A west side short story IX
March 21st, 1984
Evan and Emma exhaustively exhausted the car's fuel, spending the entire day aimlessly driving around town, desperately searching for Walter. They even dared to venture into dubious areas, risking their safety in hopes of catching a mere glimpse of him. As night descended, their efforts proved futile, and they returned home, feeling defeated.
Upon entering the house, their attention was immediately drawn to faint whispers emanating from the living room, the solitary space illuminated by a flickering light. Intrigued, they approached the source and discovered Hans, Áurea, Klaus, Niels, Edgar, and Loise gathered, forming a circle on the sofa and stools, absorbed in a lively and animated conversation.
"Did you find him?" Hans inquired; his gaze fixed on them while Emma took a seat beside Áurea.
Evan shook his head negatively and returned Niels his car keys before settling onto a stool.
"Don't worry, Emma! He'll resurface, mark my words," Hans assured.
"Isn't that what he said himself? 'This isn't over,'" Áurea interjected.
"Yeah! And we'll help you in finding your brother, even if his punch still stings," Edgard remarked, massaging his stomach.
"Thank you, guys," Emma expressed, resting her head on Áurea's shoulder.
"And what about you? How did you spend your day? And what's with the atmosphere?" Evan queried, gesturing towards the dimmed lights. "And where is everyone else?"
"Where is everyone else... That's what explains the ambiance," Niels stated.
"What?" Emma furrowed her brow, seeking clarification.
"Everyone except us has vanished!" Loise revealed.
"What do you mean by 'vanished'?" Emma inquired.
"Emma... They departed early this morning while you were all asleep. I caught them sneaking their luggage into the van... They claimed that we didn't meet their expectations and that it was for the best if we gave up and returned home," Hans explained.
"What?! Why didn't you come upstairs and wake me up?" Emma demanded, her anger evident.
"It happened so quickly! They drove off just seconds later! I was taken aback myself; their decision was final, and there was nothing I could have done!" Hans retorted, his temper flaring.
"Nothing you could have done? When it comes to taking out your dick at the sight of an inch of exposed skin, you manage to find something to do, but now you claim to have been too shocked to figure out something?" Emma shouted, rising to her feet, her face flushed with anger.
"Screw you, Emma! You weren't there! And you think you're blameless? All you ever think about is screwing your boyfriend and MY girlfriend... Oh, and whining about your petty Himmler wannabe issues, while we do all the work," Hans shot back, standing up to face her.
Upon his reply, Emma landed a punch on his face, triggering a fight that erupted in the living room. The force of the altercation caused the coffee table to break as Hans fell onto it. Everyone quickly intervened to separate them. Evan and Niels successfully grabbed Ingrid and pulled her away from Hans, who found himself pinned to the floor by Edgar, Klaus, and Áurea. Meanwhile, Loise, on the verge of tears, hopped around while clutching her injured foot.
"I'M CALM!... EVAN, I TOLD YOU I'M CALM! LET GO OF ME!" Emma's voice reverberated with frustration as she shouted at him. Eventually, she relented and sank into the couch, her gaze fixated on Hans with an intense fury.
Evan's reflection materialized on the window's glass, emitting a low whistle before delivering its unsolicited opinion with a tone of disappointment, "Evan, shouldn't a true man fight for his girlfriend?"
After assuring Edgar that the matter was resolved, Hans reclined on an armchair, deliberately distancing himself from Emma. To further ensure his stillness, Áurea sat on the armrest, her muscular legs resting across Hans's lap, preventing him from rising once more.
"Loise, are you alright?" Niles inquired as he observed Loise removing her shoe to massage her foot.
"I think so," Loise replied.
"Do you see what you did?" Niles directed his question at Ingrid and Daniel.
"Actually, it was you, Niles. You accidentally stepped on me while trying to grab Emma," Loise corrected.
"My apologies, then. Emma, what was that?" Niles turned his attention to Emma.
"Me? Did you hear what he said to me?" Emma retorted.
"Yes, and he spoke the truth! You've been distant from the group for days now! And she's right about you too, Hans! Both of you are in the wrong!" Niles asserted.
"Niles is right, but um...am I the only one feeling completely screwed over here?" Edgar interjected.
"Dude, don't you remember?" Hans inquired.
"I mean figuratively, morron!" Edgar responded with a sigh.
"What do you mean, Edgar?" Loise inquired.
"Well, we spent weeks doing chores, meditating, listening to complete bullshit... Yeah, it's bullshit, Emma, deal with it. But what did we actually gain from it? What have we accomplished since we arrived here?"
"Hey, Evan! It's me again, sorry to bother you, but do YOU remember why you're here or why you were in Hamburg in the first place? DO YOU REMEMBER?" his reflection shouted at him from the window he tried his best to avoid looking at.
"Evan, are you okay?" Áurea asked.
"Yeah, why?" Evan asked.
"You've been staring out the window since we sat down... Is there someone out there?" Áurea asked.
"Oh, no! I just zoned out, sorry!" Evan said.
"Guys... Maybe it's because I'm not high right now, but didn't we come here to join other groups and protest against war and nuclear weapons?" Klaus asked.
"Did we? What war?" Evan whispered to himself.
"What the hell!" Niels said slowly, rubbing his forehead, "Guys... How did you hear about this house and... The master?"
"From you!" Klaus said.
"What? No! You told me about him; I'd never heard about him before I met you at that party!" Niels said to him.
"No! You're wrong, dude!" Klaus said.
"You're high all the time. How can you be so sure?" Niels said.
"The first time I heard about this place was during yoga... Another girl told me about the program..." Loise said.
"What program?" Klaus asked.
"What about you, Áurea? Edgard? Hans?" Niels asked.
"I had no idea this man existed until I came here... I thought this house was just a place to stay in exchange for participating in the activities," Hans said. "I only followed my girlfriend."
"I heard about him from the meetings we used to attend in Hamburg," Áurea said.
"Me too!" Edgard said.
"Rauch..." Emma said.
"What?" Hans asked.
"He told me about this place... It was supposed to be a headquarters where we could meet with other groups and coordinate the protests," Emma said. "Rauch... He was here when we arrived! He welcomed us... Then we never saw him again!"
"And the other groups never showed up, did they? I mean... Remember when the police attacked us in Munster? Do you guys think they gave up? Because I'm sure I haven't seen anyone arrive after us!" Áurea said.
"Or maybe the police were looking for someone else? What do you think about it, EVAN?" the reflection asked. "There was also another kind of police if I recall correctly."
The group fell silent for a moment before Edgar broke the silence. "Oh my god! Oh my god! OH MY GOD!... Your brother was right! This is a cult! And we're too foolish to realize!"
"We've been tricked into coming here!" Loise said, her eyes wide open.
"No! Wait!" Emma said, standing up. "Let's calm down for a second and use our brains, okay?"
"Alright..." Edgard said, sitting back down.
"We've all been friends for four years, right? We can trust each other, and whatever we say in this room stays here, agreed?" Áurea asked.
"Has anyone been forced into doing anything?" Emma asked.
"Like what?" Áurea inquired.
"You know what I mean," Emma clarified.
"Oh... No!" Áurea responded.
"I'd kill anyone who would hurt her!" Hans declared.
"And what about the rest of you?" Emma asked the others.
"No... I've only had a few rounds with Hans, no one else," Edgar admitted.
"Niels and I... It was before you started dating her, Evan. We haven't done anything since then!" Klaus explained to Evan.
"I know... I saw you that morning in bed," Evan acknowledged.
"Alright... Evan and I are exclusive," Emma confirmed.
"Are you?" Áurea raised an eyebrow. "Because I didn't get that impression when your head was between my legs."
"Or when he jerked off on me," Hans chimed in, exchanging a smirk with Áurea.
"Okay! That was an accident! I apologized for it! And it was your girlfriend's fault!" Evan defended himself.
"Evan... They're just teasing you," Emma reassured him.
"Are you all sleeping with each other?" Loise asked, surprised.
"Well... Yeah! Aren't you?" Klaus questioned her.
"No!" Loise firmly denied.
"What do you do at night?" Emma probed.
"I go to bed and sleep until morning!" Loise replied.
"Aww, she's so innocent!" Áurea remarked.
"Alright... Let's stay focused... What about the money? Has anyone had any money taken from them?" Emma asked, and everyone answered no.
"So... What the hell did they want us here for?" Klaus pondered. "I mean, did they just want us to clean, cook, do laundry, and listen to their guy?"
"I don't know..." Emma admitted.
They sat in silence for a while until Klaus broke it, saying, "So, what do we do now? Are we even allowed to stay here? Did they mention anything else, Hans?"
"No, they didn't," Hans replied.
"Screw them! I'm staying here! I don't even have enough money for a train ticket back home!" Edgar declared.
"Me neither! And... I ran out of weed this morning!" Klaus added.
"You'll survive!" Edgar reassured him.
"Listen, everyone... How about we call it a day and sleep on it?" Emma suggested.
"She's right... To be honest, I can't think of anything smart to say," Loise said before standing up, waving at them, and heading upstairs. Klaus, Edgar, and Niels nodded in agreement and followed her, leaving Evan, Emma, Áurea, and Hans alone in the living room.
Hans waited for a moment to ensure that the others were definitely in their rooms before bringing up his question. "Did you guys never suspect that this might happen?" he asked.
"How could we?" Emma responded.
"I don't know... We haven't seen the old man for the past two weeks. The number of his followers has decreased by half, and those who remained stopped assigning us tasks and started spending most of their time away," Hans explained.
"He's right," Áurea chimed in.
"Maybe they didn't notice anything!" Hans suggested.
"Where are you going with this, Hans?" Emma inquired.
"Nowhere... I'm just wondering if you guys haven't been out together for a while now," Hans said, shrugging.
"What this fool is trying to say is that the two of you make a good couple," Áurea interjected.
"Thank you!" Emma responded, placing her hand on Evan's.
Áurea responded with a smile, then gracefully rose from Hans's lap and briefly left the room. She returned moments later, carrying a bag of frozen vegetables, which she casually tossed to her boyfriend. He applied it to his head, soothing the spot where Emma had previously struck him. With a gentle movement, Áurea settled herself on the couch, squeezing herself between Evan and Emma.
"However, wouldn't it be a shame if your exclusivity were to become non-negotiable after all the incredible moments we've shared?" Áurea gently whispered into Emma's ear, her lips planting soft kisses on her neck.
"Erm... Do you want me to excuse myself while you flirt with my girlfriend?" Evan quipped, raising an eyebrow in jest.
"No, stay!" Áurea exclaimed, her voice filled with desire, as Emma pressed her against the back of the sofa. Emma straddled her, and their lips met in a passionate and intense kiss, accompanied by the caress of Emma's hand on Áurea's breast. Breaking the kiss, Emma licked Áurea's top lip seductively and turned her head towards Evan, engaging him in a passionate kiss, while leaving her neck tantalizingly close to Áurea's lips.
"How about we continue this upstairs?" Emma suggested, her voice filled with anticipation.
"Gladly!" Áurea responded eagerly, attempting to steal Emma's lips from Evan.
"Are you in?" Emma asked, seeking confirmation from Evan.
Evan nodded his consent, as Emma took their hands and swiftly pulled them to their feet. With a mischievous giggle shared between Emma and Áurea, they hurriedly made their way upstairs, leaving Hans and Evan alone in the living room, their faces filled with embarrassment and uncertainty.
"Are you truly okay with this? Won't you regret it in the morning?" Hans asked.
"I want to give it a try, but... my ass is off-limit," Evan clarified.
"Same here," Hans responded.
Hesitating for a moment, Hans stepped closer to Evan and initiated a kiss. Although his lips were not as soft as Emma's, the kiss was nonetheless pleasurable.
"Alright then... shall we join them upstairs?" Evan suggested, breaking the kiss.
"Yes, before my cock explodes in my pants," Hans confessed with a sense of urgency.
They discovered their girlfriends, completely nude, with discarded clothing scattered across the floor. The room was filled with the passionate sight of their bodies intertwined in a tight embrace. On the bed, the girls rolled and writhed, lost in a fiery moment of intimacy. Emma's lips traced a tantalizing path along Áurea's caramel-toned skin, leaving a trail of electrifying sensations in their wake.
Áurea was the first to spot their arrival. She greeted them with a smile, urging them to join her quickly and free her from Emma's grasp. Evan and Hans exchanged a swift glance, and Evan closed the door behind them before they both hurriedly undressed. Approaching the bed, Hans seized Emma by the ankles and pulled her away from Áurea, gently turning the blonde onto her back. He then knelt on the floor at the edge of the bed, showering her inner thighs with kisses. Emma's smile widened as Evan leaned in, planting a kiss on her lips. Her hand instinctively entwined in Hans's hair, guiding him towards a more sensitive area.
As Áurea's toe playfully grazed Evan's ear, he swiftly caught hold of her ankle, bestowing a tender kiss upon her foot. With delicate nibbles, he traced a path along her calf, gradually moving his lips down her leg until his head found its place between her finely sculpted thighs.
In stark contrast to Emma's tomboyish demeanor, evident in her short hair and choice of attire, Áurea was accustomed to wearing loose-fitting garments. It was the first occasion when Evan beheld her in complete nudity, revealing her enticing curves and ample bosom. Her light brown eyes, brimming with desire, locked onto his gaze, issuing a provocative challenge.
Hans's skilled tongue coaxed even louder moans from Emma, the sheer pleasure she experienced evident upon her visage. Áurea extended her hand towards Evan, her fingers stroking his hair, before tenderly drawing him closer on top of her, their bodies intertwining with his chest pressed against her generous breasts. Enveloping her arms around his neck, she bestowed upon him a gentle kiss.
"Don't think about her..." she whispered softly into his ear. "Think about the four of us," she added, her words punctuated by another passionate kiss.
Emma's moans escaped from her lips as she turned her head towards him, playfully muffling them by biting his buttocks. Her hand tightly gripped Hans's hair, commanding his obedience. Evan's lips glided over Áurea's breasts, showering her with tender kisses, before continuing their journey to the exact spot her hands excitedly guided him towards. Evan couldn't discern whether it was his girlfriend's moans beside him or the jealousy coursing through him as he witnessed her pleasure in the hands of another man, but he persisted with his tongue until Áurea reached her orgasm, her back arching suddenly, her hand gripping Evan's hair tightly.
Evan licked his lips, locking eyes with Áurea, whose heavy breaths intertwined with the strokes of her hand through his hair. A low growl escaped his throat as Emma's tongue teasingly caressed his balls, obtaining a pleasurable response. Evan playfully squeezed her breast, t as Hans rose to his feet, his face flushed.
"Still alive?" Evan asked him, making Emma chuckle.
Hans responded with a nod, swiftly putting on a condom before tossing one to Evan, as he joined them on the bed. Pulling Áurea towards him, he engaged in a passionate kiss, reciprocated by Áurea's smiling lips. Evan's breath quickened in anticipation as Emma seized Hans, pushing him onto his back, and confidently straddled him.
Áurea replicated the action with Evan, skillfully unrolling the condom onto his shaft before embracing its fullness within herself. Biting her lower lip, Áurea's hands gripped Evan's chest as she initiated a sensual movement, gradually swaying her hips.
Evan's hands instinctively found their way to Áurea's breasts that spill generously between his fingers, his gaze momentarily shifting to Emma, who already had Hans under her spell. Emma's hips moved fervently upon him, evoking growls of pleasure, while her intense gaze bore down on him. In stark contrast, Áurea moved with graceful deliberation, allowing the pleasure to gradually build. Hans's back pressed against the mattress, unable to reach Emma's lips, he turned his head towards Evan and engaged in a passionate kiss. Their tongues danced in playful harmony until Evan sensed Áurea quickening her pace.
Consumed by an overwhelming wave of desire, Evan seized Áurea, swiftly switching positions to claim dominance atop her. He turned his head, briefly capturing Emma's lips in a fleeting kiss before his hands embarked on a tantalizing exploration of Áurea's body. He grabbed firmly her waist, and he intensified his thrusts, delving deeper within her, coaxing forth a resounding moan of bliss. Ignited by an intense heat, their connection intensified, compelling Evan to increase the tempo of his thrusts. Entranced by Áurea's captivating beauty and the rhythmic bounce of her breasts, his senses surrendered to the symphony of her moans until the crescendo of pleasure brought them to their climax.
Evan gradually slowed down the tempo, easing himself to nestle against her, resting his head upon her soaked breast. He observed Emma and Hans reaching their climax as well. As his eyelids slowly closed, Evan surrendered to the embrace of sleep, comforted by the gentle caress of Áurea's fingers tracing patterns along his back and the rhythmic cadence of her heartbeat.
March 22, 1984:
As morning arrived, Evan's eyes gradually fluttered open, greeted by the gentle touch of sunlight upon his back. Lifting his head from Áurea's breast, he noticed her stirring from slumber, stretching in bed, emitting a contented yawn.
"Sorry, I spent the entire night drooling on your chest," Evan said, sitting on the edge of the bed in front of the window.
"I don't mind. Did you sleep well?" Áurea asked him, smiling, as Emma also emerged from her slumber.
"It was very comfortable," Evan replied.
"Hans, wake up!" Áurea said, poking Hans's shoulder. "Emma, I think you broke my boyfriend."
"Wake up!" Emma ordered, slapping Hans's forehead. He startled, looking around him.
"What? What's going on?" he asked, frightened.
"Nothing, just wake up," Emma said.
"Oh, of course! It's morning, we have to wake up! Or..." he said, grabbing her ass.
"Or nothing! I'll freshen up, and you are coming with me!" Emma said before taking Áurea's wrist and dragging her to the bathroom with her.
Hans sulked and turned to Evan; his disappointment evident in his voice. "This isn't the kind of awakening I was hoping for."
Evan closed his eyes and let out a tired yawn before responding, his tone relaxed. "You'll be fine," he said, massaging his neck and savoring the warmth of the sun on his face.
Then, Evan felt Hans settle behind him, his torso leaning against Evan's back, and his chin coming to rest on Evan's shoulder.
"So, do you have any regrets from last night?" Hans asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
"No, not at all. Quite the opposite," Evan replied, his tone confident.
Hans leaned in closer, planting kisses on Evan's neck while his hands playfully teased Evan's nipples. "And what about me and Emma?" Hans inquired.
Evan smirked, enjoying the moment. "You mean how she managed to knock you off? Well, wasn't I doing the same with your girlfriend?" he remarked before emitting a low growl when Hans's hand gripped his erection. Evan turned his head, instinctively seeking Hans's lips, as Hans's hand skillfully began stroking him up and down.
He felt the warmth of their breaths mingling together. Evan groaned as he leaned back against Hans, completely losing himself in the act as he felt the other man's hardness pressing against his back. They didn't speak another word as Hans's hand pleasured him, the urgency building between them until they both came simultaneously.
Later, everyone reconvened in the living room, seated around the table. "So, have you all come up with a solution?" Niels asked, sharing a knowing glance with Klaus and Edgar, who were struggling to hold back their laughter.
"No," Emma responded plainly.
"That's what we gathered," Loise chimed in, unable to contain her giggles.
Áurea interjected, her tone tinged with exasperation. "Once you're done acting like children, we can discuss what to do before the police arrive and evict us."
At that moment, someone rang the doorbell, and Loise glanced out the window, exclaiming, "There's a man out there."
"It must have been him who rang the bell," Edgar deduced.
"Are you certain?" Loise inquired.
"I'll find out what he wants," Klaus volunteered, leaving the living room. Within a few seconds, they heard the door open, and Klaus greeted the visitor, saying, "Can I help you?"
"Hello, I'm Inspector Reinecker," the man introduced himself.
"The police? You guys are quick," Klaus remarked.
"Did you call the police?" Reinecker inquired.
"No... What do you want?" Klaus asked.
"I'm looking for Emma Zimmer. Is she here?" Reinecker questioned, prompting Emma to rise from the couch and approach the door.
"Thank you, Klaus. I'm Emma. What do you want from me?" she asked.
"I'm here to return your wallet," Reinecker responded, extending it to Emma.
"Oh... Thank you! I searched everywhere for it and was just about to report it as lost," Emma expressed her gratitude.
"I'm glad I could help. Would you like to know where it was found?" Reinecker inquired.
"I believe I lost it downtown," Emma replied, silently hoping that Walter had discarded it in the street after taking the money.
"No, we found it among your brother's personal belongings when he was arrested last night for assault. He spent the night in custody, but we released him this morning," Reinecker revealed. "Have a good day, Miss Zimmer."
"Wait! You just released him and let him go free? Just like that? Where is he now?" Emma interjected, rushing down the stairs to block the man's path before he could exit the garden.
"The victim chose not to press charges," Reinecker explained.
"Alright, but where is he now?" Emma persisted. "You must have asked him for his address!"
"No complaint was filed, so we had no reason to inquire," Reinecker responded, glancing at the house. "What are you doing here? This isn't the address on your ID card, and you also possess a student ID from the University of Hamburg. Why aren't you there?"
"Are we being accused of trespassing or is skipping class illegal?" Emma challenged.
"When you're ready to have a mature conversation for the sake of your own best interests and your brother's, give me a call. Until then, have a good day," Reinecker stated coldly, handing her an envelope. He cast one last glance at the house before getting into his car. Emma watched as the car drove away, then returned to join the others in the living room, taking a seat beside Evan on the couch.
"What's in the envelope?" Evan inquired.
"We'll find out soon enough," Emma replied, opening the envelope and emptying its contents onto the coffee table. A photograph and a small business card fell out. The photograph depicted Walter and two other men, whom Evan recognized as part of the group he had escaped from the other day, getting into a black car.
"Walter got arrested last night, and I think the policeman wants to assist us," Emma stated, studying the photo before looking up at the others. "Do you think I should call him?"
"No," Klaus responded firmly.
"Why not?" Emma inquired.
"Because it's not your fault! Your brother is twenty years old, not ten! Not only is he a jerk and a racist, but he's also violent!" Klaus exclaimed.
"Klaus is right! Emma, for days now, we've watched you torment yourself over him, when he doesn't care about you. He only remembers you when he wants to steal or hurt you!" Loise chimed in.
"If your brother genuinely wants to change and leave all this behind, don't turn your back on him. We'll support him, but he has to make the first move. Don't go chasing after him. He's manipulating you," Niles advised.
"Emma... I believe you've done enough. It's time to think about yourself, sweetie," Áurea comforted her, placing an arm around Emma's shoulders.
"Evan, what do you think?" Emma turned to him.
"I'll support whatever decision you make, but ultimately, it's up to you," Evan replied.
"And you, Hans? What's your take on this?" Emma asked.
"I agree with Áurea," Hans replied.
Emma let out a sigh and then turned to Niels. "What about you? What will you do?" she questioned.
"My cousin is cool. He can send us some money, enough for us to return to Hamburg and repay him when we can. Klaus, Edgar, and Loise are willing to come with me... Of course, you are welcome to join us," Niels offered.
"Thank you, Niels, but I need to stay here for a while," Emma responded.
"Hans and I will stay with her," Áurea stated firmly.
"We'll leave after lunch, just in case you change your mind. And if you need help, you can always give us a call," Loise added.
"Thank you, Loise," Emma expressed her gratitude.
Niels and Klaus stood up. "I need to go to town. Anyone wants to tag along?" Niels asked.
"Yes, I'll join you. I could use some fresh air," Áurea replied.
"Me too. Are you coming?" Emma turned to Evan, who shook his head.
"I'm going to head upstairs and get my backpack ready," Loise announced.
Two hours after lunch, Niels and Klaus loaded up Niels' car. After bidding their farewells, the engine roared to life, and within seconds, the car disappeared around the corner, leaving behind the remaining four of them who had chosen to stay, seated on the front steps.
"It's sad... really sad. Do you remember the day we arrived and the train journey?" Áurea reminisced.
"Yeah, we got roughed up, but we had a blast!" Hans remarked.
"We did... but what I meant was how motivated and happy we were back then," Áurea clarified.
"Aren't we still happy? We have no reason not to be, after all. We're all together, safe and sound. That's what truly matters. We placed our trust in the wrong people out of naivety, but this experience will serve as a valuable lesson!" Emma asserted confidently.
"Emma's right! It could have been much worse, and honestly... we also shared some really great times together, didn't we?" Hans acknowledged.
"From this point forward, only the future matters," Evan said.
As evening fell, Inspector Reinecker found himself alone in his office, attempting in vain to decipher the workings of the new IBM computers that had been delivered earlier that afternoon. His eyes shifted repeatedly between the instruction manual and the machine itself, but the complexities puzzled him. Frustrated, he abandoned his futile efforts and resorted to a more primitive, universal diversion—he began crumpling paper into balls and aiming them at the small trash can tucked away in the corner of the room. Despite his best attempts, the balls consistently missed their mark, adding to his growing exasperation.
Just as Reinecker was about to abandon his impromptu paper-ball game, a knock echoed through the office, interrupting the otherwise silent room.
Reinecker quickly straightened in his chair, swiftly sweeping away the paper balls cluttering his desk. He cleared his throat and said, "Come in."
A dark-haired man entered the room, offering a polite smile as he shook Reinecker's hand. "Good evening, Inspector. I'm Benjamin Acker from the GSG 9. I apologize for intruding at this late hour, but I just arrived in Bonn and preferred not to wait until tomorrow for this conversation."
"The GSG 9," Reinecker repeated, furrowing his brow.
"Yes, that's correct," Acker replied with a formal nod. "May I take a seat?"
Reinecker gestured to the chair opposite him. "Of course. What brings you here?"
"Him," Acker said, nodding towards the wanted poster pinned to the door. "We believe he's in the vicinity and about to take action very soon."
"Sirius Black? Why would he be here in Bonn?" Reinecker asked, clearly taken aback.
"We've been waiting and searching for him in Hamburg for three months. To be honest, we even began to doubt his very existence until our unit received a call claiming that he's hiding here in Bonn. So, here I am."
"Are you certain this isn't some kind of joke or an attempt to..." Reinecker started to say, but Acker finished his sentence.
"...divert our attention away from Hamburg?"
"You must have considered that possibility," Reinecker acknowledged.
"The tip came through an official channel. With all due respect, Inspector, we are not an ordinary police station but the West German counter-terrorism unit. You won't find our office numbers in a phone book, so when our phones ring, we take whoever is on the other end very seriously, even if they choose to remain anonymous," Acker explained just as the phone on Reinecker's desk began ringing loudly.
Reinecker picked up the phone and answered, "Inspector Reinecker speaking."
"Good evening, Inspector. I presume both you and your guest are eager to know exactly where Sirius Black is hiding."
