Richard Pages E-Book

L. R. Cerna y March

• Herausgeber: Books on Demand
• Kategorie: Krimi
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 164

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2016

Beschreibung

Richard Pages is simultaneously a monster and an angel; a perpetrator and a victim. The fiction is the case presentation of this Richard Pages, which means, the narrator is the main character in the story. The story is not narrated from the third person point of view, the story is narrated without experts' opinions and analyses in a dogmatic way that means beyond white or black hats. He is indefatigable and periodically moving from one place to another. The story starts in Heidelberg (Germany), continues in Guernsey (Channel Island), Edinburgh (Scotland), San Juan, Durango, Santa Fe (New Mexico and Colorado USA), returns to Heidelberg and Edinburgh/London, continues in Hamburg (Germany), Oberjoch (Germany), Chambéry (France), Barcelona (Spain), Kraków (Poland), and finishes in Munich (Germany). After a while, Edinburgh becomes his main residence. What does the reader think of Richard Pages? Does he lose his reverence for all life? Does he know what reverence means? Is he guilty or not guilty, that's here the question the reader must solve for himself? In the story there is no behavioral analysis, no significant justice investigations; it is just the presentation of some moments in Richard Pages' life between 1973 and 1990. Richard Pages is the output of his circumstances and doesn't feel guilty when killing. He is a mass murderer, a serial killer, a killing machine able to love and logically a contradictio in adjecto between killing and loving with a huge secret in his life. He almost get redemption twice in his life, but does he deserve redemption? It is up to the reader to give him the subjective redemption or condemnation he may need. The goal in publishing this fiction is literature at its best. It never intends to be a scientific study of motivations and characteristics of serial murderers. Thought processes, motivations and behaviors can be derived as side effect form the presentation, but have primarily nothing to do with the presented story.

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Stella Schmitt

Chapter 2 Sarah Downing

Chapter 3 Monika Lachmann

Chapter 4 Fatema Dochta Zakariya

Chapter 5 Frederike Stechow

Chapter 6 Siloé Barré

Chapter 7 Katarina Ramakow

Epilog

Chapter 1

Stella Schmitt

The new main railway station of Heidelberg was a through station, unlike the first station, a terminus station from 1840. The new one was located one kilometer to the west of the old one. At the time I arrived to Heidelberg on Sunday, 28 October 1973, the station was considered to be the most beautiful and architecturally interesting building of the German Railroad Company. At least, this was what the teacher had told us in 1972 at the time we had made a school excursion to Heidelberg.

Now in 1973 I had an admission to the university and had to register next day, Monday, 29 October. Until I got my room in the dormitories at Klausenpfad, I presently had to find the place where I was going to stay, i.e. a kind of ‘bed and breakfast room’ in Bergheim within walking distance from the station, easy to find, close to St Albert’s church.

After registration at the Old University, located at the east side of the University Square with the fountain, I had to look for information, buy a students’ card for public transportation in Heidelberg, check in Alfred Weber Institut, go back to Neue Uni, find the different locations and explore all other places before going to Klausenpfad.

Registration on 29 October at the Old University took about 2 hours and everything went smoothly. At information I got hand-outs with the necessary data concerning the students’ life: places to eat downtown with coupons, meeting point called Kakaobunker, located under the main entrance of the New University, institutes and offices of public transportations.

I had lunch at the main mensa, a kind of students’ dining hall, and former stable, and after getting the month ticket for public transportation, I visited the Kakaobunker at the cellar with the taste of a shelter under the New University. It had two access ways from the main entrance with its famous inscription ‘to the living Spirit’ above, either right hand to the main stairs at the west side or left hand to the other stairs at the east side of the building where I had an opportunity to talk about anything to many unknown people. The Kakaobunker consisted of one large corridor with wardrobe and a row of a few rectangular tables leading to the main room with square tables, a counter, a short corridor with access to the counter and to the east stairs with exit to the teachers’ parking and a second room at the end of the building. People had access from both rooms to the counter which obviously was open to both sides. The meeting point was equally for teachers and students and had a chronical chairs’ deficit. You get a chair and the world is alright. I bought a cup of coffee at the counter and looked for a seat. My first neighbor was Aurelia Sommer, a German teacher at the Interpreters’ Institute; she was a strong-bodied, 164cm high and 58kg heavy person with short black hair and blue eyes. Her face was round, her profile convex; she had a finely chiselled mouth, a nice up-standing Bavarian chest and she gave me the impression to think first before talking, and her boyfriend Anton Tiede. Anton was a medical student; a meager-bodied, 182cm high and 72kg heavy person with black hair and black eyes. His face was oval, his profile plane and seemed to be always in a positive minded mood with his clear tenor voice. He gave me the first quick instructions for easy navigating in Heidelberg:

- "Did you arrive to Heidelberg by train?" he asked passing me the sugar

- "Yes and I have a room in Bergheim not far away from St. Albert's, later I will move to Klausenpfad" I said while putting a spoonful of sugar in my coffee

- "I see. You arrived to the train station and walked the Mittermaier Street until the corner Bergheimer Street, didn't you?" he said while someone asked for the sugar and we passed it to him.

- "Indeed, that’s the way I came!" I said after making place for somebody at my left

- "Well, think now you are at the corner. By the way, your institute is located at the same corner, just crossing the street. If you look to the left, the street takes you to the freeway Heidelberg-Mannheim. If you look straight, the street takes you to the Walzbrücke, and Berliner Street. If you look to the right, the street takes you to downtown, at the left side between Bergheim and Neckar you find most institutes, hospitals, etc. of the faculty of medicine, then you arrive to Bismarck square with Horten and Woolworth, crossing the square you arrive to Haupt Street. The Haupt Street ends at Karlstor via University Square. You can take the streetcar for doing this too. You find left and right of the Haupt Street most of the institutes and class rooms of the university. At the University Square you find Alte and Neue Uni with the big lecture rooms and our beloved Kakaobunker. At the other side of the street you find the famous library of the university. At Kornmarkt you find the Heiliggeistkirche and have a wonderful view to the castle" he said while making place for somebody to occupy behind him a free seat at the next table

- "What about going to Klausenpfad?" I asked him in that vivid environment

- "For Klausenpfad you cross the Walzbrücke, walk the Berliner Street until you reach Bunsen High School or take the streetcar until last station, i.e. Bunsen High School, and change to the bus to "Schwimmbad". I think this may help you navigating in Heidelberg the next days without consulting the city map", once again somebody was asking for the sugar

- "Wow, this was a concise and exhaustive instruction; easy to keep in mind too. Thank you very much, Anton" I said while passing the sugar to the next table

- "Don't mention it!" he said satisfied to have helped.

They also told me that only the main mensa had open for dinner. The other two in downtown were only for lunch, i.e Haus der Begegnung at Merian Street, not far away from the Studenten Karzer, and Collegium Academicum at Seminar Street. The best mensa was the one of the PH, and there was also another mensa at Klausenpfad, good for me to know this because it was going to be my residence during the first semesters in Heidelberg. Before leaving, we appointed us for the following day after lunch.

In the afternoon, I went to Klausenpfad to register for my room. As Anton already said, I had to take the streetcar and change to the bus at the last station called Bunsen-Gymnasium, that means Bunsen High School. The bus went via Zoo to Schwimmbad and I had to get out at the station before Schwimmbad. The complex consisted of a big parking, three high buildings, dormitory I, II and III, and a flat one with the mensa and a groceries’ store in underground, a big hall and the Studienkolleg on the ground floor and two dormitory levels on top. My room was located at dormitory I, second floor, which means the one closer to the parking and bus station. Everything went alright and I had confirmation I could move in on Wednesday, 31 October.

Before going to my room in Bergheim, I visited the Alfred Weber Institut to get the latest information before the semester started.

Next day, 30 October, I met Aurelia and Anton at Kakaobunker and we spent a few hours with some other friends of theirs, that is to say:

Stella Schmitt, an advanced student of pharmacology, a fine-bodied, 166cm high and 58kg heavy person with blond hair and blue eyes. Her face was oval, her profile plane; she had a seducing mouth, a talkative tongue and a clear intellect and last, but not least a beautiful heavy breast.

Sarah Downing, a student of political economy, a fine-bodied, 176cm high and 68kg heavy person with dark-blond hair and blue eyes. Her face was long, her profile concave; she had a sweet fine mouth, an insubordinate tongue and also an attractive Scottish accent.

Henning Koller, another student of law, a strong-bodied, 174cm high and 73kg heavy person with black hair and brown eyes. His face was long, his profile convex and he had a smart look.

Monika Lachmann, a student of political economy, a fine-bodied, 156cm high and 53kg heavy person with brown hair and beautiful blue eyes. Her face was square, her profile plane; she had a North-German mouth and accent, light understanding and also a charming speech.

Fatema Dochta Zakariya, another student of political economy, a fine-bodied, 164cm high and 52kg heavy person with black hair and dark eyes. Her face was heart, her profile plane; she had rosy lips, beautiful accent, a clear brain and also an attractive and sunny nature.

Frederike Stechow, a student of law, a fine-bodied, 166cm high and 54kg heavy person with blond hair and blue eyes. Her face was heart, her profile convex-concave; she had a sweet mouth, a friendly manner and a nice voice.

Siloé Barré, a student of political economy, a fine-bodied, 162cm high and 50kg heavy person with dark hair and blue eyes. Her face was diamond, her profile plane; she had a delirious mouth, a nice French accent and also an attractive nature.

And Katarina Ramakow, a student of languages, a fine-bodied, 160cm high and 50kg heavy person with blond hair and blue eyes. Her face was triangle, her profile convex; she had a Polish mouth with the corresponding accent, a keen mind and also an attractive look.

This was later going to become our club.

The meetings became almost a ceremony for all of us and our relations improved greatly. We used to move sometimes to the inside patio in front of the Hexenturm or to the large stone bench between main entrance of the university and parking. We also got knowledge of some unique types around, like the English teacher Rudy at the Interpreters’ Institute, a typical playboy with his collection of red-hair-ladies, the never-do-well Erasmo and the ambulant vendor Martin with all his magazines.

We started meeting on weekends at different places, mostly at Anton’s and Henning’s place because they had more room. Later in summer, we also did some excursions together and affinities frequently came out. My first excursion with the group was the Philosophenweg, Philosophers' Path, Way or Walk, the former Linsenbühlerweg, a simple path through the vineyards in the 17th and 18th centuries, became the Philosophenweg in the late Romantic period. While walking the way, Aurelia explained the name.

- "Richard, do you know the origin of the name?" she asked pointing at the sign with the name ‘Philosophenweg’

- "Well, if you ask me that I am sure the obvious answer won't be the right one!" I answered trying to look smart

- "Indeed, some people say the change of name may be traced to the fact that Heidelberg’s university professors and philosophers, like Hölderlin or Eichendorff, found this path a congenial place where they could talk seriously and contemplate while enjoying the charming view of the Neckar. On the other hand, some others say that in the 19th century the words "student" and "philosopher" were synonymous due to the fact that students had to start studying philosophy before beginning their proper studies" she finished ex cathedra

- "I see, the time of the seven liberal arts" I said feeling smart

- "Liberal is the right word for couples using the path at that time for twosomeness, etc." Anton said looking very innocent

- "That figures to you, Anton!" Aurelia added with a light disgusted tone

Aurelia was a nice German teacher with an additional job as supervisor of a rooming house for students at Haupt Street 240, where Fatema, Siloé and Sarah lived. In Sarah's terminology in university context, dormitories and rooming houses were halls of residence or simply halls.

The scenic route ‘Philosophenweg’ was established in 1817. We continued walking and talking and discovering postcard views of Heidelberg, fantastic views across the Neckar to the Castle, as well as memorial stones referring for instance to Eichendorff; a sandstone stele with a poet’s bronze or the Merian-Kanzel, a sandstone platform from where in 1620 Matthäus Merian certainly immortalized Heidelberg in an engraving, or the Hölderlin area at the eastern end of the Philosophenweg which was dedicated to the poet Hölderlin.

The walking also offered areas of colourful gardens, and spots with unusual plants and trees. The unique site and the warm climate of the city made many sub-tropical plants flourish along the walk. One could see there yucca trees, Japanese cherry, Spanish broom, Portuguese cherry, lemon, rhododendrons, cypresses, pomegranate, gingko, bamboos, pines, palms, almond trees and, and, and... Everything blooms weeks earlier in that corner.

After having done the 2 kilometers of the walk forth and back, we decided to continue hiking to the top of the hill, called Heiligenberg, visited the ruins of the churches and the Thingstätte, ate a sausage with chips at the service area and took the bus back to town. This was a tour we all liked very much and did walk many times.

One day I was second at Kakaobunker and wondered about Sarah’s doing and she explained to me that she had to check her sugar values frequently due to her diabetes. Then Anton and Henning came in and started a very interesting introductory lecture about diabetes, toxicology and forensics. Main message was, that by diabetic patients there is always a credible explanation for shot traces and that some injected toxic substances are not easy to detect in forensics if the coroner doesn’t know what to specifically look for, unlike swallowed pills easy to find as left-over in the victims’ stomach. Meanwhile all club members were present and we started suggesting some activities we could do together.

For the following semester, Henning suggested we could do some sports at the Sports Institute of the university. Within the frame of "General Studies" the university offered some sports to all students. We decided to register for table tennis and sauna if the timetable fitted to ours. Henning got the details and we decided to register for table tennis on Wednesdays 17:00-18:30h and sauna on 19:00-19:45h.

Except for Aurelia and Stella, the ladies of our group were all diabetic and had to make sure to check this point with their doctors. Since there were no objections we proceeded as suggested, and observing the precautions the doctors had specified, like having time after time an ‘emergency snack’ in the pocket.

The Sports Institute was sited adjacently to the dormitories in Klausenpfad. That's why I suggested, after sports, to walk to my place and have ‘Brotzeit’, our dinner, in there. We could use the floor kitchen or go to the top floor of my building and use the ‘social rooms’ up there and later have a drink in one of the bars I, II or III in the corresponding cellars. The bus to town departed daily at 21:15h, 21:45h, 22:15h and 22:45h. The last bus left daily at 23:15h.

Some times during our ‘Brotzeit’ the ladies checked their sugar values and when necessary they injected themselves their treatment or we, Aurelia, Stella, Henning, Anton or me, did it for them. After a while we were all experts in injecting insulin.

Stella frequently stayed overnight at my place.

The moments with Stella were a new experience for me. None of my words meant I wished females to tell me the way I should go. Until then, I’d run away when some good willed person spontaneously attempted to convince me to follow his or her advice. No matter if it was supposed to be good for me. Like a snail, I coiled back in my shell and have had it my way, for my best or my worst... I never gave time to time but kept going ahead. A sheer chance catapulted me into the world of poisons by means of the first woman I could accept, maybe because she never intended to possess me. It was my second winter in Heidelberg and I had just commenced in summer that unique relationship with Stella. We were the best adult team one can imagine.

One evening, sitting on the large stone bench in front of the main entrance of our university, we were eating our sandwiches, talking about Anton’s and Henning’s opinion about undiscovered murders, and after discussing whom we wanted to kill most she said:

- “The point is not to kill somebody, but to commit a perfect crime with an unsuspicious tool. My uncle brought from overseas a bunch of exotic crops from which I organized some that I would like to transform in highly toxic substances”

And I replied:

- “It sounds risky and interesting for people with insane imagination”

We kept talking about the crops and about all she knew about them and that she needed an aid to assist her in the experiments. She asked me to be her assistant and a refusal would have been out of the question. The feeling of connivance was stimulating for a boy like me at that time. It was like having the first shot for an addict. It was 22:00h as we left the university with the famous inscription. That night I didn’t sleep a single second at all due to my excitement and to the fact that we were trying to find good time windows for the time we were going to be working together. Her apartment was going to become our laboratory and we were going to need a lot of implements.

The workshops were slow and grinding since we didn’t have time to work more than a few hours every second day; it was as good as a complete master’s training in a chemistry school. Besides, we had to prepare and carefully schedule every next session.

First of all we had to catalogue her uncle’s various crops she had managed to organize. We had barks of Strychnos toxifera, Curarea toxicofera, Curarea tecunarum, Strychnos guianensis, Chondrodendron tomentosum and Sciadotenia toxifera, some kinds of Telitoxicum, Abuta and Caryomene, some snake venom, and some extract of venomous ants. This was a very hard job for a botanic and animal toxin ignorant like I was. I preferred catching frogs, giving them the injections, and counting the number of leaps frogs would take after being pricked.

Then, we proceeded step by step, i.e. we prepared a concentrate separately from each bark specimen: boiling the items in water for 48 hours, later straining and evaporating the concentrates until each of them became a heavy, viscid and dark paste, which we first didn’t dare to taste because we didn’t know if the paste had harmful effects if orally ingested. Later we learned the poison must get into the blood system to affect the neuromuscular transmission and it doesn’t hurt to eat something killed by this poison. Well, all the pastes had a very bitter taste as we found out later. It was our first step towards our curare production.

At that level, the toxic potency was not strong enough for large mammals. The aim was to reduce its volume, improve toxicity and therefore the handling.

According to secondary literature, coroners can detect curare only if they search for it. That means, if at first sight the context is unsuspicious nobody will look for it; and that had to be proved.

Some months later, we obtained a blend paste with a toxic index of 1g per 10kg of human body weight. That meant, for a normal human of 80kg we needed to inject 8g of the paste, still much too much! Imperative for a lethal effect is that the toxic concentration in one single exposure must be sufficient to cause the desired toxicity; otherwise, the victims recover and have no ill effects.