nodded.
"I know.""
He reached into his briefcase and removed a small photograph.
It showed a document on a desk.
Beside it was a glass of water and a silver pen.
I looked closely.
The background was familiar.
It was Friedrich's office.
"Where did this come from?""
"Bianca sent it to me as proof.""
Alexander leaned closer.
Then he pointed to the corner of the photograph.
"That's not my watch.""
Friedrich frowned.
"What?""
Alexander enlarged the image on his phone.
"The person signing the paper is wearing a watch with a black leather strap. Mine has a steel bracelet.""
We all stared at the photograph.
It was a small detail.
But it mattered.
Someone had staged a photograph to make it appear that Alexander had signed the document.
I looked at Friedrich.
"Did you see the person's face?""
"No. Only the hand.""
Alexander sat down.
"Whoever signed this knew my handwriting.""
Friedrich nodded.
"Apparently.""
Then he removed one final sheet from his briefcase.
"I found something else in the metadata attached to the photograph.""
He placed it on the table.
The image had been created using a device registered to a specific user.
The name was printed in the report.
*Lydia Weber.*
Alexander looked up.
"Bianca's mother?""
Friedrich nodded.
"Yes.""
I stared at the name.
Lydia had spent the afternoon sitting quietly beside her husband, pretending to know nothing.
She had watched Bianca take the envelope.
She had watched Ewald accept the money.
She had listened to every accusation.
And now we had evidence connecting her device to a staged photograph of my son's signature.
I looked at Alexander.
"Your wife's family has been working together.""
He didn't answer.
His phone vibrated again.
This time, it was a message from Daniel.
We need to meet before Bianca's father makes another move. There's something you don't know about your marriage.
Alexander read it twice.
May you like
Then another message arrived.
And whatever you do, don't tell Bianca I contacted you.
