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"If that's true, we'll be there in a moment. Kohling's property sits between the Sai Tul Tower and the Great Pillar Theater, just above the Shutterfield Center. Awesome," Barres stares spellbound at the unfolded screen of his smartphone, "the property has three landing platforms, its own train station and has four transmission towers."
"The benefits of owning the largest passenger transport company."
We take the air taxi around a mighty building complex and find ourselves on one of Falano's main thoroughfares, Ban Ki-moon Boulevard. Dozens of ships above and below us, following an invisible order, we approach the Shutterfield Center, a large commercial complex with countless offices and shops.
"May we land at the top?"
Our pilot reports to us at the back.
"Of course, we are here on behalf of the authorities."
"Aye-aye, we'll be right there."
A short moment later I already feel how we slowly lower ourselves and finally touch down on the platform.
"Here we are, gentlemen."
"Thank you very much, I'll transfer the travel expenses to you immediately."
Hands Sean back to the pilot and then puts his wrist up to a small built-in terminal on the cab. The money is debited and we get out.
A palace of prestige, without a doubt.
An over the top artificial garden, fountains and sculptures that can only come from Terra.
"Someone really let off steam here. But looks nice.”
I just nod to my colleague, then an obvious employee of the house hurries over to us.
"Welcome to the Kohling estate, what can I do for you gentlemen?"
"We have to speak to Mr. Kohling, is he here?"
The servant gives us a fake grin.
"Do you have an appointment with Mr. Kohling?"
"We come on behalf of the security guard, we have urgent matters to discuss with your master."
We immediately show our IDs and the employee nods at us.
"Excuse me, of course I'll take you to him immediately if you want to follow me."
We cross the exaggerated garden and enter the property through a side door and find ourselves in a small anteroom. A few more employees are hurrying about and I realize immediately that we just got inside through the servants' entrance.
"Sorry for the rush, the main entrance is being renovated."
The man leads us to a door and we end up in what looks like the master's room, with low chairs and tall windows that let in only the dim light of the spaceport.
"Mr. Kohling will join you immediately, please help yourself from the drinks."
"Very generous."
I hand him back in a friendly way and survey the room while Barres is already making himself comfortable on one of the chairs.
"An Aradan as written in a book, isn't he Mr. Kant?"
I just nod as I try to feel the signature of the room. Then I grab my notebook again and make a few sketches until suddenly a wide door is pushed open and a man steps towards us.
“Welcome to my estate, my name is Xavier Kohling. I was told you were from the security guard?”
Barres jumped up and nodded straight away.
"My colleague, Mr. Kant."
"And Mr. Barres, we have a few things to discuss with you, Mr. Kohling, if you would be so kind."
I motion for him to close the door behind him. Then we all sit down at the low table and Kohling frowns at us.
"So, gentlemen, what brings you to me? Nothing pleasant, I'm afraid?'
Barres nods and hands the host his smartphone with the photo of the deceased.
"Do you know her?"
The man's face remains iron. Despite his advanced age, there are hardly any wrinkles on his face, but his tremendous composure is evidence of a long life enough.
"That is Sarah. My wife."
He lowers his gaze, then slowly raises it again.
"What happened?"
"The cause is under investigation. She was found lying on the street, dead. However, a fall from a great height can be ruled out.”
"I know people like you. You think it was murder?”
Kohling looks me straight in the eye.
"We can't say for sure yet, but it could be."
"Believe me, Mr. Kant, I recognize a member of the Order when I see one and no senator in this city would depose someone like you to solve an accident. It was murder.”
I'm not getting into it any further.
"We definitely want to offer you our condolences and maybe you can tell us something about your wife? Did she have any enemies or was she even threatened by someone?”
The gentleman looks over at Barres.
"Thank you. Of course, I will do my utmost to help you solve this horrible act. Sarah, she was a kind, incredibly sensitive and clever young woman. I met her at a gala in Vienna. Like me, she was a big fan of contemporary art and as a student at the University of Art in Vienna I was allowed to act as her patron. There must have been some of her colleagues who envied her, but I don't know of any bad blood among them."
Barres placed his smartphone on the table and had what he said transcribed directly.
"Who could benefit from the death of your wife? Can you think of anyone?”
The older gentleman shrugs.
"Without wanting to appear arrogant, I can only imagine that this blow should go against me. She was the apple of my eye, my dearest. It could be a threat against me.”
"Why would anyone want to threaten you?"
"Of course I didn't do anything illegal, but I would have been an idiot too, excuse the expression, if I hadn't used my position on the Board of Trustees."
I frown with interest.
“My company, the Farlines, has received the order for all areas of public transport in Falano, probably for the next ten years. Aside from that ..."
Kohling pauses as his gaze sweeps the room.
"Aside from that?"
I'll dig.
"The following is to be treated in the strictest secrecy, can I rely on your silence? It's inside information, but it may not be irrelevant to your investigation and I really want whoever took Sarah from me to be held accountable."
"Of course, our investigations are subject to the secrecy of the security guard."
"And the stock market regulator, for that matter."
Throws in Barres.
“Good, because we have plans in the company to expand even further. The city's contract for all public transportation is intended to provide enough secure capital for us to expand into freight transportation. Farlines would dominate freight and passenger traffic by majority.”
That's what I call a decent plan.
"I can imagine that some people won't like this so much, do you have any idea who might know about it?"
Kohling shakes his head.
"Unfortunately no, as already mentioned, all plans were drawn up under the strictest secrecy."
"Do you know what your wife might have been doing near Kreisky Boulevard?"
"Is that where she was found?"
Barres and I just nod silently.
"I can't explain it, maybe she was on her way to the gallery, she exhibits some of her works in the Voilé Center, I rented some rooms for her there. But none of my wives have to answer to me if they want to go anywhere. Basically, the Founders Circle is not a dangerous area.”
At least not for common people.
"In the Voilé Center, do you have a key to the gallery? We would then like to look around there.”
"A key won't be needed, we have a porter there, I'll tell him you're both coming, then you can go straight in."
The big businessman nervously taps his fingers on his thigh.
"You know... how did she..."
His voice breaks off.
"The cause of her death is still unclear. However, there was no blood and no obvious injuries.”
"Otherwise we wouldn't have any further questions for now, but we have to ask you not to leave Falano in the near future and to keep yourself at our disposal."
The elder nods. We get up and are about to set off when Kohling lets us pause for a moment in the doorway.
"She had nightmares. Some of her more recent works feature deranged faces, I have no idea where that came from, but lately they've gotten really intense. The Order is familiar with such things, maybe you will learn something from it," Kohling looks down, "my therapists and pastors were powerless against their inner demons."
I give him another nod. No irrelevant information.
Barres and I head to the landing pads and take a cab straight to the Voilé Center.
Show us your demons Sarah.