"IRIS HOEGAARDE portraits" "Great photos." "WiIIem Steenhouwer, lawyer." "She has an affair." " You know I Iove you, right?" "An affair with a man who associates with a murder or manslaughter suspect and I don't want my child exposed to that." "He's a lawyer, lawyer's can have children." "Can we still trust him?" " Can't I do a job for you for once?" "Funny, I own this building." " I'm the resident." "Become friends with them and find out who the real squatters are." "Is this true?" " Someone sent my wife a note." "'Your husband is having an affair." "Her name is Iris Hoegaarde.'" "The newspaper says uncle Louis was murdered and grandpa was involved." "Arrest him." "Arrested?" " Someone saw you." "He suddenly appeared on the bridge, with such a strange look in his eyes." "I'm going to win this case." "Then the whole Couwenberg gang will collapse." "Is the man dangerous?" "Maybe I should just ask the police." "BETRAYAL" "THE DEAL" "Didn't you sleep?" "You're beautiful." "Mum." "Yes?" "Marco didn't sleep at home last night." "Don't look at me like that." "Why don't you make some coffee?" "Iris." " I want to tell you everything." "But I'm a lawyer and you have to respect that." "You're right though." " What do you mean?" "I've made a decision." "I'm going to quit." "Quit what?" " Everything." "Do you mean that?" " I won't let you run the slightest risk let alone your son." "I have something for you." "It can't be the only reason." " It isn't." "I'II walk alone from here." " really?" "Are you sure?" " Yes." "Bye." "Yes?" " Marco, where are you?" "I'm with a girl." " Which girl?" "I don't know." "Who?" " You don't know her." "What's her name?" "Simone." "No, I don't know her." "Is it OK with her parents?" " Yes." "We'II talk about this later." "Come home." "I have to go to school." "Yes, go to school." "I'II see you this afternoon." "Okay, bye." " Bye." "Mum?" " Yes?" "Is dad still gone?" "Yes." "Today." " What?" "I want him out today." "I'm not sure if that's possible." " Today." "Good morning." "I can't promise anything, but I'II try my best." "Like what?" " That doctor." "I haven't heard from him." "I've argued that Bjorn is too unstable to be questioned at all." "will it work?" "Because if it doesn't, he won't last." " You don't know that, Huub." "We rehearsed that story over and over again." "He won't last." "And then?" "How did you sleep?" " Rotten." "How unpleasant." "Take a seat." "The thing is, we're not making much progress." "You don't want to talk, and it just goes on and on and on..." "We can keep you here for a few months if you don't want to talk." "We have a witness, so we know you're not telling the truth." "You know that too." "We've told you 100 times." "And?" "No way, not in court." "If he's declared not fully accountable, it can make a big difference." "The accident..." " That accident must never come up." "In public?" "Have you gone insane?" "There's something else I want to tell you." "I know it's not the right time but so be it." "I quit." "I don't want to do this anymore." "Things have happened..." " Things?" "What kind of things?" "Let me think." "Things like you fooling around with other women?" "well?" " How do you know?" "Can we discuss this in private?" "I hold no secrets for Joachim, neither do you." "I'm seeing someone else." "well, at Ieast you're honest." "Did you hear that, Joachim?" "The only honest lawyer in the world, and he works for us." "It must be hard on your father, all this hassle." "Mustn't it?" "He'II miss you no doubt." "It's just the two of you in that house." "Every day..." "Every morning I make him a cup of tea." "We do the shopping together." "Every day." "I help him cook meals." "You must miss him too then?" "No." " There are 8000 lawyers in the country." "But none like you." "No one knows this company like you do." " That's no problem..." "Shut up." "No way." "You're not going to pull that on me." "Making my daughter unhappy, ruining my company." "You're confused." "That's what happens when you sleep around." "Soon you'II be so ashamed that you ever dared ask me this." "It didn't happen overnight." " You can just throw 15 years away." "It's got nothing to with throwing away." "You're one of us." "Whether you Iike it or not." "You can't quit." "You were proud to work here once." " I remember that time that was before people got killed." "Photographer?" " What a nice job." "For newspaper or magazines?" "Magazines." " Fashion?" "A Iot of portraits and the odd report." "Interesting." "Here we are." "hello." " Do you mind if our trainee joins us?" "Wouter is very kind, very talented." "And just as discreet as the rest of us, of course." "Yes." "OK." " Good." "Take a seat." "A custody case, right?" "Listen, Iet's make a deal." "I'II represent Bjorn." "I'II do everything to keep him out of jail." "And that's the Iast thing I'II do for you." "In exchange, you let me quit." "Sharing the bed with the wife of the public prosecutor does that help?" "It has nothing to do with anything, but yes it does help." "He'II be taken off the case probably." "Which is good news for us." "If you think..." " The alternative is that I quit now." "You can be angry at me." "But there's someone who could get two to six years in jail." "You can be sure of that." "Your son." "I'm going to win this case." "And then we part as friends." "Your choice." "I'II let you know." "OK." "I understand, but Bjorn Couwenberg has not been convicted?" "No, he's a suspect." " What is he accused of?" "Murder, manslaughter, I don't know what the legal term is." "And your future ex-husband is the prosecutor?" "Yes." " while your lover I'm sorry, your partner is defending him?" "Yes, he gave me your number." "OK, I'II have to immerse myself in the case but as far as I can see today your ex, I mean husband doesn't have much of a case." "No?" " That would be something if he, as a lawyer, couldn't have an affair with someone who has a child from a previous relationship just because he's defending someone in a criminal case." "Yes." "But he's in-house lawyer for a company with a bad reputation, dubious." "And now someone's accused of murder there might be judges who will be wary of letting a child near him, or so I'm told." "I think that's rubbish." "I can't understand how your husband dare claim such a thing." "Ajurist?" " Yes." "That's why I'm afraid of him." "How's it going?" "They're interrogating him." "Not much progress." "I meant with Iris." " I know." "Is she still gone?" " Yes." "Have you got help at home?" " Yes." "If you want to go home early..." " No, thanks." "There's no need for that." "We'II have a drink this afternoon." "I just said..." " I'II come by." "Yes?" " It's me." "It's terrible." " Good." "The way things have gone." "The children?" " What about them?" "Are they coping?" " What do you think?" "I..." "I need to pick up some things." " Go ahead." "I'II understand if you don't want to, but I'II like to talk to you normally." "normally?" " Yes." "I don't want to leave you Iike this." "Are you leaving me?" "I'm leaving you, EIsie." "Why?" " Not on the telephone." "I don't want to see you." "Stay away from me." "When will you go to the restaurant?" " I'm not going." "I need some things." "I'II just go somewhere later." "After lunch?" "Okay, I'II come by then." "Whatever." "When are you going to abandon me?" "I wasn't planning to." "I don't know." "Next week, maybe." "Yes, call my secretary." "I don't get round to work anymore." "You know, the key is to anticipate things." "I always thought I was good at that." "Very good even." "Maybe..." "What?" "In the meantime my son's locked up in some damn cell." "Another year or two, three, four and I would have called it a day." "sell everything and go travelling." "Go fishing with Bjorn, Marco or..." "Or?" " WiIIem." "Don't worry." " Worry?" "Me?" "What should I be worried about?" "He could be betraying us." "The wife of the prosecutor." "As if there aren't enough women around." "Is that a coincidence?" "I want you to do two things." "First, who is that Iris Hoegaarde?" "Where does she live?" "What does she do besides photography?" "What's that prosecutor like?" "Does she have kids?" "Fine." "And the other thing?" "Yes, how many times do you want me to ask?" "Which doctor?" "I want that report as soon as possible." "well, thank you very much." "There's one thing I don't understand." "What's that?" " My husband." "If you're right, he'd never say that." "He's too smart for that." "Maybe..." "Yes, Wouter?" "What do you want to say?" " If he himself..." "Your partner." "If he's a suspect himself..." " What do you mean?" "If he's a suspect himself then..." "Is he a suspect?" "Or might he become one?" "Has he ever mentioned article 140?" "What's that?" " involvement with a criminal organization." "I have no idea." "I don't think so." "Because that does change things." " Why?" "In recent years lawyers of suspected criminals have sometimes also been charged." "Pursuant to article 140." "If that's the case, what happens then?" "Then I can't predict what the judge might say." "Exposing a child to a suspect who's involved in criminal organization..." "What?" "Me?" "Rubbish." "It's impossible." "It's not that easy." "If that's the case, do they have a point?" " Yes, maybe." "But that's not the case." " Are you sure?" "Yes, don't worry about it." "Not allowed." "Dad." "Bjorn." "What did you tell the doctor?" "Doctor?" " WiIIem told me you had a doctor's visit." "Yes." "well that I work for you." "I drive the car." "And do little jobs." "And that I'm completely normal." "Did I do well?" "You know, when they're talking to me in that interrogation room..." "Yes?" " I just think of all of us." "That helps." "You heard what WiIIem said, right?" "You don't have to answer them." "The right to remain silent." "WiIIem, EIsie, you." "family doesn't leave you in the lurch." "No, family doesn't leave you in the lurch." "I didn't want uncle Louis to die." " Don't say that here." "Of course not." "They talk and they talk, but I don't say anything." "I've seen all the films." "I know all the tricks." "They tell you very sad things." "Or mean things." "I wasn't on that bridge." "Time." "We Couwenberg's don't get screwed around." "Isn't that so, dad?" "That's all the questions dealt with." "We'II send this issue to the publisher." "And next week, I'm not exactly sure when we'II have another editorial meeting." "I get a Iot of compliments about your report." "Which one?" " adultery." "Good imagination." " Yes, thanks." "And I hear you're not living at home any more." "You don't have to talk about it." "But you're very welcome to." "If there's anything I can for you..." "Thanks." "And he talks about it sometimes." "And about Beppie." "What?" " We've checked it." "They had a car crash." "The three of them:" "Couwenberg, Steenhouwer en Bjorn." "Bjorn couldn't get out of the car quick enough." "He was under water too long, and sustained cerebral hypoxia." "But that accident, the exact nature of it is still very vague." "An attack?" "An act of revenge?" " No idea." "Interesting." "You've got to be kidding me." "What a bitch." "And then there's this." "A six year old boy, but she's not at home." " Of course not." "She has a studio, somewhere near the harbour." "She's staying there." "That woman is a problem, Huub." "A risk, a big risk." "What are we going to do?" "I've thought about it and all I can do is go to the police." "To the police?" "You're kidding me?" " No." "Maybe that's what I need to do." "Your own family?" "Are you serious?" "Maybe." "See you in a bit." "Have you heard?" " What?" "My mum thinks I'm gay." "How come?" "I always say:" "This week I'm taking Marit out, but it never happens." "So, she thinks it's some excuse." "I don't know." "It's such a Iong time ago, that accident." "You were in the water a Iong time, you almost drowned." "Do you remember that?" " No." "I was unconscious." " In that cold water." "I've told you that so many times." "Because your uncle Louis was also found in cold water." "It's probably got nothing to do with it, because it's vaguely similar." "Don't you think?" "Say something." "Are you having your period?" " Excuse me?" "Because you keep harping on." " silly cow." "No, when I have my period I'm quite calm." "Right?" "Anyway, that accident." "After that your life became very different." "Maybe not." "Back to May 2." "You were at the club." "What were you doing there?" "Let me guess." "Something to do with sex." "With MireiIIe?" "Don't you think it's awful she's dead?" "Hey, Bjorn." "You know, I think you two just don't give a damn." "Then you're mistaken." "We think it's terrible." "When she was little I was afraid she'd come home with some oaf." "Some pinhead, a builder, an environmentalist or something." "But EIsie came home with you." "A young student with pimples whose father didn't let him study." "But you were a smart lad, I saw that straightaway." "also, you never made a fuss about anything." "You got your degree in no time." " It's called Master of Laws." "Whatever, your Masters then." "You've visited him?" "But I should have known it wouId end like this or seen it coming anyway." "The funny thing is, I always thought:" "Not WiIIem." "He's holding up, I think." "Better than expected." "The question is of course:" "Is it you or me?" "Did I lose my instinct, or did you change all of a sudden?" "He's doing great." "A real Couwenberg." "Despite what happened with his head." "You have a deal." "Are you sure?" " Do I Iook like King carnival?" "usually not." "You have a deal, I said." " Great." "I'm glad." " My daughter, does she know?" "That's your business, I'm not getting involved." "If Bjorn holds up, maybe we can keep the damage to a minimum." "In the meantime we should think about the possibility of influencing Beppie in some way." "What?" "Damn, you're kidding?" "Mrs KareIse." "Doing some shopping?" " Yes, I'm glad I bumped into you." "Huub sends his apologies." " Again?" "How's his hand?" " Much better." "What a shame." " He sent a card recently about some money he was owed." "well, he can piss off." "With my best wishes." "Can you tell him that?" " I will." "I'm here to tell you that while he has every right to that money that he would let you off." " How nice of him." "And that he would appreciate it if you were to reconsider a certain statement." "He thinks you'II know what he means." "If he thinks..." " 1.5 million is quite a nice sum." "That, and a peaceful life." "What do you mean?" "well, Huub wouldn't like it one bit if you stand by your statement." "You know Huub, he's rather tenacious." "Without discussing it with me?" "You don't have to hold my hand." "So you thought:" "Let's influence a witness?" "Damn it, here we go again." "Who said influence?" "It concerns my family." "Do you want to solve it yourself?" "So you don't need me?" "Do we have a deal?" "Didn't you hear me say that?" " Do we have a deal?" "We worked together for 15 years." "Can I trust you?" "Can I trust you?" " Yes." "You know you can." "I have to go now." "See you in the bar at six?" "Another time." "Did you know she took drugs sometimes?" "The problem is: she was murdered just when we thought she was about to tell us something about you." "That you weren't at the club on 2 May and that someone pressed her to say that." "That would have been handy:" "Someone who saw you on the bridge and MireiIIe who said you weren't at the club." "Hey Bjorn, shut up." "It's only a theory, of course." "Thinking out loud." "MireiIIe might still have been alive." "AII the way from the Ukraine, only to end up dead in Amsterdam West." "It's becoming quite the collection, Bjorn." "tell us about your uncle Louis." "How was your relationship?" "You're lying." " really?" "I've hired a lawyer." " Send him round." "It's a woman." " Even better." "You can't forbid me to see Menno." "Let's let the judge decide that." " Even if Couwenberg killed 100 people." "One is enough." "Or is it a trick?" "Is WiIIem a suspect?" "Pepijn." "Do you think I'd tell you that under a romantic arch in the rain?" "How's he doing?" "Does he go to gymnastics?" "And swimming lessons, are you even taking him?" "Do you read to him?" "You're always tired." "You're taking my son away from me." "You can always come back to us." "You're not leaving me, are you?" "I forgive you." "WiIIem." "WiIIem." "hello?" "Hi." "You thought 'let's call the old guy'?" "Otherwise you have to drink alone, eh?" "Two whiskeys, please." "Do I need to worry about you?" " Just forget about it." "I don't want another burn-out." "Don't worry." "Just leave me on this case." "Otherwise I might start hyperventilating." " Let's drop the subject." "Sometimes I wake up sweating that I'm allowing this." "Do they know he must be treated carefully?" "He saw a doctor, and convinced him he was normal." "The idiot." "Where are the kids?" " Marit's gone to the cinema." "And I don't know where Marco is." "He can't stay there, he won't hold up." "Like I don't know." "hello." " You thought you'd just pop in, did you?" "Where the hell have you been?" "Without so much as a word." "I was just hanging around." " Where?" "Where?" " The boy is just in a muddle." "Stay out of it." "It's such a strange day, with dad and stuff." "Get a plate." "Let's eat as one family." "I was painting all weekend." "My youngest found some digs at last." "The last one to leave the nest." "Marjon is all upset about it." " And you?" "I can't imagine yet what's it like when he's not there for dinner but mostly I'm thinking how nice and quiet it'II be." "well, my child will grow up without a mother." "Aren't you..." " No, Ben." "I'm not sleeping well." "Then I start to think about that rotten bastard, Steenhouwer." "I start fantasizing." "These shoes of mine have very hard noses." "So, I think, Iet's kick him in between his eyes." "What a wound that would be." "Or I bump into him after the session, by accident and grab a knife and cut through his Adam's apple and vocal chords." "Or I drown him in a tank full of shit." "I hold his head under just long enough for him to suffocate in shit." "And then he floats to the top with those lovely bulging eyes of his." "Or I can..." "No, I'm only joking." "call me when you hear something." "Take care of yourself." "If he's not out by tomorrow, can I ask you something?" "What?" "Tomorrow." "You know him well, don't you?" " I do indeed." "And that's why I have leverage." " Because of Bjorn?" "He needs me for that." "And in return I can get what I want." "Which article?" " article 140?" "That will never work." "He'd have to notify the Bar, and I'd know instantly." "Empty threats, intimidation, just the thing lawyers do." "Just pick your child up, he can't stop you." "You know, it's hard if you can't talk about things." "About what?" " About the Couwenberg's." "They're a bad lot." "They might not be murderers, but they're a bad lot." "If so I just don't know why you worked for them all these years." "Why make a deal?" "You can just say:" "Thank you and goodbye." "You said you'd quit." "Burn your boats, but why not this one?" "Because..." "I can tell you one thing." "Something happened, a Iong time ago which changed everything and now I must do whatever it takes." "Hi Tess, it's Pepijn." "I'm sorry about this, but I have to go somewhere right now." "Yes, I know." "Is he asleep?" "Give him a kiss for me." "I'II come as soon as I can." "My dear son." "I wanted to tell you again how it pains me I won't be staying with you for a while." "I understand how strange this must be for you." "I would Iike to explain what has happened but we must do that when things have calmed down again." "Dear Marit, we haven't had the opportunity to talk but I wanted to say how bad I feel about putting you two through this." "They're listening." "Jass." " Sorry, what was that?" "I heard Jass." "That's what I said:" "Jass." "As soon as we started about Jass, he cracked." "Just like that." "He's into games." "In some ways he's very smart, but other things he doesn't understand." "Jass, trump cards." "It took him a Iot of effort to Iearn it." " Who taught him you think?" "Louis KareIse." "I think he'II come clean now." " I'II stay here." "I'm asking you once more:" "will you talk to Beppie?" "Your new friends will go to jail." "What judge will let you see your child then?" "Get out of my house." "We'II be having breakfast soon together." " Do you mean that, dad?" "You'd finally tell me everything." "Huub Couwenberg speaking." "Are you busy this afternoon?" "I'II go use a gun and get him out." "I don't care how many I have to shoot."