Curiosity is a dangerous thing

[Stoat]

Anja was furious. Was this policeman actually patronising her? She was about to launch into a tirade when the policeman reached into his pocket and pulled out a card, which he handed to her.

'€œFraulein,'€ he started, his voice respectful. She clapped her mouth closed just before she started swearing at him, '€œhere is my card. You must be frightened and weary. We do not need to question you now. Please allow me the priviledge of escorting you home. We shall proceed to questions only when you are ready. I am Detektiv Peter Maynard, and you are safe with me.'€

Taken aback at his courteous manner, and more than a little flattered, she merely nodded in response. Why couldn'€™t Joerg ever have spoken to her in such a way? All she'€™d ever been told by him was that she was naiive, easily duped by the rhetoric of the state. And who was it that was about to be hauled off to jail? Aiming a spiteful kick at Joerg'€™s shins she spoke.

'€œI would be delighted to accept, Detektiv. But you are injured. We must bind that wound before you attempt to go anywhere. Do you carry a first aid kit?'€ She moved close to Maynard and started to pull his jacket from his shoulders. He grinned at Schumann as he let her remove his jacket. Schumann laughed and reached into his pack, pulling out a small kit which he handed to the now bustling Anja.

With Maynard'€™s arm bandaged, she allowed him to take her home. He spoke at length of the Federal Polizei, and what it meant to him. She basked in the comforting sound of his voice, his soft-spoken confidence filling her with dreams of places far away from the insular existence she knew in Weissbach.

When Detektiv Maynard finally left her several hours later, her statement had been taken, and he knew that the RFP would soon get a new recruit who shone with potential.

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My Stories