The Pale Criminal Read Online Free Page A

homosexual, Herr Gunther. I’ve known about it for some time, so this was not the terrible revelation to me that this evil person had intended. He made that much clear in his note. Also that there were several more letters like the ones I had received in his possession, and that he would send them to me if I paid him the sum of 1,000 marks. Were I to refuse he would have no alternative but to send them to the Gestapo. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you, Herr Gunther, that this government takes a less enlightened attitude towards these unfortunate young men than did the Republic. Any contact between men, no matter how tenuous, is these days regarded as punishable. For Reinhard to be exposed as a homosexual would undoubtedly result in his being sent to a concentration camp for up to ten years.
    â€˜So I paid, Herr Gunther. My chauffeur left the money in the place I was told, and a week or so later I received not a packet of letters as I had expected, but only one letter. It was accompanied by another anonymous note which informed me that the author had changed his mind, that he was poor, that I should have to buy the letters back one at a time, and that there were still ten of them in his possession. Since then I have received four back, at a cost of almost 5,000 marks. Each time he asks for more than the last.’
    â€˜Does your son know about this?’
    â€˜No. And for the moment at least I can see no reason why we should both suffer.’ I sighed, and was about to voice my disagreement when she stopped me.
    â€˜Yes, you’re going to say that it makes catching this criminal more difficult, and that Reinhard may have information which might help you. You’re absolutely right, of course. But listen to my reasons, Herr Gunther.
    â€˜First of all, my son is an impulsive boy. Most likely his reaction would be to tell this blackmailer to go to the devil, and not pay. This would almost certainly result in his arrest. Reinhard is my son, and as his mother I love him very dearly, but he is a fool, with no understanding of pragmatism. I suspect that whoever is blackmailing me has a shrewd appreciation of human psychology. He understands how a mother, a widow, feels for her only son — especially a rich and rather lonely one like myself.
    â€˜Second, I myself have some appreciation of the world of the homosexual. The late Dr Magnus Hirschfeld wrote several books on the subject, one of which I’m proud to say I published myself. It’s a secret and rather treacherous world, Herr Gunther. A blackmailer’s charter. So it may be that this evil person is actually acquainted with my son. Even between men and women, love can make a good reason for blackmail — more so when there is adultery involved, or race defilement, which seems to be more a cause for concern to these Nazis.
    â€˜Because of this, when you have discovered the blackmailer’s identity, I will tell Reinhard, and then it will be up to him what is to be done. But until then he will know nothing of this.’ She looked at me questioningly. ‘Do you agree?’
    â€˜I can’t fault your reasoning, Frau Lange. You seem to have thought this thing through very clearly. May I see the letters from your son?’ Reaching for a folder by the chaise she nodded, and then hesitated.
    â€˜Is that necessary? Reading his letters, I mean.’
    â€˜Yes it is,’ I said firmly. ‘And do you still have the notes from the blackmailer?’ She handed me the folder.
    â€˜Everything is in there,’ she said. ‘The letters and the anonymous notes.’
    â€˜He didn’t ask for any of them back?’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜That’s good. It means we’re dealing with an amateur. Someone who had done this sort of thing before would have told you to return his notes with each payment. To stop you accumulating any evidence against him.’
    â€˜Yes, I see.’
    I glanced at what I was