Chapter 10 Panic

04:28

That was a blow. And it wasn’t only a shock for hundreds of students, to whom the disappearance of Henryk Tamka was a cause of utter surprise and disbelief. It was also a trigger that rose panic among the University employees. The atmosphere during classes and lectures changed from slow absorption into winter months and diminished enthusiasm of the first semester of the academic year into a mutually shared terror. Suddenly, students were gathering in groups, whispering to each other in small study rooms, sharing fears and worries. Henryk Tamka was not only popular among students, but he was also popular among his co-workers and, as such, his disappearance couldn’t go amiss. His absence even caused students to organize groups of safety, in which no one would be forced to come home in the evening or at night alone. Professors formed a united front against the potential murderer and they were willing to testify at all times and provide the police with all necessary data.

‘I’m not sure what to make of it, to be honest,’ Jakub Krakowski handed Robert a cup of tea ‘Now it’s Tamka. If it was up to me, I’d tell that Tamka got drunk and he’s still alive somewhere in his friend’s apartment. Or that he had some family matters and went away. He wasn’t a victim type.’

Robert Rej shrugged.

‘I don’t know. It might have been a coincidence. Woźniak and Tamka happened to get lost at the same time. But both were teaching history and working at the same university. You told me that Tamka wasn’t a great employee, right?’

‘Henryk was very friendly, to say the least. But you know, you cannot really share knowledge that you don’t possess. Sometimes I had a feeling that all his academic achievements were due to his friendships with various lady professors. I wish you would check on him. I don’t have the keys to Tamka’s flat, though. I don’t know any of his friends. He was a busy man. I rarely saw him at the lectures.’

‘I have his keys,’ Robert said, ‘There are a lot of people interested in his disappearance. University officials phoned to the police immediately after they noticed his absence at work. The police have already been there. I was told that the flat was a mess. Someone had searched it through. Officers didn’t find anything of significance. I’m going to go there at night. I’ll try to pay attention to more detail. Again, what kind of professor was he?’

‘Ah, Robert. I didn’t know him that well. He was slow. He always dragged his lectures. I had a visitation once or twice, usual academic control. He was always late. I heard that he had problems with finishing his theses. We all helped him, but you know, the academic world is about achievements, competition, brilliance. He lacked some aspects of it. But he was popular. Girls liked him.’

‘Did he have enemies? Was there someone who might have some grudge against him?’

Krakowski shrugged. Then he slowly sipped the rest of his coffee.

‘I have no idea. Maybe he had some professional problems. Maybe he put some student into trouble. I wouldn’t like to write my thesis under his supervision. He might forget that he was supposed to be at its defense. But other than that, he was quite respected. He was funny. He dressed well. ’

Robert Rej finished his tea and left Krakowski’s flat. He got into his car and drove to Lena’s language school. He waited a quarter of an hour before she finally appeared in front of the building and got into the car.

‘Hungry?’, Robert pointed to the nearest McDonald’s.

Lena nodded and they parked the car near the Central Station.

Evening shadows were hanging over Warsaw. Some travelers were waiting for trains, other stopped by to do the shopping after work before heading home. Some took their kids for a fast-food meal, as they failed at preparing a decent supper at home. Over the dinner table, burgers, fries and plastic cups of Coca Cola Robert and Lena were discussing recent events.

‘And what about students? Have you noticed any changes? Do they know something we should know?’

‘Tamka is now a gossip material. Every conversation starts or ends with some mention of him. They think it was an accident. Or a suicide. They don’t know anything about Woźniak. No one really connects the two cases. But there is something strange about Tamka. I asked one lecturer what she thought about him missing and she went pale. Her hands were shaking. I thought she would burst into tears. She was devastated. I think she was his friend.’

‘You should keep an eye on her. Maybe she knows something. We’re going to his flat this evening. I’m on duty, by the way. I don’t want you to be seen. Stop wearing these Matrix clothes.’

‘On duty?’

‘Yes, I let myself be assigned to Tamka’s case. Woźniak is a private deal. My free time. Tamka is officially missing. We will have some people questioned. Possibly even students.’

‘You’ll kill two birds with one stone. You will have access to the University and you will be able to ask about Woźniak.’

‘More or less. Come, it’s getting darker. We’d better set off.’

Henryk Tamka’s flat was a nice four-room apartment in the Saska Kępa district of Warsaw. The flat was situated nearby the Parisian street, the block consisted of eight of such apartments. The building bore the signs of time, but the staircase was renovated and Tamka’s front door seemed brand new.

When they entered the flat, the mess seemed less spectacular than the one coming from the policemen’s stories. Some things from the drawers were lying on the floor, the doors of the wardrobes were open, but no clothes seemed to be missing. There was a brand new TV set, a couple of books, some magazines on motorization. Tamka owned quite a big collection of wines. His window panes were an exhibition of vases. It seemed that his set of furniture was changed not a long time before, as his pillows matched his sofas, his sofas went well with his armchairs, while his curtains and drawers matched everything else.

‘Are you sure that he worked as a professor?’ Lena was visibly surprised.

‘What makes you doubt that?’

‘Haven’t you looked around?’

‘Yes. And haven’t you been to your place? You bought a new set of furniture, but you pay for the room the same amount of money you paid for a place at the dorm. Tamka might have inherited the flat or even in time bought it with his own money. Maybe he had rich parents.’

‘Rich parents are always a good thing to have.’

‘I doubt it,’ Robert was actually sure about what he was saying ‘Rich parents prevent you from living your life. They have their expectations which you have to meet. If your dreams are slightly below their level, you’re not really respected. Besides, I wouldn’t like to live a life in which money is my highest priority.’

‘Yeah, but wouldn’t you like to earn enough to make all your dreams come true? Wouldn’t it make you happier?’

‘Being rich is better than being poor, I believe. But my father in law was rich. I had never been as unhappy in my life as when I had him around. I was afraid to touch the taps we had at home. Not to mention his daughter.’

‘I believe that came from a different reason,’ Lena laughed ‘Fine. Tamka wasn’t poor. That’s for sure. Maybe someone from the University was jealous? He was a bad academic but he had money, that seems unfair. I think the academic world is highly competitive. They fight for grants. Tamka had few academic achievements but he flowed in luxury.’

For some time they were searching through Tamka’s drawers. Robert searched through documents in Tamka’s desk. He found some train tickets, invitations to events, receipts, and guarantees of purchased goods.

‘One thing intrigues me,’ he said.

‘Yes?’

‘Why every second week he went to Cracov?’

‘Cracov?’

‘Yes. Look at these! There are his train tickets. For the last five years every second Friday evening he headed to Cracov and returned also by train on Sunday evening.’

‘This seems familiar. Gabriel rings a bell? I used to do exactly the same. Well, occasionally I came back on Monday morning. People have connections in Cracov. Maybe he had some relationship there. Or family members. Or conferences.’

‘I doubt that all academic conferences are held every second weekend particularly in Cracov.’

‘You’d be surprised how often they like to meet and read their papers. Maybe he had a lover there. We should check it.’

‘We will check it. Actually, we will go by the same train. This weekend he was supposed to go there again. I hope you have no plans for the upcoming Friday.’

‘Cracov?’

‘That’s right!’

Lena frowned. She actually believed this chapter of her life had been already closed.