Chapter 5 - THE STORY BEHIND THE BELT
Beate sat silently.
The room seemed colder than before.
“The belt wasn't Gero's idea.”
She looked at me.
“Does that make him innocent?”
“No.”
Her answer came immediately.
Sarah nodded.
“Correct.”
We didn't go into the interview room.
Instead, Sarah recorded Gero's statement from behind the glass.
Gero looked tired.
For the first time, he looked like a man who understood that consequences existed beyond the walls of his house.
Sarah asked:
“Who instructed you to frighten Beate?”
Gero stared at the table.
“Rüdiger.”
“Why?”
“Because he wanted Falkenhof.”
“Why?”
“He had debts.”
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“Did you agree to help him?”
Gero swallowed.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I owed him too.”
That answer explained the financial pressure.
It did not explain the violence.
Sarah continued.
“Why fifty strikes?”
Gero closed his eyes.
“Rüdiger told me to make her remember.”
“Remember what?”
“That she couldn't resist.”
My daughter looked sick.
Sarah stopped the interview.
“That is enough for today.”
Gero asked one final question.
“Is Beate safe?”
Sarah looked at him.
“She is no longer living with you.”
He nodded.
Then she left.
Beate sat with her hands over her belly.
I was ready to hate Gero forever.
Then I realized something.
Understanding the motive was not forgiveness.
It was simply understanding.
That mattered.
Because my daughter had spent eighteen months believing she had somehow caused his behavior.
Now we knew the truth.
He chose it.
He chose fear.
He chose control.
He chose silence.
Even when someone else encouraged him.
Sarah brought us another file.
“Clara Keller wants to speak.”
Beate looked uncertain.
“Why?”
“She says she can explain the financial side.”
We agreed to listen by video.
Clara appeared on the screen.
She looked exhausted.
“I should have called someone.”
Beate stared at her.
“Yes.”
“I was afraid.”
“I know.”
Clara swallowed.
“Rüdiger threatened me too.”
“Then why stay?”
“Because he had my brother's debts.”
She explained that Rüdiger had built a network of loans using relatives' names.
Gero had become trapped when he took money to cover business losses.
The men had convinced themselves they were protecting each other.
Eventually, they were protecting a system.
Clara had quietly paid Beate's medical expenses because she knew no one else would.
She had also copied records.
“Why?”
“Because someday I hoped someone would stop them.”
She sent the records to Sarah.
Bank transfers.
Property documents.
Messages.
The messages were disturbing.
Rüdiger had written:
Keep her frightened.
Then:
No visible marks on the face.
Beate closed her eyes.
Those words made the intent unmistakable.
The belt had been chosen deliberately.
Not because Gero was out of control.
Because someone wanted the violence hidden.
Sarah looked at Beate.
“This is important evidence.”
Beate nodded.
Then she asked:
“Will he go to prison?”
“That depends on the charges and the court.”
Beate looked at me.
“What if I don't want revenge?”
“You don't have to.”
“I just want him nowhere near my child.”
“You can ask for that protection.”
She nodded.
For the first time, she seemed calmer.
Then Patrizia called.
Her voice was urgent.
“Thomas?”
“Yes?”
“Beate needs to come in.”
“What happened?”
“Her blood pressure is elevated.”
Beate stood.
A pain crossed her face.
She put one hand under her belly.
“Papa.”
I moved toward her.
“I've got you.”
We went to the hospital.
Patrizia examined her.
“The baby's heart rate is stable.”
I exhaled.
“But you're going to stay here tonight.”
Beate nodded.
She lay back.
A nurse placed the tiny knitted blanket from her mother beside the bed.
The embroidered star rested near her hand.
Then suddenly Beate's expression changed.
“Papa.”
“What?”
“My mother's watch.”
I touched my pocket.
I had been carrying it since we found it.
She looked at me.
“I gave that to Gero once.”
I froze.
“When?”
“Before we married.”
“Why?”
“He said he wanted something of hers.”
I stared at the watch.
“Did he ever give it back?”
“No.”
My blood went cold.
Sarah had confiscated a watch from Gero's belongings.
The evidence report had described it as a gold wristwatch.
I looked at Beate.
“That may be your mother's watch.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
“It may be.”
Sarah examined it the next morning.
The serial number matched.
It had belonged to Beate's mother.
But the inside of the case held something none of us expected.
A handwritten note.
Not from her mother.
From Rüdiger.
Three words.
Tomorrow. Transfer Falkenhof.
Sarah stared at the note.
May you like
Then looked at me.
“Mr. Brand, we need to talk.”
