"IRIS HOEGAARDE portraits" "Great photos." "WiIIem Steenhouwer, lawyer." "Who's that?" " well, that Couwenberg case I'm on he's the lawyer." " WiIIem, I Iove you, eh?" "Are you having an affair?" " Yes, two." "Don't you Iike me anymore?" "Is it over?" "I said I'm sorry." "I've chosen you." "She has, had, an affair with Couwenberg's lawyer." "Then you're off the case." "You killed him." " No, it was an accident." "Last night you were at the club with carla and MireiIIe." "The girl's becoming a nuisance." "If they crack the alibi, we're screwed." " She's just a whore." "The Ukrainian...problem solved." "Do you realise what you've done?" "You've only made it worse." "What's wrong with MireiIIe?" " She's dead, Bjorn." "Did you really not know?" "We'd Iike to talk to Mr Couwenberg." "He sent me a text." " Phone him while I'm here and tell him to bugger off." "BETRAYAL" "THE DECISION" "welcome to voicemail, we will now play your three old messages." "Honey." "Mummy..." "Mummies and daddies fight sometimes, you know." "But you never fight." "Mummy needs time to think." " What about?" "well, everything." "About mummy and daddy, and you." "Me?" "So I'm going to live in the studio for a few weeks." "What about me?" " You'II often visit me." "But you'II stay with daddy." "And Tess will often be here too." "What about my cuddly toys?" "And my chess game?" "I'II buy a great big case that you can always bring with you." "And the blue crocodile, of course." " Why don't you just stay at home?" "Sometimes we need to think about things." "will you come back?" " I don't know." "Maybe." "Just go." "quickly." "What's up now then?" "I reckon it was about the whore." " Marco." "well, they found a dead whore." "It was on internet." "I read that too but Bjorn's not involved." " No, of course not." "Why did the police detain him then?" " I don't want to talk about it." "Bjorn always gets the blame." " I said I didn't want to talk about it." "Can't we sue them?" " It's difficult." "For a wrongful act or whatever it's called?" "MireiIIe's dead." "She took too many pills of something." "What did they want from you?" "I saw photos." "From when she was dead, I mean." " Bjorn, what did they ask you?" "If I knew anything." "Or if I'd been to her house." " But you hadn't." "No, of course not." "She comes from Ukraine." " What else did they ask?" "Is that near Russia?" " Who bloody cares?" "What did they ask and what did you say?" " Nothing." "I know nothing about pills or going to her house." "I was just here yesterday, with you." " Bjorn if you did say something weird, then phone me, OK?" "Where are you going?" " Home." "Home?" " We'II talk tomorrow." "I phoned him this week." "Who?" "WiIIem." "He was out of town, he said." "Why?" "What do you mean?" " What's he doing out of town?" "Other clients?" " Out of town?" "He didn't sound I don't know, it was weird." "This is Iris Hoegaarde's voicemail." "Message after the beep." "It bothered me, so a few days later I phoned his secretary but she knew nothing about that day." "Anyway, she's a great lady." "So I spun some dumb story about WiIIem buying EIsie a handbag and her wanting to change it but not daring to ask where he'd bought it." "I may know." "He has a company car so I get all the traffic fines." "It was for a parking offence." "On the Rijperweg in Naarden." "Naarden?" "Why doesn't he just tell me?" "And why didn't his secretary know?" "Is everything OK?" " With what?" "With Bjorn." "And with my dad and with you?" "will it all be alright?" " Yes, sure." "What did they want him for?" "Marit keeps talking about it." "About my dad, I mean." "I don't know what to say." "Send her to me." " And what will you say?" "That your dad is a respectable man." "That hooker..." " Do you think Bjorn's a murderer?" "I won't say another word." "Say something sweet." " Sweet." "No, something really sweet." "Do you still love me?" " Lots." "It may all be nothing." "If I didn't know him so well, I'd say the same." "A woman." "If that's the case, then what?" "You get off to Bjorn, I'II phone you tomorrow." "Oh yes, that delta building, I keep forgetting." "Not to worry." "I'II go there myself this week." "Dad is it all my fault?" "The police and stuff?" "Of course not." "MireiIIe was always so nice." "So sweet, it's such a shame." " It's alright, Bjorn." "Don't think about it." "Where are his swimming trunks?" " In his wardrobe." "No, I've just looked." " Or in the pile of clean laundry." "In the laundry." "Give him a towel too." "But get a move on or you'II be late." "I'II come early tomorrow morning then I'II take him." "Don't forget to pick him up as usual." " As usual?" "Sure thing." "Can you look on the computer for Steenhouwer?" "You're late." " Sorry, I had to take Menno to school." "She's left, actually." " Left?" "Iris." "She's living somewhere else." " Jesus, Pepijn." "So now what?" "Now there's nothing at all preventing me from staying on the case." "Is that the only thing that interests you?" "If I were you..." " Of course it's not the only thing." "Pepijn I'm taking you off." "And that's final." "I spend all day throwing food away." "Louis ate anything going:" "cheese, ham, eggs, potatoes." "I bought a loaf of bread every single day." "If he was at home we ate a warm lunch." "He liked that." "And now?" "One slice of bread for breakfast, two for lunch and a few bites in the evening." "I've lost my appetite." "I'm still not used to it, so I still buy far too much food." "But that will end." "legal questions" "She's left me." "The books say that it's now no Ionger a problem." "It's a grey area, but it's possible." " It looks weird." "You'II be slaughtered in court." " Who says?" "Besides, wouldn't you Iike to win a case for once?" "Tomorrow you'II hand over the file." "Fine." "The very best of luck." "How are things?" "What do you mean?" " How are you feeling?" "OK, I suppose." " Not upset about MireiIIe anymore?" "I'm thinking about getting a dog." "So I'd have something at home that breathes." "But then I start thinking that a dog can die too." "How's Bjorn?" "Let's not talk about him." "Yes?" " I don't know you." "well, I don't know you either." "It's funny but I own this building, and you?" "I'm the resident." "How do you do?" " Ever heard of ownership?" "The basis of our society." "I put in some anti-squatters but I can't see them." "Yes, they're friends of ours." "But they're not here right now." "Who?" "What do you mean?" " What are their names then?" "Can you talk?" " Yes, briefly." "I haven't got much further." " No?" "There's a hotel:" "The Herenhuis hotel." " Don't mention names." "There are also a few shops, bars and offices." "So?" " It could be anything." "It's hard to tell, Huub." "Maybe you shouldn't think it's anything weird." "What are we going to do now, Dad?" "Go home." "well, at home." " Can anyone corroborate that?" "My Dad." "What did you think of MireiIIe?" " She was really nice." "Horny more than anything, eh?" "She was really horny?" "Did you know she was from Ukraine?" "I knew she was foreign." " Ukraine?" "No." " Bjorn, your dad sent you, didn't he?" "It's not your fault, but your dad's." " Why?" "You know that MireiIIe was part of your alibi." "What alibi?" " well, that goes on for thirty minutes." "Nothing worthwhile." "Good work, guys." "I'm so pleased." " We couldn't get hold of you, right?" "So you went straight to the court officer for permission." "A man who knows zilch about it." "I'd already said:" "Wait a bit, wait..." " Listen..." "Do you really think they'd send Bjorn to kill MireiIIe?" "Bjorn knew her well, they were kind of involved." "She wasn't afraid of him." "They did it perfectly and left no evidence." "We thought that only Bjorn was the weak spot." "Very impressive and now they've gone back into their dens." "And we can't prove a thing." "If there's anything to prove." "Maybe MireiIIe took the dodgy pill herself." " They often come in batches." "I know, Meerdink." " So we often see more victims but MireiIIe's the only one." "So what's next?" "Burn the file?" "Buy a good fishing rod and go on a nice holiday." "Thank you very much." "You phoned...about a divorce?" "There's this couple, a girlfriend of mine wants to get a divorce..." "Come with me." " And they have a child." "So does the mother get custody of the child?" "well, it's complicated It's not easy to say." "Is it relevant who the guilty party is?" "It varies from case to case." "If you want an answer you must be more specific." "OK thanks, I'II be back." "Just one more thing." "The husband, the child's father, is a lawyer." "will that make it harder for my girlfriend?" "Couwenberg's lawyer too smart for the Iaw" "Nothing has ever been proved." "He's always been really sweet to me, you know." "But he works with these guys, I always see guys there in suits..." "Shut up." "Your grandfather is the boss, we both know that." "Is it the first time you've seen these cuttings?" "Why are you so nasty to me?" "It's not my fault." "I didn't choose my family." " No, but it doesn't seem to bother you." "It does, but what can I do about it?" " Open your mouth perhaps?" "Can you talk?" " Yes, briefly." "I haven't got much further." " No?" "There's a hotel:" "The Herenhuis hotel." " Don't mention names." "There's a hotel:" "The Herenhuis hotel." " Don't mention names." "There's a hotel:" "The Herenhuis hotel." " Don't mention names." "There are also a few shops, bars and offices." "So?" " It could be anything." "This is Iris Hoegaarde's voicemail." "Leave a message after the beep." "hello, Mrs KareIse." "well, how are you?" "Vienna?" " The neighbours really enjoyed it." "Tea?" " Nice." "I can't look at him anymore." "I can't be normal to him." "You recently said..." " It's gone." "completely gone." "Just the thought of being with him now." "How long have you been together?" "Eight years." "Mrs KareIse, this case is bothering me." "Your husband was 62, you still had some great years left together." "He didn't end up in the water on his own." "Bjorn insists he wasn't on the bridge." "He says he was in a sex club and sources confirm that." "The police are beginning to suspect you're lying." "Me?" "I'm not lying, he was there." " Yes, but Bjorn..." "Listen, I walked to the restaurant with my husband." "We met Bjorn, soon after I'm in the Greek restaurant alone." "would I leave my husband alone on the bridge?" "I know..." " Bjorn insisted on speaking to Louis." "I'm not crazy." " Of course not." "But Bjorn apparently wants to create that impression." "I'm glad you're here, man." "Do you do anything else besides gaming?" "I work for Dad but then I play games." " Hey, you already have this one?" "It's not been released yet." " From contacts in America." "Go for it, eh?" "It's bothering me." "I really want to help you but I'm powerless." "Bjorn's alibi has been corroborated, and you won't testify." "So I'm afraid this file will soon be closed." "And your husband's killer will go unpunished." "On the other hand, should you decide to testify then I can do something." "And our Bjorn will have some explaining to do." "And Huub?" "Huub?" " Huub Couwenberg." "Bjorn's father." "Do you think that he... ?" " It's all very complicated." "Huub sent me this card." "Hey, grandpa." " We're making hotdogs." "Then we'II start gaming again." "Give me one." " With mustard and tomato ketchup?" "Grandpa, can I ask you something in a minute?" "Again?" "Yes." "Coming in?" "No." "No one's home." "My parents are at work and Marco's not home either." "You know..." " What?" "When I Iook at you I know that you're not I'd Iike to cool it for a while." "What do you mean?" "See less of each other." "Menno." "Sorry, honey." "Nothing's gone right." "I couldn't find the keys." " Where's mum?" "You know, right?" "She'II bring and fetch you tomorrow." "We're off home for a nice game of chess." "Do you know what's wrong with mummy?" "No." "What do you think it is?" "She needs time to think, she said." "your husband's doing it with another woman. her name is Iris Hoegaarde" "I'm off, OK?" "Go home early too for once, it's nice for your wife." "Do you know who's taking it over?" "Not yet." " No?" "Hi Bep, how's things?" "Let's meet soon." "Louis owes me money." "Regards Huub." "What's this?" " Your husband's murdered and you get a card like this." "Where did you get it?" " I bumped into her." "She trusts me." "She may want to talk." "Thanks to Huub Couwenberg." "talk?" " Yes." "But only to me." "If I'm lucky she'II phone today and if she does, we'II have a case." "Bjorn?" " The murder or manslaughter of KareIse." "What if I let a co-worker speak to Beppie?" " Sure, do it." "She trusts me, so she probably won't talk." "Goodbye case." "You dirty rat." " I'm going to win this case, Ben." "Then the whole Couwenberg gang will collapse." "article 140 of the penal code." " But the judge will say..." "That's it's highly unusual." "Yes, I know." "If shit happens, I'II take the blame." " That's rubbish." "I'm still responsible." " I'II say I acted on my own and ignored all your good advice." "Besides, when did I actually tell you?" "I suddenly can't remember." "If she phones, eh?" "What are the odds?" "well dear boy, Iet's hear it." "You haven't beaten up any more girls, I hope?" "I wanted to ask if I couId..." "Can't I do a job for you for once?" "Like what?" " I don't know, just jobs." "I don't think it's a good idea." " Go on, grandpa." "Why?" "Do you need money?" "No." " And does your dad know?" "What?" "That you want to do this?" " No." "I don't know, Marco." "Your mum will kill me." "Oh, come on Grandpa." "I really want to do something." "Good evening." "Here's the menu." "We also have specialities." "And wine." "Soraya, will you take over?" "please excuse me." "I'm going outside for a cigarette." "Dad?" " Sweetie." "Where's your brother?" " At grandpa's." "Have you eaten yet?" "What's wrong?" "Dad?" "Just for once I want an honest answer." "Is grandpa a criminal?" "And Bjorn?" "And you too?" " Honey, I must go." "We'II discuss it tomorrow, promise." "Why don't you just answer me?" "Tomorrow, honestly." "It's really tender, nowadays only grandpa knows how to cook it." "Most people think it needs searing first, but it doesn't." "Fry it slowly." "Get stewing steak from a proper butcher..." "Add an onion, cloves, and orange peel." " Then simmer all day on an oil stove." "Does your mum still make it?" "I thought so." "probably only pasta, couscous and other rubbish." "Sorry, sorry." "Daddy." " Hey, give me a hug." "I'm hungry." " I'm cooking, so we'II..." "Is mummy coming home?" " I don't think so, son." "Hey, leave it." "Come on, I'II show you out." "well, this is for you." "And here's a bit extra for waiting all evening." "Can you cope?" " Sure, why not?" "We're going to defrost a pizza." "Oh yes, I..." "Must you leave?" " well, why?" "Fancy eating pizza with us?" "Menno would love it." "I still have one more thing to do this evening." "Go ahead." "There is something you could do for me, it's not even a real job." "Perhaps." " really?" "Anti-squat students and strays are living in a property of mine." "Oh yes, those guys." " But I've heard they're more inclined..." "What?" " To squat." "Squat?" "It's so tender." "He's a good boy." " Yes, and much nicer than Marit." "Don't say that." "But it's true." "Marit is a bit different, but she's still your niece." "Hi, it's me." " Hey, Victor." "Fancy doing anything this evening?" " No, not really." "Oh, no problem." " OK." "Another time, eh?" " Yes, OK." "OK." "Bye." " Bye." "INVOICE For special advice 150,000 euros." "already settled." "Van ErkeI here." " Mr van ErkeI?" "Yes, speaking." " It's Mrs KareIse." "I've decided." "Mrs KareIse, and what is it?" "You must go home." "Some people believe in destiny." "I thought they were rather ridiculous." "We can't go on like this." "I'm going to talk to EIsie." "Are you sure?" "really?" " Yes." "When?" " Tomorrow." "people are getting killed there." "My son's going nowhere near them." "He's a lawyer." "Lawyers can have children." "They want to take me in again." "I won't do it." "Over my dead body." "If you just tell the truth Bjorn, the quicker you're done here." "A statement can always be retracted, right?" "And that guy, is he guilty?" " Can we still trust him?" "Who?" " WiIIem." "Is the man dangerous or not?"