Hard Rain (35 page)

The commissaris put his hand on the Citroen's door. Then he let go of the handle again and turned around. Behind him the hospital stared silently, through its many window eyes.

Perhaps, the commissaris thought. Yes, perhaps. There had been a case in Rotterdam where a high-ranking police officer, out of uniform, driving home after a party where he had been manipulated by a colleague into overindulging, was arrested by officers trailing him in a patrol car. The Rotterdam commissaris had lost his job, the officers who made the arrest were promoted ahead of time. The colleague had taken the ex-commissaris's position. A clear motive in that case.

Again?

Why not? the commissaris thought sadly. Criminals never have too many choices as to how they will materialize their petty schemes.

The commissaris walked away from the Citroen and crossed the parking lot, in spite of the sudden downpour released by the ominous cloud. He reached the avenue that passed by the hospital. There was a tram shelter and he sat on its hard bench. A coincidence, no doubt, but there was a patrol car across the road, partly hidden behind a parked truck. Two cops were staring at the hospital's parking lot.

The commissaris stood up and located Fernandus's window in the large building behind him. He thought he saw a pajama-clad figure, partly hidden by curtains. He waved, but Fernandus wouldn't be able to see him through the dirty glass of the shelter's wall.

A tram came riding up, harshly clanging its bell. The commissaris stepped outside, shivering as cold raindrops hit him sharply in the neck. The rain was coming down so hard that drops ricocheted from the pavement, lashing at his hands and cheeks. He shivered, thinking of his warm dry car. Well, he would pick it up later. The commissaris boarded the tram.

"What are you doing out of bed?" a nurse asked Fernandus. "Here, let me help you." She was too late. Fernandus had fallen over already. She frowned as she pulled the muttering patient up. Such a nice little gentleman. Such horribly foul language.