CHAPTER 203: APPREHENDED (GT)

Monday morning arrived far too quickly.

Lukas sat at his desk in the second row, the fluorescent lights humming faintly as half the class still fought off the remnants of sleep. It was break time, technically, but most students hadn’t even bothered to stand up. They just turned in their seats, whispering, throwing glances — not at each other, but at him.

He kept his head low, elbows on the desk, thumbs tapping on his phone in quick succession as he messaged Joanna.

Lukas: How’d you sleep? Still tired?

She had to wake up early that morning to head back to Darmstadt in time to not be late for class as he exam date was fast-approaching.

Joanna: Slightly. But I woke up smiling, so I blame you.

Lukas: Good. You should always wake up smiling.

Joanna: Careful, someone might think you’re flirting with me.

Lukas: I’m literally dating you.

Joanna: Even worse.

He couldn’t help the small smirk tugging one corner of his mouth.

A wave of whispers rose from behind him.

"There! He smiled— did you see that?"

"He’s even more handsome in real life..."

"God, imagine he looks at you like that—"

More footsteps at the door. Students from another class suddenly peered through the window panel, phones half-raised, trying to catch a glimpse. Even the boys tried to play it cool while stealing glances.

Lukas lowered his phone a little further, as if folding himself into his seat could somehow make him invisible. It didn’t.

His phone vibrated — the sharp buzz cutting through the low chatter.

Incoming call: Marco

He immediately declined the call and typed a message instead.

Lukas: In class.

Marco: Sorry — urgent. Good news. Can you come to the Frankfurt Police Presidium after school?

Lukas stared at the final message for a few seconds, breath caught in his chest.

Good news.

It had to be about the blackmail investigation.

He typed back:

Lukas: Yeah. I’ll come straight after lessons.

Marco: Perfect. I’ll meet you there.

The bell rang, shrill and echoing through the hall. Students stood, books shuffled, chairs scraped. A pair of girls paused near his desk, pretending to tie their shoelaces just to watch him walk out.

Lukas shoved his phone in his pocket, sighed softly, and slung his bag over his shoulder.

He could guess what the good news Marco was talking about was, and he was already itching to get to the station.

* * *

The sky had cleared up by the time Lukas stepped out of the taxi in front of the Polizeipräsidium Frankfurt am Main. His hood was up, hands tucked in his jacket pockets, and his backpack hung loosely from one shoulder.

Javi was already waiting by the entrance, hands clasped tightly in front of him, wearing that same half-concerned, half-trying-to-stay-calm expression Lukas had seen plenty of times in his previous life.

"Hey," Lukas said quietly.

Javi looked him over. "You okay?"

"Yeah. Just... wanna get this over with."

They walked inside together, past the security desk, following signs toward the Division for Cybercrime and Financial Offences. The hallways smelled faintly of printer ink and floor cleaner, and every few steps they walked past open offices filled with clicking keyboards and muted phone calls.

Marco was already there, standing rigidly beside two officers.

He looked exhausted.

He also looked furious.

"Lukas," he exhaled, stepping forward to squeeze his shoulder. "Thanks for coming."

"What’s going on?" Lukas asked.

One of the officers — a tall, middle-aged man with rectangular glasses and a trimmed beard — motioned them forward calmly.

"My name is Chief Inspector Reinhardt. Earlier this morning, we apprehended the individual responsible for the blackmail attempt. He is here." Reinhardt nodded toward the interrogation wing. "We wanted all of you present before we begin formal statements."

Lukas swallowed.

Even though he’d tried to prepare himself mentally, the reality of seeing the person who tried to extort him — extort Joanna — hit differently now that he was actually standing in a police station.

"Who... who is he?" Lukas asked carefully.

Reinhardt exchanged a look with the younger detective beside him — Officer Ulrich.

"A twenty-five-year-old male," Ulrich explained. "German national. No prior convictions. Works part-time for a logistics company in Frankfurt. He was found in possession of the photograph and the original email thread. He attempted to mask his IP using public Wi-Fi and VPNs, but—" he gave a tiny, satisfied smile "—not well enough."

Javi muttered under his breath, "At least he’s an idiot."

Marco didn’t even crack a smile. His jaw was set tight, his fist curling and uncurling.

"Do we know how he got the picture?" Lukas asked.

Reinhardt nodded. "Yes. He was hiding behind a security maintenance vehicle outside the ProfiCamp. He claims he didn’t originally intend to blackmail you — that he just wanted a good picture to sell. But later changed his mind after seeing rumors about Manchester City and Bayern Munich offering huge sums for you. He assumed you were ’rich enough to spare a hundred thousand.’ His words."

Javi’s nostrils flared.

Marco muttered something in Italian that Lukas suspected was not flattering.

Reinhardt motioned them toward a viewing window. "You may see him before we begin the paperwork. It sometimes helps victims understand the context better."

Lukas hesitated.

Javi placed a reassuring hand on his back.

"It’s your choice," he said softly.

After a brief pause, Lukas nodded. "I want to."

They stepped forward.

Behind the glass sat a thin, pale man in his mid-twenties. Dark circles under his eyes. Nervous leg bouncing nonstop. He kept rubbing his hands together and glancing at the door like a trapped animal.

He didn’t look dangerous.

He didn’t look powerful.

He didn’t look like someone who could ruin lives or spin newspapers into a frenzy.

He looked... small.

And for a terrifying second, Lukas pitied him.

But then he remembered Joanna.

And the knot in his stomach hardened.

Reinhardt cleared his throat. "We’re about to start questioning. Afterward, we will need your statements, Lukas... and yours as well, Herr Brandt." He looked at Marco. "And yours, of course."

"Is Joanna involved?" Lukas asked.

"Not at this stage," Reinhardt assured him. "There is no need to include her unless she wishes to submit a personal statement later. Since the photograph was taken in a public place, the crime pertains to the blackmail — not privacy violation."

Lukas nodded slowly.

Marco exhaled through his nose. "Good. The less she’s dragged into this, the better."

Javi stepped closer to Lukas. "You did nothing wrong. You hear me?"

"I know," Lukas murmured. "I just... hate that she had to be dragged into this because of me."

"That’s not on you," Marco said firmly. "That’s on him."

Ulrich signaled that the interrogation was about to start.

Reinhardt turned to them. "We’ll take your statements once this phase is complete. Please wait in the conference room. Someone will bring you water."

They were guided down the corridor, the door closing behind them.

Lukas took a long breath.

Javi sat beside him.

Marco paced.

The rain outside the station windows grew heavier.

And for the first time since the photograph had surfaced...

They were finally one step closer to putting all of this behind them.