“He had many friends.”

“‘Ein bisschen Kummel,’” she said. “‘A little caraway goes with everything.’”

Felix did not tell her he had never heard that one before. He smiled and he followed her through to a small room with a table and a phone, and a small window that looked out over the schoolyard.

It was Gebhart.

“You’re just about finished your arduous duties there?”

“I am.”

“Okay. Me I’m going to lunch but I wanted to get in touch with you before I left. It’s so as you can prepare yourself. A two o’clock meeting, with you involved.”

“Just me? What for?”

“It’s the KD from Graz, some of the ones who came out to the site yesterday.”

“Himmelfarbs?”

“You remember them?”

“A weird-looking guy with shades, who said nothing. A big guy, moustache, Speckbauer?”

“Well, maybe you can be a real cop, with recall like that. They he, Speckbauer wants to talk to you. So the minute you get back, get your notes, get a printout and get ready. I say you should buy a sandwich and do your reading over lunch. You don’t want to look stupid, okay?”

Felix thought about the big mittagessen that Gebi favoured, his favourite soup and pork and potatoes in a small stube at the back of the butcher’s. It was always full of farmers and older men.

“What about you?”

“What about me? I told you, I’m hungry.”

“No. I meant the interview.”

“Oh, I talked to them already. No big deal. But they didn’t want to take you away from the school thing.”

“On my own, these two guys?”

“Was gibt? What’s the issue here? You think they’re going to beat you up, Mr. Prime Suspect?”

“But I didn’t do much, Gebi. Nor did you. And we talked to them yesterday up at Himmelfarbs’, didn’t we?”

“Well, burli, you may be a bit puzzled. So am I. They seem quite keen to talk to you. Don’t forget you and Hansi were together. This Speckbauer, he’s quite the character. I checked him out.