DeKok and the Sorrowing Tomcat Read Online Free

least one hit. Shall I call him? His name is Bever, he’s next door, writing his report.”
    DeKok nodded.
    â€œFetch him.”
    Constable Bever was an athletically built man in his middle thirties, with lively gestures and a playful mimicry. He showed a rueful grin when he took a seat across from DeKok.
    â€œYou can’t help but wonder,” began Constable Bever. “I mean, they steal three million right from under your nose. It’s just plain shameful.” He shook his head despondently. “How will I ever explain that to my son?”
    DeKok grinned back at him
    â€œI don’t know, I am not your son,” he said. “My name is DeKok, with … eh, kay-oh-kay. Much to my regret I’m in charge of this case. I heard you shot at the fleeing car. What do you think? You think you hit something, or somebody?”
    Bever spread both arms wide.
    â€œWell, I’m a good shot, DeKok. Most certainly. I’m usually in the top three during the shooting competitions. But, well, the car was a good distance away and rapidly disappearing when I first heard the yelling of the guards. They were pointing at the car. I fired twice. I aimed for the left rear tire. From where I was standing that was the easiest shot. But I missed. There was a slight deviation and both bullets hit the edge of the trunk.” He made a dejected gesture. “It was no use trying a third shot. By then the car was too far away.”
    DeKok nodded silently.
    â€œWould it be possible that you hit one of the occupants?”
    Bever shrugged.
    â€œHard to say. I don’t think so.” He paused, hesitated. “To be honest, I hope not. I mean, you’ve got to admit it, DeKok, that was a professional piece of work. Nobody got hurt during the hold-up. It was fast, silent and almost unnoticed. I mean, I was barely fifty feet away and I didn’t notice anything until the guards started to yell. I saw the truck stop, of course I did, but…” He paused, gripped his head with both hands in a hopeless gesture. “I should be let go, it’s simply too much. A robbery with a haul of three million and I’m practically watching it without doing anything about it.” Bever groaned, his eyes closed.
    DeKok looked at him.
    â€œHow long have you been on the force?”
    â€œFive years.”
    â€œWell, then you should know that this sort of thing can happen. I wouldn’t worry too much about it.” DeKok waved negligently. “Return to your report. And if the Commissaris, or your sergeant, if either speaks harshly to you, just let it roll off. Be like a duck.”
    â€œA duck?”
    â€œYes, water rolls off a duck’s back, let the reprimands roll off yours.”
    Shaking his head, Constable Bever left the room. It was a black day in his career, he thought, no matter what DeKok said.
    When the constable had left, DeKok rose from his chair and started to pace up and down the large room. He invariably did that when he wanted to think. The cadence of his ambling gait helped to organize his thoughts. After a while he stopped in front of Vledder’s desk.
    â€œIf I remember correctly,” he said thoughtfully, “B&G has been in business for some time.”
    Vledder nodded.
    â€œOh, yes, at least three generations and more than twenty years in the armored car business, that is CTI, the division, was formed more than twenty years ago.”
    â€œAnd this is their first hold-up?”
    â€œYes, it has never happened before. Perhaps it lulled them into a false sense of security. They became more lax, perhaps, without really noticing it.”
    DeKok rubbed his chin pensively.
    â€œAre the transports always for such large amounts? I mean, three million seems a lot, doesn’t it?”
    Vledder nodded.
    â€œYes it is,” he answered. “But it’s usually not that much. Their main business is transport between banks, you see. The average amount