Hauptkommissar Hansen’s sharp eye for detail, honed over years on the Rosenheim force, immediately flags inconsistencies in the seemingly straightforward initial account of the crime.
What appears at first glance to be a simple case of robbery – a valuable antique clock stolen from the prestigious Von Trapp estate – unravels under Hansen’s meticulous scrutiny. The victim, the elderly but surprisingly spry Frau Von Trapp, displays a curious lack of distress, her demeanor more akin to relief than despair. Hansen notices subtle discrepancies in her recounting of the events, a slight hesitation in her description of the alleged intruder’s build, a flicker of something akin to guilt in her normally placid eyes.
His intuition, further fueled by his partner’s, the ever-practical and observant Inspector Stadler’s, observation of unusual tire tracks in the meticulously manicured gardens that don’t match the description of the getaway vehicle Frau Von Trapp provided, leads Hansen down a different path. The supposed “intruder” wasn’t a seasoned thief, but someone with remarkably clumsy movements, indicated by the haphazard placement of overturned flowerpots and the strange positioning of a conveniently-placed garden gnome. This suggests a staged robbery, meticulously planned but executed with amateurish precision, raising more questions than answers.
Digging deeper, Hansen uncovers a web of family secrets within the seemingly idyllic Von Trapp household. A bitter inheritance dispute simmering beneath the surface of polite society, hinted at by strained relationships between Frau Von Trapp and her estranged nephew, Dr. Klaus Richter, emerges as a primary suspect. Richter’s alibi – a crucial medical procedure – falls apart under Hansen’s relentless questioning. The time frame of the supposed procedure doesn’t quite align with the time of the robbery, and further investigation reveals that the colleague who purportedly assisted Richter had unexpectedly called in sick that day.
The antique clock itself becomes a vital piece of the puzzle. Hansen discovers that it wasn’t simply a valuable heirloom, but contained a hidden compartment, a secret that only Frau Von Trapp and her late husband knew about. Inside, they find not jewels or money, but a compromising document – a letter exposing a decades-old affair and a potentially damaging secret about a significant land deal involving the Von Trapp estate. The “robbery” was a carefully orchestrated scheme to retrieve this letter, preventing a devastating scandal that would have jeopardized the family’s reputation and fortune.
Ultimately, Hansen confronts Frau Von Trapp with the overwhelming evidence. The seemingly frail widow cracks, confessing to staging the entire robbery with the help of her nephew, Dr. Richter, in order to reclaim the incriminating letter. The case, initially appearing as a simple theft, culminates in a dramatic reveal of familial betrayal, underscoring the deceptive nature of appearances and demonstrating Hauptkommissar Hansen’s unparalleled skill in uncovering hidden truths and exposing the cracks in carefully constructed lies. The Rosenheim police have solved not a mere theft, but a complex tale of deceit and desperation within the seemingly perfect façade of high society.