Helena Bergmann knew she should not stay so long under the shower, but it just felt so good. It felt as if she soaked in the warmth and generated energy from it. The water-proof bandages would probably not hold forever though. It had been only a minor wound. She was embarrassed how painful it had been, how she had been unable to continue. She was embarrassed because she knew it had also been fear that had made her cower there, when this young man had taken her gun and had done what needed to be done. The wound, a grazing at her side, has been her excuse to do nothing. People had died because of it.

Under the shower this all seemed far away., Under the shower this all seemed irrelevant. It was as if the small cabin shielded her from reality. Washing her hair the second time to make sure nothing of the shampoo remained she felt something on her back. She grabbed behind her, but could not quite reach it. With a sigh she took the shower brush with the long hilt she loved so much and put it to work. She heard something drop and looked down. A short shriek escaped her mouth as she saw a brown ... what was this? A slug? It appeared to large for a worm, also it moved like one. It was too big to be washed down the drain of her shower. She stepped out of it and looked at this thing, as it turned and twisted. It had the size of a cigarette. Yeah, pretty much. Raising her brows she quickly took a towel and walked naked into her kitchen, rubbing the towel over her body. She got a glass from her small kitchen and walked back to the showier. The thing was gone. She looked around and saw it had actually retreated to the corner, were it rolled together. Was it hiding? Worms and slugs did not hide. They were not smart enough to hide. She carefully took the glass and moved it under the strange thing. Then she turned it upside and looked at it.

The door bell rang and Helena felt the scare as the loud sound surprised her. She laughed, took the bathrobe and put it over. She slipped into her plastic slippers and made her way to the door. Through the peephole she saw a young man. She recognized him immediately. She felt a smiled on her face. She did not know why he was here or how he found her, but she had felt the need to thank him.

Opening the door enough for her head to slide out she smiled at him. „Berlin‘s finest stalker.“ She said and Simon laughed.

„Please, I deserve a better nickname than that. I did not stalk anyone.I just worked in that cafe.“ He laughed. Handsome. She had not realized before he was actually quakte a handsome guy.

„Well, Berlin‘s Last Action Hero, how is that?“ She asked.

„Better. Listen, I got your address from the phone book. Could we talk for a moment?“ He asked. She looked at him and wondered if it was a smart idea to let a man inside her flat. Well, they were not exactly strangers.

„I just come out of the shower, give me a moment to get dressed, okay?“ She said.

„Sure thing.“ He answered and put his hands into his coat. She shut the door and quickly went into her tiny bedroom. She grabbed a slip from her drawer and put it on. Then she put her jeans on and a sweater over her naked, still pretty wet skin. Then she looked at the mirror and quickly made her wet hair into a pony tail as she got to the door. she opened it and Simon had his eyes run over her. She felt slightly uncomfortable with it, but stepped aside.

„Come in.“ She said. Simon did exactly as told. „Seriously what you did there was incredibly brave. I wanted to thank you.“ The words burst out of her. Simon answered with a cushy smile. It seemed tortured and betrayed not pride in his actions.

„Why does it feel so bad then?“ He asked. Helena just nodded.

„i am sorry. That does not change the fact your saved a lot of lives.“ She said. Simon stood there and looked at her.

„Thanks.“ He finally said and looked around in the tiny flat. Berlin real estate prizes had exploded and from a cops salary she could not afford anything bigger downtown. She pointed to the old couch.

„Please, sit. You wanna have a coffee?“ She asked.

„I would die for a coffee.“ He smiled and sat down on the couch.

She went to the kitchen ,which was the other corner of the same room and felt the cold tiles under her naked feed. She had one of those capsule coffee machines and took a cup under it, putting a new capsule in and pushing the button.

„Have you ever shot someone?“ Simon asked.

„No, never.“ She said. „Actually was the first day I drew my gun in service. Patrolling downtown is not exactly action thriller material, you know?“ She said.

„Well, you are the guardian of the baristas!“ Simon said. Hos coffee was done and she out one for herself in and pressed the button again.

„Yes, sorry about that. That girl, she got a history. She had trouble with men. The bad kind of trouble. So she overreacted a bit probably and so did I.“ Helena said and her coffee was done, too. With both cups she went over to Simon handed him his and sat in the old worn out seat opposite of him. She drew her legs up and crossed her legs. He smiled at her and she cold imagine what he thought. Without the uniform she looked a lot more girlish. She wondered if he looked what he saw, but only because it was her habit to do so. A part of her hated herself for seeking approval of men. Two years single did that to you, she assumed.

„So what can I hero you with Simon?“ She asked. „I guess we are on first name basis now, are we? Having faced death and all that.“ She laughed. Simon nodded.

„Totally.“ He said.

„Helena. I am Helena.“ She said.

„How is your wound?“ He asked.

„Good, good. Not as bad as it felt back then. Only hurts when I lean forward. Well, I got a week off. Which is nice. Also got a counselor on Monday to talk about this. Did they get you one?“ She asked.

„No.“ Simon said. „Glad you are okay.“ He then said. He looked around and it was obviously hard for him to bring up the reason why he was here. She took a sip form her hot coffee and gave him some time.

„Actually I need to ask you for a favor.“ Simon said. „I came to Berlin to look into a health issue and my clients think the whole thing at the school could be related.“

„What kind of health issue?“ She asked.

„An infection.“ He answered. „a routine check, actually. But they take this stuff very serious.“ He said.

„What kind of infection?“ She asked.

„Oh, that is complicated. We are not sure yet ourselves. Anyway, they asked me to find out who had contact with the body. Nothing secret. I do not need any insider intel, just a list of people who had potentially been around the body of the shooter.“ Simon avoided the name of the man who was in all media outlets now named Anton Burzynski. Helena realized that and sighed.

„Oh wow, that is a pretty long list.“ She laughed.

„Is it?“ He asked and there was a sense of disappointment in his voice. Concern even.

„Are they under risk of catching something? You should inform the health department of even the ministry if so.“ She said.

„We will, once we are sure. No reason to spread a panic. So who had contact?“ He asked.

„Well, let‘s see.“ Helena leaned back. „The patrol officers who were first on the scene. I think it was six to eight or so. The medics who took care fav the injured and who pronounced him dead. The doctor who arrived, probably. The coroner and whoever transports the bodies for him. I do not know actually. Not my department. I am still a newbie.“ She smiled.

Simon nodded. „Okay, so how many people are those? Two dozen?“

Helen nodded. „Sounds about right.“ She said. „But there were a hundred cops within the first fifteen minutes around the building. They isolated the crime scene and all that.“ She said. Simon raised his brows and nodded.

„So who do you work for exactly? The Government?“ She wondered. The whole story sounded a little sketchy now that she thought about it.

„A private research group from the Askantios Clincis in Hamburg. A summer job really, to finance my studies.“ Simo said and drank from his coffee.

„What do you study?“ She asked. She was seriously curious.

„Legal Sciences.“ He said. „Law, basically.“

„Criminal Law?“ She asked.

„International business law.“ He smiled. His thoughts were elsewhere, she could tell.

„I see. So you are to become a lawyer?“ She asked.

„Yeah. Well, my grades are not good enough to become a judge.“ He said.

„You can try harder.“ She said mockingly.

„I try hard and barely make it anyway.“ He laughed at her.

„You have not heard of anyone having issues, do you? Health issues? After the shooting.“ He asked.

„I have not been back to work since yesterday. As I said, I got a week of extra holiday.“ She shrugged. „I can ask around, if that helps. What would I be looking for?“ She asked. Simon stared at her and then shook his head.

„Nevermind. We will ask ourselves.“ He said. „Damend good coffee.“ He smiled. What a clumsy change of the subject. The story was a lie. She was not a trained interrogator, but she clearly could say he was not telling her whole truth.

„Yeah, those Aluminium capsules are bad for the environment, I know. But the offer is just damned fine.“ She said. „Listen Simon, I owe you one. A big one. So if there is any problem, tell me and I would like to help.“ She said. Cooperating, making him a co-conspirator was a good technique to make him open up. Also she really owed him. Simon shook his head.

„Just a stupid summer job which caused more trouble than I had ever imagined.“ He said.

„You were quite impressive with the gun.“ She said. „Army?“

„No. Video games. They teach you the tactics of a shoot out pretty well.“ He laughed.

„Oh wow, I need to get a console then probably.“ She laughed.

„Yeah, totally. Listen I would appreciate if you do not report me coming here. I need not more trouble than I already have.“ He said.

„You are not a suspect. I am under no obligation to report contacts with you. For all I care I have a coffee with the guy who saved sa lot of people. That is all.“ She said. „Would you mind if I dry my hair?“ She asked.

„No, no, I can leave.“ He said and was about to go up.

„No, please. Don‘t. I would appreciate another coffee with you. Just to get to know the guy a little who ... turned out to be the last hero in this city.“ She smiled at him and Simon smiled back.

„Sure.“ He said. „I will make one and you can dry your hair.“ He said. Helena nodded and stood up, leaving for the bathroom.

****

This had been easier than expected. Yet, it had also not been helpful at all. Way too many people to check al of them. If one of them had catched the worm they would never find out in time. All they could do was wait until he began to show signs. Whatever the early signs were. Brockmann seemed not to have any idea.

When she was gone and he heard the dryer he took out his mobile and opened the messaging system. He had taught Brockmann how to use it, but he seriously hoped he would actually do so.

DEADEND. WAY TO MANY PEOPLE.

He send the message. He saw Brockmann had actually read it a minute later. the old man did not reply. He probably did not know how to. Simon made another two coffees and sat back on the couch. Helena was actually quite cute, when she was not dressed up like a cop.

She returned and took her own mobile. A quick look at it and then she pulled her brows together.

„There was a fire in the medical center where the coroner brought the body. Arson the report says.“ She said. Simon realized this info was not a random throw in. She looked at him. „Makes it hard to identify if Burzynski was infected I guess. The body was completely destroyed.“ She said.

„Wow. A fire?“ Simon said. „Did anybody get hurt?“

„Yes.“ She said. Then she looked at him. „Does this shave anything to do with your search for infected people?“ She asked.

„No, no way.“ Simon laughed. He forced himself to laugh. But he kinda doubted his attempt to appear imminent worked that well. Helena was clearly uncomfortable now. She kept her distance as much as possible in the small flat. Simon sighed.

„Maybe I go now.“ He said. „Need to report.“ She shook her head.

„No.“ She answered. „I think you tell me what this is about. If you want me not to report this conversation, you now ... this changes everything.“ She looked at him and then her eyes wandered around. He could guess what she was looking for. Her gun. It was probably in evidence.

„I do not know anything about this fire.“ Simon said. Helena smirked.

„I do not believe you.“ She answered. „Where were you yesterday night?“ She asked.

„Sleeping in my hotel room, having nightmares.“ He said.

„Alone?“ She asked.

„I share the room with a friend.“ He answered. Here disbelieve was written all over her face. It had been a mistake coming here. They had not thought this through.

„Stay there,“ She said. Then she dialed a number and took the phone to her ear. „Hey this is Helena. Just read the report on the arson at the Coroners office.“ She stopped. „Any suspects?“ She asked. The choice on the other side began to talk. „Okay, understood. Thanks. Just wanted to stay in the loop.“ She said goodbye and killed the line.

„So?“ Simon asked. „Am I arrested?“

„No, sorry. Seems to have been an act of right wing terrorism. Found four dead arsonists on the site and a fifth escaped, overpowering two colleagues.“ She said,

„Oh my God, I hope they are okay.“ Simon said and his concern as genuine.

„Yeah, yeah they seem to be okay.“ Helena said. „Sorry.“ She then added and took her coffee, returning to her seat.

„I understand. Me showing up here like this, telling a strange story and then the fire. It has been rough says for you, too“ He said.

Helena stared at him and then suddenly got up again. Simon followed her with his gaze, but wondered if he should get up and leave. He considered it a moment to long, as she returned and put a glass in front of him. Inside was a large ... worm. Simon stared at the glass.

„Do you know what this is?“ Helena asked and Simon knew he had stared to long to deny it in any believable way. So he nodded. Staring at the worm, as it tried to climb the Glas, sliding down again.

What is it?“ Helena asked.

„It is a parasite.“ Simon said. „The parasite that infected Burzynski and that I am looking for.“ Simon said, feeling he had run out of options to tell lies. „It is very dangerous. We should seal the glass with something.“ He said. Helena looked at him and Simon got up, went to her kitchen and opened the first drawer. He found a plastic cutting board and took it, putting it on top of the glass. „Do you have duct tape?“

Helena still stared at him. „Yes.“ She said and walked to her bedroom, at least Simon assumed this was her bedroom. She came back wirth transparent thin duct tape and gave it to Simon. He took it and rolled it over the glass and then the cutting board. He repeated this three times, until he was sure t was tightly wrapped around. Then he sat back and took his coffee. He finished it with one sip as if it was a whisky.

„It is very dangerous. Where do you have it from?“ Simon asked.

„I think it crawled up on my back.“ She said. „When I took a shower.“

Simon nodded. He had no idea what to do now. So he had to get someone who did. He took out his phone and called Brockmann. the mobile rang four times before he picked up. It seemed to be an eternity.

„Yes?“ Brockmann said.

„You need to get here. Immediately.“ Simon said. „I send you the address as a message.“ He said.

„On my way.“ Brockmann replied and hung up. He didn’t to question Simon. Good. He had no idea how to explain this to him without giving too much away.

„We need to inform the public health departments right away.“ Helena said. Simon raised his hand.

„No, please wait until my partner is here. He knows more about these things than anybody.“ He said.

„You partner?“ She asked.

„My friend I mentioned earlier.“ Simon said. „Maybe we should put this one into the fridge. Or any locked space.“ He pointed at the worm.

„Sure.“ Helena said and did not touch the glass. Simon sighed, took it and walked over to her small fridge. He opened it and put the glass inside, closing it quickly again.

„Your first visit and you already start putting things into my fridge.“ Helena said from behind. He turned around and had to laugh at the joke. Not because it was especially good, but because the tension needed to be released.

„I usually take things a little more slowy.“ He said. Was he flirting? A little maybe.

„So tell me what this is.“ She said. „The truth.“

„My partner can do this much better.“ He said.

„I call this in,“ She said and took her mobile from the table.

„No, no wait!“ Simon raised his hand to keep her from doing it. „Please. You do not know me very well, I know. But you know a little about me. You know I am not one of the bad guys, do you? I try to help! I really, really try to help.“ He stepped one step closer and she did not shy away. A good sign. „My partner is here in a few minutes. Give me an hour to explain, half an hour! Then you can do whatever you think is right.“

Helena looked at him and then nodded. „Okay, because I owe you. Half and hour.“ She said.

„Thank you.“ Simon said. He smiled his most reassuring smile, telling her she did the right thing.

Helena nodded. „I get dressed.“ She said and left the room. Simon thought about taking her mobile, but how could he? He had to trust her.

Standing in the room he slowly went over to the kitchen and opened the fridge carefully. the worm was inside the glass. It turned up like a snake. Much like the larger one had done to escape Burzynski‘s body the night before. Then it snapped against the glass. It tried to break out Simon realized. It used different strategies. It was not strong enough, but it was terribly smart for damned worm!

The door bell made him jump. It was pretty loud. Helena went to the door and outside stood Brockmann in his coat with his hands in his pocket.

„You must be the partner.“ She said. Brockmann nodded. She stepped aside and let him in.

„Over here.“ Simon said and Brockmann stepped in, looking around and then stepping to Simon.

„What is it?“ He asked with his raspy voice. Simon opened the fridge. Brockmann looked inside and then at Simon.

„She found it in the shower crawling up on her.“ He said. Brockmann looked at her.

„Simon said you can tell me what the hell is going on here.“ Helena asked ands folded her arms.

„Yes.“ Brockmann said. „First show me where you found it.“

Helena looked at him and then nodded with a creep sigh. „In here.“ She said, passed the two men and went to her bathroom. Brockman followed her and so did Simon after closing the fridge.

The bathroom was small. A shower, a toilet and a sink crammed together on a minimum of space. In the corner lay dirty clothes and Brockmann looked at them.

„I found it in there.“ Helena said and pointed at the shower.

„Those is your uniform?“ Brockmann asked.

„Yes.“ She said.

„The one you were wearing when the shooting took place?“ Brockmann asked.

„Yes, there is a rip at the side where the shot grazed me, but I did not know what is the right procedure to deal with them, so I kept them.“ She said. Brockmann nodded.

„Did you have contact with the body of the dead shooter?“ He asked.

„She did not.“ Simon said. Helena gave him an apologizing look. „Did you?“

„I had a look at him when they brought him out. I wanted to see the man who had done this.“ She said. Brockmann nodded.

„That must have been the moment it attached itself. You were damned lucky.“ Brockmann said.

Helena folded her arms again. „I wanted to call the public health department, but your friend here told me I should wait until you explained everything to me.“ She said. „So I am waiting for that explanation.“

Brockmann nodded and passed her on his way out. Helena followed him and finally Simon did too.

Brockmann sat in the seat she had used before and Helena took the spit in the couch. Simon felt t was inappropriate to sit next to her and leaned against the wall.

„This is a highly dangerous and infectious organism, entering the host and feeding of them to grow, In the process it releases chemicals that have a very negative effect on the psyche of the host. They turn violent. They act on their darker urges.“ Brockmann said,

„Like killing students of your school.“ She said,

„Yes.“ Brockmann said.

„Then we need to inform the authorities.“ She said.

„Yes, eventually we might have to do so.“ Brockman said and Simon was surprised. he had the feeling Brockmann had considered this, too. „But three area not prepared to handle this thing properly. They do not know it. I do. If we report it, they will initiate protocols, have meetings and create a task force. While this thing will spread and infect more people.“ Brockmann said.

„This is crazy, You two are crazy!“ She got up and Simon saw in hdr hand was still her mobile. He saw Brcokmann‘s hand move toward his jacket. Towards his gun, he assumed,

„Wait.“ Simon said. He was not sure to whom of the two. „Listen, I know how you feel. A killer worm. That is crazy right? I can tell you I have seen more crazy stuff. Helena, I know we ask a lot, but believe me there are things you do not find on Wikipedia. There are things that are crazy.“ He said. Helena looked at him.

„He had no history in violence, did he? The shooter?“ Brockmann asked.

„I am not involved in the ...“ Helena stopped and Simon knew she would have asked. He had just seen her make a call and he was sure she had made those calls about the shooter, too.

„No, he did not.“ Helena admitted, looking at Simon. „What kind of crazy things?“ She asked Simon. „You said you have seen more crazy things than this. What do you mean?“

Simon smirked. „if you call us crazy for this, you would get us committed if I told you. Listen Helena, we are specialized in dealing with this.“ That was a pretty harsh exageration considering how lost they were. „We are here to help.“

„Bureaucrats won‘t stop this.“ Brockmann finally said.

„But you can?“ Helena asked.

„I stopped it before. When I was in the military.“ Brockmann said. Helena stared at him.

„Okay, so how do you stop it?“ Helena asked.

„We find the Wormking.“ Simon said.

„The what?“ She asked and was looking at her mobile again.

„That is what we call the master worm. The one who breeds those things.“ Brockmann explained and gave Simon a look full of disapproval.

„You did that thing at the coroner office, did you? The fire, that were the two of you.“ She asked. Brockmann and Simon exchanged looks.

„We can trust her.“ Simon said and he knew they really had no choice. If Brockmann did not wanted to shoot her, they had to convince her. Honestly was their best bet.

„Yes.“ Brockmann said.

„Did you kill those people?“ She asked. Simon felt himself tense. What Brockmann had done was technically murder. he was well aware of that.

„No.“ Brockmann lied. He was way better at that than Simon. „The Coroner and the guardsman did the killing. They were both infected already.“ Brockmann said. Helena nodded.

„Like Burzynski.“ She said. Brockmann nodded.

Then they all three sat there in silence.

„Nobody knows we are here. You do not need to help us. All we need for you is to give us a little time.“ Simon said. Helena looked at him.

„What would be your next steps? I mean I do not say I am gonna elf you, but if I did what would you do next?“ She asked.

„I got an expert. A friend found him for me. He is very old by now, but he was responsible for containing this thing the last time. He might help us locate the master worm.“ Brockmann said. „I was on my way to him, when Simon called.“

Helena nodded. „I agree that if we report this there might be more death. I know how slow things can work with public health.“ She said. Brockmann nodded. His hand returned to the armchair. Simon hoped she did not recognize him breathing out in relief.

„Give us twenty four hours. If we cannot stop it within a day I agree we need to report this in.“ Brockmann said.

„You two could go to jail for what you did. You know that, do you?“ She said. Simon felt a nod in his stomach. Eventually she would have to hand them over, right? She was a cop after all.

„That is part of our job. The risk always exists.“ Brockmann said. „We accepted it, when we took the job.“

„So who do you work for?“ Helena asked. „The military?“

„No, we are part of a private organisation specialized with containing such threats.“ Simon said.

„You operate outside the law.“ She said. Simon had never considered it, but they did indeed.

„Laws are for humans, these things are not human.“ Brockmann said with a calm voice. Helena looked at him.

„If this is over I might have to report you for the thing at the Coroner office.“ Helena finally said.

There was a moment of silence.

„Of course.“ Brockmann said then. Simon looked at him and nodded with a sigh.

Helena nodded. „Twenty four hours and then we report this.“ She said. Brockmann got up and nodded to Simon to follow him.

„Simon will stay here and guard the worm, if that is alright with you.“ Brockmann said. Helena looked at Simon and then gave a nod. Brockmann returned the gesture and walked to the door. Simon followed him as he had hinted he should. They went outside and Brockmann looked into the flat.

„Good job.“ Brockmann said and Simon gave him and exhausted smile.

„Thanks.“ He said. Brockmann grabbed not his jacket and withdrew the Makarov pistol. He handed it to Simon, who quickly put it into his coat.

„You have to keep her from making this call to public health. Whatever it takes. Understood?“ Brockmann asked. Simon stared at him. wash e suggesting he used the gun if he had to? Of course he did. Simon realized he was not here to guard the worm, he was here to guard her. He nodded, also he was not sure he was up to the task. Brockmann turned and left without saying goodbye.