Page 35 of Nothing Watching

That had been when Iris Davies was killed, after leaving the university, and that might be the most important alibi of all.

“I was at a literature event at the university,” Dietrich said, breathing out a sigh of relief. “I know that Iris Davies, one of the murder victims, was there and I even had a short discussion with her. But when she left, I was still busy, and I can prove it. I was in a late meeting with the department head and the university bursar, wrapping up the plans for the next academic year. Our meeting was recorded and there are minutes available. I only left the university at about midnight, and I then took the train home, traveling three stops with the department head himself.”

That was a shock to Juliette. She hadn’t thought he would have a confirmable alibi, but now it was sounding as if he did. If he’d remained at the university with and then walked to the U-Bahn with a witness, he could not have killed Iris and he was therefore not their killer.

“We’ll need to verify your alibi,” she said. “We’ll hand it over to the police, and in the meantime, you’ll be remanded in custody, pending further investigation into your conduct with Ms. Gerber.”

Dietrich’s face twisted with rage. “You can’t do this! I have rights!”

“And so did the women you assaulted and threatened,” Juliette said, standing up. “You’ll have your day in court. And we’ll make sure justice is served.”

She walked out with Wyatt, feeling enraged that a man who was guilty of assault could still be so aggressive and defensive and thoroughly unpleasant. But worse still, he wasn’t the killer. This had been a dead end.

But although a dead end, perhaps she’d learned something important. Her mind was ticking over as she walked to the police station’s back office, where Sierra was waiting.

“I’ve been through the list that the university sent us,” Sierra said. “Nobody else who works there has had any charges against them, according to this database. So we need to try another angle.”

“I think I might have one,” she said slowly.

Perhaps it was dealing with this recent assault that had given Juliette the mental lead she needed to take this further.

Or perhaps it went even deeper than that. Perhaps it was the thoughts of her father, which were constantly simmering in the back of her mind now that they were in Germany again. At any rate, she now had a new insight.

“What is it?” Wyatt asked, his lean face looking intent.

“I think we need to explore the US link more intensively,” she said. “Why don’t we look for someone who got into trouble in our country, and who fled the US. Someone who might be protected here, and hiding away. Maybe he’s taking his spree further, and targeting our country’s citizens out of revenge.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

Juliette saw both Sierra and Wyatt turn to look at her, and clearly the cogs in their minds were turning fast, just as her own had. They might have hit a dead end with Dietrich, but it didn’t mean they were out of options. They just needed to look in a different direction.

“There’s extradition treaties in place with Germany,” Wyatt said, in a tone that Juliette guessed was cautioning them all not to get too excited, too quickly.

“Perhaps the individual fled before the charges could be proven,” Juliette countered. “Or perhaps they are a diplomat, someone who has immunity and is using it to avoid being extradited.”

“Now there’s an idea,” Wyatt said thoughtfully. “A diplomat? Someone with a background in the States and a grudge to pursue, who thinks he’s untouchable because of his status?”

Sierra leaned forward, her eyes shining with excitement. “We could look into the records, see if there’s anyone who was in trouble in the States, and moved, or fled, at the right time.”

Juliette nodded. “Exactly. We need to start pulling some strings, seeing if we can access any information about diplomats who are here under questionable circumstances.”

Wyatt picked up his phone. “Ebury can probably give us those answers quickest. And with any luck, he hasn’t gone to sleep yet.” He made a rueful face as he scrolled through to get his number.

Juliette wasn’t sure if Ebury would manage to catch any shut-eye tonight, with the fallout from the case causing such serious waves in both countries. At any rate, when Wyatt dialed his number, Ebury answered after two rings, sounding very wide awake.

“We have a theory and need a favor,” Wyatt said quickly.

“Whatever I can do, let me know,” Ebury replied.

He definitely had not slept, Juliette decided. She doubted he was even home. Most likely, he was going to be pulling an all-nighter to deal with this case. Ebury was a night owl, who would often spend the entire night in his office at pressured times, seemingly able to cope the following day after a twenty-minute doze on the couch next to his desk.

“We need access to records of any people who had criminal charges filed, or else pending, who have recently come to Germany from the US, especially if they left suddenly to avoid arrest,” Wyatt said, his voice urgent. “We think one of them might be our killer, and that’s why US citizens are being targeted. We’re thinking in particular that a diplomat might have been in trouble and fled, and now be using his immunity to avoid going back again, while escalating his behavior here.”

“That would account for US citizens being the victims,” Ebury said thoughtfully. “I guess he would have had access to the records, and known how to trace them. Although the most recent victim had dual citizenship, I believe?”

“Correct,” Wyatt responded.

“I’m going to go through my records, and I’ll give you a list as soon as I can,” Ebury said. “If we find any names, we’ll send them through immediately, and I’ll let you know when we’re done.”

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