The door to Harry Ribb's office was closed. Kaps and Dop sat nervously across from him.
"So while you two were picking your noses at Schiphol airport yesterday afternoon, he was busy rounding up three criminals who robbed a restaurant - and without any assistance whatsoever. What the hell were you doing out there?" Ribb said angrily.
"Well we?' Dop began.
"I told you," Kaps said, blocking off Dop, who was eager to give his account of what happened. "He gave us the slip. He obviously did not want to be collected at the airport. We couldn't help that. Besides, we tracked him down later."
"You did not," Ribb replied harshly. "You came across two of the thieves he managed to catch. He then arranged an old aged pensioner to call in the third and you still haven't found him."
"Well, at least we solved?' Dop began, but his words quickly faded when he noticed his partners' stern look. Ribb lifted a file from his desk and opened it.
"I suppose I could easily blame you for what happened, but last night I got an additional detailed report about our friend detective Harvey Wall from his superior."
Kaps suddenly sat up straight, while Dop, remaining laid back in the chair, just shifted his oversize torso to one side.
"It seems he is a regular practical joker whose boss was very happy to get rid of him. Unfortunately, we've got him now, and you two have become the first victims of his kind of humor." Dop let out a noticeable sigh of relief.
"He has to come into the office in about thirty minutes for an introduction, ' Ribb continued, "so I think we can hear what he has to say about yesterday."
Harvey Wall got a taxi from the hotel to the large imposing police station on the Marnixstraat. The police officer at the front desk was a short blond female who looked very sexy in her uniform. She said something unintelligible in Dutch.
"Do you speak English?" Wall asked apologetically.
"Of course I do," she replied, in near perfect English.
"I have an appointment with Chief Ribb."
"Your name?"
"Harvey Wall. Detective Harvey Wall."
"One moment please, detective," she said, as she flashed a quick smile, picked up the phone and began to speak in Dutch. She listened intently, then hung up. "Someone will come and show you up to his office."
"Thank you. I gotta say, your English is excellent."
"That's very kind of you. I get it all from TV."
"I had a look at some Dutch TV last night back at my hotel - but it was mostly talking and I didn't understand a word of it. I just got in yesterday from the States."
"I know. You fit the exact description of a man we got reports on yesterday."
"Oh, that couldn't be..." Harvey broke off when he saw Kaps and Dop coming through the door to collect him.
"It was nice meeting you," Harvey said, with a smile. "Maybe I'll see you around."
"Possibly," she replied, returning the smile."
Kaps held the door open for Wall to enter, and guided him through the station without uttering a word.
The station seemed a lot less busy and noisy than his precinct back in New York. The uniforms - light blue - looked very casual and plain. They also seemed to carry a lot less equipment around their belts, or did everything just look smaller? As he glanced around at everyone going about their business, there was another surprise. The female officers were hot; not a fat ass in sight. Some were a little older than he generally cared for, but they all looked fit and surprisingly cheerful. A world away from what he was used to. Back in New York three-quarters of the female officers were generally overweight and bitched about everyone and everything the whole day long. Maybe it was exactly the same here, he thought. He could not understand the language, but just at a glance they did seem more cheerful, in general. Kaps knocked on Harry Ribbs' door and was surprised he entered without waiting for a reply.
Ribb looked up from his paperwork at the tall black American standing in front of him and gestured to the three seats in front of his desk. Wall took a quick glance around the office that seemed paperless and bare compared to his Captains back in New York.
His office was adorned with diploma's he received from the first day he joined the force. They covered most of the wall space and complemented by a line of trophy's he had won for football, judo and wrestling over the years, on every cabinet.
Here there was no more than one filing cabinet, two or three thin paper files on the desk, a computer monitor and a large map of Amsterdam on the wall.
The only strange thing about it was the single thick black line running through the center of it. Not much happening in this town, that's for sure. If the two baboons were incapable of picking him up from the airport, and the big boss in front of him is as boring as the rest of his office than this whole trip is going to be one big happy holiday, with full pay and benefits.
"I was going to give you a few days to get adjusted and get over your jetlag but I think you've adjusted pretty well."
"Yes, Sir. I really like this town of yours," Wall said, with a broad grin.
"You'll be pleased to know we picked up those three thieves yesterday."
"Well that's nice to hear Sir, I'm happy to be of service." Ribb just stared at him blankly, just like his old boss, but this was a different kind of stare, not intimidating, or threatening, but one like he felt he knew him, and possibly too much about him. Wall suddenly realized that maybe his boss had not only sent over his service file, but the complete file. All the information about his tricks, jokes, problems, the trouble he got into and no doubt the complete list of reprimands he had received over the years. Shit. Suddenly he felt embarrassed, and left his stare drop to the wooden floor.
"But I don't understand. What actually happened at the airport?" Ribb said, casually.
Wall tried to hold in his laugh and shifted his weight in the chair, turning away from Kaps and Dop. Dop was about to say something when Kaps ticked him on the knee with his left hand. He immediately went silent.
"Well I?' Wall hesitated. Ribb turned his monitor around so they could all watch. He hit a button on his keyboard and saw himself sitting about twenty meters behind Dop and Kaps drinking coffee, then leaving.
Ribb pushed another button and the monitor went black "I realize that after a long flight you wanted to have some fun."
"Well I.." Wall began again, then his voice faded into a whisper, then silence.
"I don't have a problem with that." Ribb finally said. Dop and Kaps looked at each other.
"You come from a working environment that is stricter and probably more regimental. So now you have finally managed to escape that way of working and mindset so you decide to have some fun. My men here, detective Kaps and detective Dop were not really worried about your disappearance." Wall looked at Kaps and Dop who stared at Ribb blank faced.
"After they realized you decided to continue your policing on the streets of Amsterdam they were complimentary of your capabilities and the work you carried out." Dop and Kaps looked at other in shock.
"Due to your intervention, three lowlife criminals have been detained in record time."
Harvey Wall looked at Ribb in astonishment. He expected to be shouted and screamed that, just like his chief back home would have done, and told to get the first flight back to New York, but this avalanche of praise took his breath away.
"Your ingenuity in using the tie-wraps was extremely effective."
"Ehm? thank you," Wall finally muttered.
"It would have taken us a little longer to catch them," Ribb continued. "We had them on CCTV of course, but it would take time before we figured out who they really were, and then we would have had to forensically link them to the robbery. Since you were an actual witness?'
"How did you know that?"
"We talked to the owner of the restaurant."
"Oh yeah, sure."
"You have saved us a lot of running around than it usually takes. Thank you for helping us out. I'll get someone to assist you with the p
aperwork for this case. You know, statements and so forth."
"Yes sir," Wall said. "I can start on that right away if you wish."
"No, let's do that as soon as you officially start work here. One of my other officers will show you your locker and help you get settled in. Officially you will start next Monday morning, to help you get over any jet lag. In the meantime you have five days to enjoy your stay in Amsterdam Mr. Wall."
"Thank you, sir."
"You're welcome. And keep up the good work? from Monday that is."
"Yes, sir."
"We will also have a desk for you then. At the moment I'm still figuring out where to put you."
When Ribb stood up, Harvey Wall stood quickly to attention and saluted. "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. You do have a beautiful city and it's a pleasure to be here sir."
"You're welcome Mr. Wall," Ribb replied, then turned to Dop and Kaps. "Gentleman, would you ask detective Bakker to show Mr. Wall around the station."
"Yes Sir," Kaps replied.
"Oh, one more thing," Ribb said, to Wall as they turned to leave. "Can I see your firearm?"
"Sure," Wall reached for his gun under his jacket. Ribb took it and studied it.
"Smith & Wesson fifty-nine forty-six model. Beautiful piece," he said, as he opened a drawer and dropped it into it.
"But?' Wall said in a near dying whisper, as Ribb closed the drawer and locked it.
"Since you are not familiar with our methods and rules of engagement, I've decided, for your own safety, to hold on to your weapon and give you time to integrate yourself into our way of working. After that we might issue you with our standard, a Walther P5." Ribb then turned to Dop and Kaps.
"Thank you very much, gentlemen, that will be all for now."
Dop and Kaps looked at each other. Ribb gestured to the door. Dop closed the door behind them.
At that moment Ribb's mobile rang. It was his daughter.
"Hi Lizzie, problems?" Ribb realized the moment he said that, he was in the wrong. Of course Lizzie only called him when there was a problem or when she wanted something. Adults call you to talk, but not your teenage kids. They call you because you are the money tree, the fixer, the taxi, the permission they need to enjoy their life when they are under age. So problems was not exactly the right reply - although it was undoubtedly ninety-nine per cent correct. But he had said it, felt guilty, yet realized he could do nothing to change it. Ribb relaxed into his comfortable leather chair, sipped his coffee and listened to her question - or was it a demand?
"Of course you can go to a disco," ?. "Yes, Ruby can get you ready for it. I'm sure she'll like that. I'll be home about six. Maybe I can also give you some tips.'
Lizzie did not seem pleased to hear that.
"What do you mean I'm not allowed?.....Oh, I see. I have to leave you two alone," he said, and relaxed with another sip of coffee. "I'll expect you home at about ten-thirty, no later or I'll send around a police car and embarrass the hell out of you. Okay honey, see you tonight. Say hello to your mother if she calls. Bye, sweetheart."
Ribb swiveled his chair around and looked up at the map of Amsterdam and the line he had drawn. The telephone rang, and from the number he could see it was the pathologists office. The city pathologist called him probably no more than once or twice a month. This was now the second call in two days. Harry sat up straight and put down the coffee.
"Hello Jim. New developments?"
He listened intently as he took down notes. "Really? Okay, I'll be over in about twenty minutes." He hung up and left the office immediately. Harvey Wall was standing next to Bakker at his desk.
"Mr. Wall, detective Bakker has to come with me at the moment, would it be okay if he showed you around later? He should be back in less than an hour."
"Sure, no problem. I'll just hang out here and get an idea of how you guys work."
"Thank you, Mr. Wall. We won't keep you long." Ribb then turned to Bakker. "Have you still got the names of those people from the obituaries?"
Bakker pulled out a small notebook from his back pocket. "Have it here."
"Okay, grab your stuff, we're going over to see the pathologist. He's got them laid out in front of him and he doesn't sound too happy."
"Great. I mean, sure, no problem." Bakker went to his desk and grabbed his scruffy leather jacket from the back of the chair. Corso, who sat reading a newspaper across from him, looked up from his newspaper.
"What's up?" Corso asked.
"Chief wants me to go with him over to the pathologist."
"What for?"
"To check out some people who were on my list."
"What list?"
"From the obituaries."
"Your old schoolmates again?"
"Not this time. Maybe you can give Detective Wall a tour of the office."
Corso got up from his desk. "No time, I have to go out on patrol. Coffee break is over. Have fun," Corso said, as he put on his jacket and checked his gun.
"Don't mind me," Wall said. "I'll find someone to show me around."
"Let's go Bakker," Ribb commanded.