LYNCH LAW
They watch the video a third time. The cut to black at the end is very effective. Someone knows what they’re doing.
“Maybe he’s still alive,” Michael tries to spread some optimism. “After all, we didn’t see how . . .”
“You don’t really believe that,” says Jenny. “I bet they only cut the video like that so it wouldn’t be removed so quickly.”
“Where did it first appear?” asks Yasira.
“I don’t know yet,” says Jenny. “I just discovered it on an 8kun board on Active Homeland-Protection.”
“Isn’t there any way to get hold of the people who run this filthy site?” asks Michael.
“They’re based in Manila,” says Jenny.
“How I hate all this crap,” grumbles Michael.
“And I haven’t even told you the best part about 8kun yet,” says Jenny. “One of the administrators, Ron Watkins—his father owns the site—is apparently one of the people who posted there under the pseudonym Q.”
“Q from QAnon?” asks Michael.
Jenny nods.
“The gun, with which Snoopy was shot . . .” Yasira starts.
“Yes?” asks Jenny.
“Is it the same submachine gun that Bear presented in his first video?”
“Possibly,” says Jenny.
“Possibly?”
“Looks like it. I wrote to Karsten, but haven’t heard back from him yet. It’s definitely an MP5, too. But even if it’s the same model, that doesn’t prove anything, of course. It’s a very common weapon.”
“I know, I know.” Yasira thinks for a moment. “I want to talk to that guy. To the brown bear. As soon as possible!”
“He’s a problem bear now,” adds Michael.
“Unfortunately, we haven’t got any leads on him yet,” admits Jenny.
“Goddammit!” Yasira curses. “How can that be?”
“He’s not as stupid as he looks.”
“Then put out a search warrant for him!”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” says Michael.
“What?” Yasira is speechless.
“Don’t get me wrong . . . If he’s the bastard who’s going all Dirty Harry on us, then we have to catch him. But so far we’ve got nothing but a similar weapon.”
“Well, let me tell you, the right wingers on the net aren’t as hesitant as you are,” Jenny interjects. “They have all the evidence they need to celebrate Bear as their hero of the hour.”
“Of course!” exclaims Yasira. “Why wouldn’t they? The guy practically said in one of his videos that he wanted to find Lena’s rapist and slaughter him.”
“Yes, but only practically,” replies Michael.
“I’m just considering whether we should really add fuel to the fire in the current tense situation.
Because that’s what we’re doing when we put him out to be wanted even though we don’t have any solid evidence yet.
If I were you, I’d at least try to pass on the responsibility. ”
Yasira sighs. “All right. I’ll talk to the boss.”
She sends Steven Gebhardt the link and calls him at home right away. The boss is already watching the video when he picks up the phone. Even before the submachine gun goes off, he is already furious.
“Who do these people think they are?” he shouts. “Where do they think they live? In the Wild West?”
What a strangely old-fashioned turn of phrase, Yasira thinks. The boss really is from another generation—probably read a lot of Westerns back in the day.
“I’d like to . . .” she begins.
“Do you have any leads on the identity of this murderer?” she is interrupted by Steven Gebhardt.
“Leads, yes. Evidence, no. But the indications point to Bear.”
“The one from Active Homeland-Protection?”
Yasira nods.
“I’d like to issue a search warrant for him,” says Yasira. “Or we can search for him as a witness first.”
“Issue the search warrant!” Steven Gebhardt shouts. “Better yesterday than today. I need results, Ms. Saad. And quickly. Find this self-appointed avenger! Find the rapists and find the girl! Preferably alive.”
“Yeah,” Yasira says. Wishing doesn’t hurt. Not that it helps either.
“We need to prove that the rule of law works!” shouts her boss. “And not next week or in a month!”
“Yes, boss.”
“All our resources are at your disposal,” Gebhardt says. “You have carte blanche!” Then he hangs up.
For the first time, Yasira realizes that this case could not only cost her head and neck.
Her boss is also worried. The opposition is already demanding consequences from the interior minister.
Eventually the pressure will become so great that consequences will have to follow.
The minister will certainly not want to resign herself.
And Yasira may be a too small sacrificial pawn.
So Steven Gebhardt could be affected too.
As discussed, Yasira has a nationwide search warrant issued for Bear.
The response is prompt. The same people who celebrated Bear as their hero after the execution video on the basis of circumstantial evidence are now condemning the police for issuing a wanted notice for Bear on the basis of “only” the same circumstantial evidence. Some people have their own logic.
Unfortunately, they don’t get very far with their search this Sunday.
Bear remains a phantom. All leads about his identity or whereabouts turn up nothing.
Either he is a loner or his people are fiercely loyal to him.
He also seems to have gone into hiding before his first video. Perhaps he’s even abroad.
At the end of this fruitless day, when almost everyone except Michael and Yasira has already left, Jenny knocks again.
“There’s something you should know,” she says.
“I assume it’s nothing pleasant,” Yasira replies.
“No.”
“We’re in the wrong profession for that,” says Michael. “If you like good news, then you should have . . .” he hesitates. Obviously he can’t think of a profession where you get showered with good news.
“I just wanted you to know that online you’re being blamed for the alleged ‘manhunt’ for Bear,” says Jenny.
Michael looks as if to say, I told you so. Yasira massages her forehead.
“Your name and picture are doing the rounds in right-wing forums and chat groups,” Jenny continues.
“What about my address?” asks Yasira. She has a queasy feeling in her stomach.
“So far I haven’t come across it. At least not your private address. The office address, yes, but that’s no secret.”
“What about my daughter?”
Jenny shakes her head.
“Nothing yet.”
“Let me know if our address, Zara’s name, or the name of her school turns up anywhere.”
“Of course.”
Yasira tries to play it off, but the news shocks her.
In all her years in the police force, she has never been personally threatened.
From now on, she’ll probably have to look over her shoulder when she leaves the office to make sure she’s not being followed.
These people cannot be allowed to find out where she lives. Where her daughter lives.