An Inspector Schrenk Story
by Adrian Thomé
Please note: American English spelling is used in this book.
Table of Contents
The Double Bass Player
About the story
1. A Child Prodigy - The Freedom of Imprisonment
2. The Escape - Act 1
3. A psychogram - the two worlds of music
4. Gifted - return to the unknown
5. Pianissimo - everything we hear is music!
6. Paternal love - an eye for an eye, an ear for an ear
7. Tak tak tak - there can only be one
8. The bait -preparing the trap
9. Making a musical instrument - cold steel for a warm sound
10. The measure of all things - a performance to be remembered forever
11. The bait - Symphony in D major
12. Practice! Amateurs pollute the air!
13. The interval - play for your life
14. Solo - the final concert
15. Shock - a thousand deaths without a solo
About the author
Imprint
The world-famous double bass player Dimitri Sachow escapes from prison one morning. His career path is unusual: from child prodigy to serial murderer.
A melody is Inspector Schrenk's first point of reference. In order to prevent further murders by the psychopathic virtuoso, Schrenk enters into a strange musical world.
A bizarre composer, a fictitious concerto, and a father obsessed with perfection, lead him to the scene of the last gruesome murder.
The short crime story 'The Double Bass Player' reflects some of the more bizarre facets of the modern cultural world.
‘Sachow wasn’t our average inmate,’ prison director Schlosser explained to Inspector Schrenk.
‘He just isn’t up to the job’, Schrenk thought to himself. It had been obvious that one day or another one of his prisoners would manage to escape.
‘He spent his time here like a lamb among wolves,’ Schlosser continued. ‘Instead of leading a bleak existence like the rest of the inmates, he’d sit in the library composing.’
‘How could you grant a psychopath like Sachow so many liberties?’ Inspector Schrenk asked. He rejected Schlosser’s fashionable rehabilitation methods. In fact, he struggled with everything modern. ‘Sachow is a mad serial killer, and you let him roam the prison park unattended. You could have just as well sent him off on a sightseeing tour!’
‘There are prisoners who’ll spit you in the face with contempt, Inspector,’ Schlosser said, defending himself, ‘and describe to you in vivid detail the things they’ll do to your wife once they’re out.’ The thought had made him nervous, he was fumbling with his wedding ring. ‘Sachow was different. He showed remorse for his …’
‘Remorse?’ Schrenk cut in. ‘According to the criminal psychologist he had a highly traumatic childhood: violent, tyrannical father uses force to turn son into a prodigy. In Dr Gässler’s interrogation report I read that after each mistake, the old man would clutch young Dimitri’s fingers between the strings of the double bass and then slowly squeeze them together. How can Sachow show remorse for something raging deep down inside him?’
‘Stop lecturing me!’ Schlosser snapped, evading the question. ‘Now if you don’t mind I’ll show you Sachow’s cell. It’s enough that the interior minister’s giving me hell.’ Schlosser accompanied Schrenk out. ‘You’d prefer to see our prisoners rotting away on nothing but bread and water, wouldn’t you, Inspector?’
He gave Schrenk a conciliatory pat on the shoulder.
‘You’re not entirely wrong, I’ll give you that. At least I wouldn’t have to be chasing a serial killer who enjoys crucifying his victims on a double bass.’