“I would also like to extend a special welcome—as well as condolences—to our two visiting special agents from the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Chief Warrant Officers Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor.” She looked at them. “We will find justice for your fallen colleague.”
Taylor said, “Thank you.”
Brodie nodded.
Whitmore continued, “Everyone in this room has the proper security clearance to hear the information that will be presented. Feel free to take written notes, but please no recording devices. Now”—she gestured around the room—“I’d like to have everyone introduce themselves, so we all know who’s who. I am Agent Sharon Whitmore of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the senior legal attaché for the Berlin embassy.” She looked to her left, where Jason Butler was sitting.
“Agent Jason Butler, FBI. Assistant legal attaché.”
The general was next. “General Frank Kiernan. U.S. Army. Defense attaché.” He added, “I am in constant communication with senior officials in all branches of the German military, who are keeping a close watch on this case due to the obvious national security implications. But I will leave it to German civilian law enforcement”—he gestured to Schröder and Soliman—“to determine what, if any, intelligence is to be shared with their military counterparts.”
In other words, the general’s German military contacts were going to want to know what was said in this room, and Kiernan was assuring the BKA and Berlin PD that he was tight-lipped. The web of competing agendas, loyalties, and bureaucracies represented around this table was migraine-inducing.
The man next to Kiernan said, “David Kim, FBI. Here from the New York field office.”
That was interesting, thought Brodie. Outside talent. The only reason Brodie could think of for bringing David Kim all the way from New York was that he was a counterterrorism specialist.
Next was the young woman in the tan suit. “Sarah Hopkins, assistant tothe ambassador. He regrets he can’t be here, but he’s in Frankfurt on official diplomatic business.”
Brodie wondered if that official diplomatic business had come up right after the ambassador heard about the murder. Nothing good would come from him getting involved with this mess, and he knew it, but, as per protocol, he needed a representative in the room. Plus, Ms. Hopkins could tell her boss what was said, and by whom.
Howard Fensterman, the State Department guy, stated his name and added, “I am the Counselor for Political Affairs in the Bilateral Relations and Policy Unit.”
Well, that was a mouthful that probably didn’t mean much to anyone outside of Foggy Bottom. Brodie wondered if Mr. Fensterman had any role in this investigation beyond reporting on this sensitive case to the nervous Nellies in the State Department.
The Germans were up next, and Schröder went first. “Chief Inspector Erlich Schröder. I am in the State Security Division of the Bundeskriminalamt. We are taking the lead on this investigation and working in close coordination with the Homicide Division of the Berlin Police.”
In other words, Chief Inspector Schröder was in charge, and Berlin PD probably couldn’t make a move without looping in the Feds. If it turned out that poor Harry Vance was just a random victim killed for his iPhone, the BKA would quickly surrender control of this case to the Berlin Police. But Brodie doubted if anyone in this room believed that Mr. Vance’s untimely death was not somehow related to what he did for a living, and a clue to that was that in addition to Harry Vance’s missing iPhone was Harry Vance’s missing eye.
Captain Soliman was next. “Captain Omar Soliman. Berlin Police, District Five, Homicide Division. My jurisdiction includes the borough of Neukölln, where the body was discovered.”
That explained what Captain Soliman was doing here. If it weren’t for the potential national security implications of this homicide, this would probably be his case alone.
Brodie’s turn. He introduced himself and added, “I believe I am unique among the people in this room in that I knew Mr. Vance, from my CID training many years ago. If I think I can offer any particular insight from that experience, I won’t hesitate to share it.”
That detail seemed to interest everyone in the room. Agent Whitmore said, “Thank you, Mr. Brodie. Good to know.”
Brodie hoped Taylor was appreciative of her partner for projecting the image of a helpful and eager team member instead of a total asshole. It’s always best to set the bar low before clearing it.
And last but not least, Maggie Taylor. “Warrant Officer Maggie Taylor, U.S. Army CID Special Agent. I did not know Mr. Vance personally, but he was a respected and valued colleague within CID. We all feel this loss, and we are determined to assist in delivering justice.”
So, thought Brodie, there it was. Ten blind mice, which was eight more than they needed.
Whitmore spoke. “Thank you, Ms. Taylor, and thank you, everyone, for your introductions. Before we get into the specifics of the case, I would like to briefly address the political climate in which this investigation is being conducted. Yesterday, just outside this embassy, a large far-right demonstration was held. The protest was quickly organized without permission from the city and included a number of individuals looking to foment violence.” Whitmore looked at Captain Soliman. “We rely on the Berlin Police to provide embassy security. One of your officers was assaulted, as you know. About a dozen people were arrested for various other incidents.”
Soliman nodded. “There were fourteen arrests.”
Whitmore asked, “And how is the injured officer?”
“A broken rib. But he’ll be okay.”
Whitmore nodded. “I’m happy to hear that. All right, we will first turn to Mr. Fensterman for a little more context.”
Howard Fensterman glanced at a sheet of paper in front of him. “Yes. Thank you, Agent Whitmore. One of the aspects of my job is to monitor and analyze the day-to-day political environment within Germany, as well as broader political trends within the country, and the significance of any of these developments as they relate to American interests.” He paused and looked around the table. “There is a rising white nationalist movement here in Germany. Its center of influence is in Dresden and other parts of the former East, where lagging economic growth and other factors provide fertile ground for right-wing populist influence driven in large part by a demonization of immigrants. Increasingly, these movements are findingtraction within Berlin itself. These extremists have been legitimized by one of Germany’s political parties, AfD—Alternative for Germany—which has a right-wing nationalist platform. They organized yesterday’s rally. AfD currently has eighty-nine seats in the Bundestag, making it the largest party in the opposition. Mr. Vance’s murder provides a perfect opportunity for them to amplify their anti-immigrant—and specifically anti-Muslim—rhetoric. They have officially condemned the assault of the police officer yesterday, which is in keeping with their pattern of using inciteful and inflammatory rhetoric and then distancing themselves when that rhetoric leads to unlawful and violent actions of their own making.”
Brodie eyed Captain Soliman and Chief Inspector Schröder, both of whom looked uncomfortable with Fensterman’s analysis.
Fensterman continued, “There are other groups in Germany with more extreme views and less political power than AfD, but they use AfD as a legitimizing front for their extremism. We believe that—regardless of the outcome of this investigation—Mr. Vance’s murder will be exploited as a galvanizing moment for an emboldened far-right movement. I’m not an investigator. I leave that job to others in this room. But I wish everyone to be mindful of the political environment in which this investigation is being conducted.” He added, “Thank you.”
