The Cure is Murder – Chapter 19

“My name is Axel,” the young policeman said. “Axel Schmidt.” “I´m Trude. Thank you,” she said, as he handed her a sheet of paper. “Why?” “It felt wrong,” he said. “We don´t know what is going to happen.” “We´ve been there before,” Trude said. “Yes, my mother told me. Told me how many looked away. I don´t want to look away.”

Trude scanned the page and turned it over. Sabrina! Oskar was dead. But Sabrina!

Police profile # – returned Austrians Confidential Name: Sabrina Neuling Place and Date of Birth: Vienna, 30 March 1985 Nationality: Austrian Education: Hornsby Girls’ High School, Sydney, Australia  UNSW; Sydney, University of Vienna, languages Foreign country sojourns: Sydney, Australia; France; Switzerland Languages: German, English, French, Spanish Hobbies: Writing, reading, coaching Work: Academic editor Security clearance: No Political inclination: unclear.  Health: Blood pressure

Action: Watch list

“What´s this watch list?” Trude said. “I´ll try and find out,” said Axel. “How, I don´t know, but I´ll find a way.” “We need more information,” Trude said. “I know a reporter.” “The papers are all bought,” Axel said. “Not this one. We have to go out of Austria. Work from the outside. Get stories published in Germany and Switzerland.” “Shame them into a change of direction!“ Axel said. “Yes!”

Oskar:

I´m feeling dizzy. Wonder why. I´ll just get my towel. It’ll be better once I´m in the water. I´ll take the notepad too. Jot down the things Sabrina Neuling needs to be aware of. Funny that now has a sudden importance. Must clear my head. Try and code it, just in case.

Think of a code. Everything they want me to do has been done before. In literature. Yes. That´s the code.  The title and the first sentence? Or just the first sentence – and she will have to guess the title. I´ll have to put dystopia somewhere as a hint. 1984. – the title is enough of a hint for the lot. Yes! The numbers! Fahrenheit 451 – It was a pleasure to burn Brave New World – A squat grey building of only thirty-four stories. Animal Farm……1984 – 451 – 34 -…how many different types were there? Or is that too obscure? I´ll leave the animals out of it. 1984 – 451 – 34.