I like being out in nature. In the mountains or the woods.
You soon notice you're just a small part of something far bigger.
I mean, communities suffer when everyone just looks out for themselves.
You can only achieve things together.
Is that why you wanted to join the Armed Forces?
Yes.
You have an Austrian and German passport, but were deemed unfit by both sides.
Yes, that's right.
You also failed the Intelligence Service test.
Yes, I...
I was very nervous.
- I really wanted to get in. - Why was that?
They change things.
The German secret service hasn't changed much for 60 years.
Except moving its furniture from Pullach to Berlin.
What exactly did you do at C-IT?
Well...
I explained programs to the staff and kept the computers clean.
How would you contact a customer in a crisis situation? Email or phone?
Hack.chat. It's the safest method.
Why our company?
In your advert you write about the fight against cybercrime.
That you are looking for competent employees who will be totally committed
and dedicate themselves 100 per cent to the job.
And that's exactly what I want.
Working in a team, fighting for the right side.
Not just talking, acting.
I'll be honest, Mr. Ansbach, you're an unusual applicant.
You enjoy nature? Most of them here don't know what a wood is.
But you found more security repositories than any other applicant. Remarkable.
I found more.
I put the companies in question on the Exploit Database.
Except for yours, of course.
We don't have any weak points.
You could say the department you'll be in is the most important.
Tax number, social security number. Sort that out with Ms. Wieble.
- I need documentation weekly. - OK.
You can do it.
- Hello. - Hi.
Dad, I'm sorry. I totally forgot about you. It's crazy here.
Dad, what do you think's happening?
I definitely can't go hunting now.
I'm working round the clock. I've no time for that.
- Yes, I'm sorry. - Sorry, but you can't...
No...I understand.
I'll call you when I have a few minutes' peace.
PAGAN PEAK
What are you doing?
I have to go away.
How long for?
I don't know yet.
And me?
Is it because of the murderer out there?
What?
I know what's going on. I know it didn't work. I was there...
Louisa!
Have you noticed?
You're making the same mistake we keep talking about.
You're thinking of yourself. That makes you weak.
Come here.
We can't think of ourselves anymore.
Otherwise we'd be alone.
Are we alone?
That's why he can't hurt us.
Why are you leaving us?
I'm not leaving you.
How could I?
We're bound to each other forever.
But the last few weeks have made something clear to me.
The end is closer than I thought.
Writing is no longer enough. I need to get out there.
Find people who belong with us.
- Who need to be saved. - Take me.
- No. - Please take me with you.
- No. - Take me.
No. You stay here.
You're more advanced than them. You need to help them.
The weaker among you rely on those who are stronger.
I'm not strong.
Come on, drive.
Quick.
Mr. Winter?
Svoboda. District attorney's office, Vienna.
Could I get in, please?
Yes, go ahead.
It's a bit too cold for me.
I won't keep you. You're a very busy man.
For some time, I've been onto Chingiz Tajmanov's organization.
Tajmanov operates legal and illegal brothels throughout Austria.
You might know him under the name Califati.
No.
Two years ago, you were accused of leaking police information to him.
Well, I don't know anything anymore.
Well, that's not ideal.
We're currently investigating Umid Tajmanov, the son of the aforementioned.
He stabbed an Albanian in an illegal brothel.
But we can't prove he committed the crime,
because for starters the weapon is missing.
And?
After the crime, Tajmanov panicked and made a call
and as we have his phone we know who to.
12 missed calls.
You must be a deep sleeper.
What did you talk about in the end?
That's of interest to me?
Wrong number.
I see.
Mr. Winter, I'm a naturally generous person.
And I have a lot of contacts in government.
I don't care if you're a corrupt asshole.
Maybe there'll be something...
I can do for you one day.
Nice to meet you.
The killer showed his true face. The face behind the Krampus mask.
The other murders showed us how he likes to see himself.
Controlled. Untouchable. Powerful.
But this impulsive murder... He's shown a very different side.
Extreme hate for the world. He wants to destroy.
As awful as the crime is, this is an opportunity for us.
We need to come at this from a different angle.
That means...
going through all cases from recent years looking for this new pattern.
Maybe he's murdered in this way before.
What exactly does that mean?
That means cranial and facial injuries.
All unsolved murder cases in South Germany and Austria from the last 20 years.
Something wrong?
We're to look at all bashed-in skulls from the last 20 years?
Yes. Is that a problem?
Thomas?
No problem. Yet another approach. Starting from scratch again.
Good. Stop moaning, start working.
I work almost round the clock if you haven't noticed.
- I've only seen my kids asleep for weeks. - Then wake them up.
- What? - You want sympathy? Then find a new job.
I'll take Germany.
Berchtesgaden. Traunstein, I know the archive manager there.
I'll start with Tyrol, Salzburg, Upper Austria.
What? Get going.
Boss?
Take a look at this.
Very good.
Very well researched, Litkowski. Thanks.
No problem.
Look at the severe head injuries.
They identified the body by the teeth.
It's the same impulsive behavior.
The setting fits too. Cyber security company. People who know about computers.
The case is seven years old.
They questioned hundreds of employees at the time,
who'll be all over the place now.
You can imagine the uproar if I say we're completely changing tack now.
We've got four current unsolved murders that need to be solved. They want results.
This is the right approach.
Four days.
- I need more people. - Not a chance. No more money for now.
- Then we'll do more overtime. - Ellie.
Look around you. Your people have been working all hours for weeks.
Two of your technicians have dropped out.
- I know. They were too weak. - Sorry?
I'm putting on pressure, so we make progress. I'm in charge.
Yes, but I'm responsible for the whole team.
I don't want this case to break people. Least of all you.
The team needs you.
Someone who holds their nerve.
So?
We've got four days.
Blani called. She's got a potential eyewitness.
- What? - A mask carver. Creates Krampus masks.
Out here again? The kitchen's not clean yet.
I need breaks too.
If you take breaks, you don't earn. It's that simple.
I've had enough of you. No money this week.
No, please. I need money for my room.
You should have thought of that.
Next week, last chance, otherwise you're out.
It's too dangerous with you illegals, anyway.
Everything OK?
Don't take it so seriously. The old girl's crazy.
Since her husband died, she's had a real problem.
I need to pay my room in the village.
- Otherwise they'll chuck me out. - I'll talk to her.
If not, I'll lend you the money for now.
Thanks.
You're good.
A good person.
What is it?
I'm nice to you. You could be a bit nice to me.
Stop, you slut!
- Hello, there. - Hi.
- Winter. - Hahn.
- Something to drink? - If there's no beer, water.
Mr. Litkowski, a water, please.
The body looked awful, but that wasn't the worst of it.
At the same time as Tischler's death,
disks containing very delicate data disappeared from the company.
Nobody noticed a thing.
Security breaches for large companies.
Information they'd fork out millions for on the Darknet.
No one ever found out,
because, well, it's not a great advert for Europe's largest security company.
Even worse, when it's the boss pinching the data.
Tischler?
It must have been him. He was the only one with access to the disks.
So he must have stolen the data and flogged it.
Probably to the Russians.
They made short work of him.
And you found that so bad that you gave up your job?
I'll go along with a lot, but at some point it got too much for me.
Tischler's computer disappeared from his office and all his documents.
There were various power supply units in the drawers, but no disks.
They took all my people off the case. I was left on my own, like an idiot.
The instructions came right from the very top.
They didn't want any bad publicity.
Dat.sec belonged to Henning AG.
And they've got contacts high up in government.
In the end, his wife reported me for slander.
And do you know who paid for the lawyer?
The company?
But I don't give a damn.
It doesn't bother me now.
I'm a cowboy. I've got my Western saloon. It's going well.
Life's simpler now.
Could you give me Mrs. Tischler's telephone number?
Mr. Lang?
- Mr. Lang? - Yes.
I never got involved in my husband's business affairs.
I wasn't involved in the investigation either. A mistake.
What did you tell the police at the time?
It'd never happened before.
When he was here to order the mask,
he wanted me to do a drawing for him,
down to the most minute detail.
He said he wanted it to be exactly like that.
He needed a really special mask. One he couldn't make himself.
I never went to his office myself.
That was his kingdom and anyway I trusted the people.
Then this detective started to incriminate my husband.
Do you have his name, address?
He paid cash.
Exactly what is it that seems suspicious now?
He suddenly started talking, a monologue.
He said that a great moment was imminent.
One that would eclipse everything that went before it.
And that's why he needed the special mask.
What kind of great moment?
He didn't say exactly.
He just said that I'd be proud afterwards,
because I'd see my mask in the papers.
Does it not bother you that your husband's murderer was never found?
I couldn't bear it anymore.
Did you see his car?
And the drawing? Do you still have it?
Afterwards, was there anything relating to your husband that seemed odd to you?
Did you find anything in his things that you didn't tell the police back then?
He kept everything.
Most of it was business stuff, invoices, contracts.
- And there were letters. - Letters?
What letters?
We showed them to Ressler. His assessment coincides with ours.
Someone with low self-confidence wrote them.
Someone who considered Mr. Tischler to be a role model.
But also someone who felt the urge to be more, to be recognized, listened to.
His choice of words tends towards pathos and narcissistic self-portrayal.
And DNA? Are there finger prints?
The letters were in a damp cellar too long. They're full of mold spores.
But they mention the decline in values of our time, misuse of power,
the superficiality of people.
"Let me be your tool. Together we can achieve great things.
For the first time in my life I feel I have found my place.
A place I want to prove myself worthy of.
I'm prepared to completely devote myself to our task. A new time is coming."
But the letters aren't everything.
A mask carver from the area
received this commission.
For a very special occasion.
The customer said he would see his mask in the papers.
I don't believe it.
Unfortunately the man paid in cash. Didn't give any details.
There's another way.
We need to bring all Dat.sec employees from Tischler's department here.
The mask carver is prepared to look at a line-up.
Good.
He knows where I live.
No problem.
No one will hurt you here.
I asked around in the village. The police are looking for you.
Police?
The landlady or that Fred...
Maybe they reported you. It's very strict in Germany.
But don’t worry. No one will find you here, anyway.
Stay here till things have calmed down. It won't be for long.
Then we'll see.
Don't let it get you down. You've got your own room.
And I'm in my writing room most of the time.
- You work a lot, sir? - You don't need to call me sir.
- I'm Gregor. - Milica.
You see, Milica...
if I want to achieve something...
I have to sacrifice everything for it.
My time, family, friends.
Robert Blum even sacrificed his life for it.
- Was he a writer too? - A poet.
He was very connected with nature and his homeland.
In Brigittenau near Vienna Pale dry grass ripples in the wind
And when, searching, we kneel down and smooth it gently to one side
With dark look and pallid mouth Wistful and tender of mood
We thus find a stain upon the ground Dark with noble blood
When Blum was executed, a wave of indignation swept Germany.
The Revolution of 1848, it only gathered pace when...
Yes.
I can do it.
You sit there. You're not my maid.
I'll just do it later.
Look. I got you some clothes.
So you don't have to wear my old jumper.
If you want to listen to music, there's an MP3 player and headphones.
Your cellphone was wet. I dried the SIM card. It should work now.
And, Milica...
make yourself at home.
We'll find a solution.
Thanks.
Mr. Mischke, come here a second.
The security codes need updating. Every 24 hours. You know that.
- I'll sort that straightaway. - Good.
You're still here.
And who else is here except for us? Not a soul.
All gone home to their pretty wives and fast cars.
I need to talk to you. Come to my office.
Hello?
Yes.
Blani, Traunstein crime investigation unit. This is a routine inquiry.
We have a few questions regarding your job at Dat.sec seven years ago.
What's this about exactly?
I see.
No, no. That's not a problem.
I'm self-employed. I can manage that.
Yes.
Good.
Goodbye.
A double.
- What? - You rolled a double.
You get to go straight to the key. God, it's not that difficult.
I'm sorry.
I'm just a bit stressed right now.
What is your book about?
Book.
Book is wrong, actually. Do you know what a work is?
You read a book and then forget it. A work is something great.
Something that remains.
Nietzsche, Jung, Thoreau.
And what is your work about?
My work is a wake-up call.
It's about humans as creatures and their role in nature.
People need to finally wake up again.
Look.
Humans currently find themselves in a kind of alternative world.
Put more simply, everyone is out for themselves.
They no longer notice all the things that are wrong around them.
Look at your country.
The people are poor, they're exploited, deceived.
Or that guy who tried to...
People are constantly trying to wield power over others
by exploiting them.
Criminals, corrupt politicians,
greedy managers, unscrupulous investors.
That whole rabble.
These people are causing the whole system to collapse.
Everything's falling apart.
And what remains?
Do you know what remains, Milica?
Can you hear that?
Can you see the trees?
The woods.
The sky.
That remains.
I said a favorite love song.
What? Rubbish. Give it here.
That is a love song.
So?
OK. True, that is a...
But he still loves her.
Don't try to talk your way out of it.
Will you give me a second chance?
Where do you tell her you're going when you come to me?
"Gone to get cigarettes"?
I moved out yesterday. I'm sleeping at the office.
You can always sleep here.
Or rather downstairs in the living room.
I've been watching you. Your work is good. Very good.
You're reliable. You're 100 per cent committed.
A man like me has the disadvantage of being the link that connects the parts.
All data, passwords, highly sensitive information.
I am the nerve center of it all.
If something were to happen to me, this department wouldn't function.
That would be a catastrophe for our customers.
For us.
That's why I need a secret deputy.
Someone no one knows about except me.
I need someone in that role, who doesn't talk, but acts.
And someone I can trust 100 per cent.
Can I trust you...
Mr. Ansbach?
Thank you for coming.
- Ansbach. I was told to report here. - ID, please.
Show your ID here, please.
You'll be collected shortly.
If you could wait here.
Mr. Reiz, you're next.
Viruses and Trojans?
Sorry?
We were in the same department.
I sat at the desk behind yours.
Oh, yes.
Oh, well.
It was a long time ago.
Time flies by.
It really scares me.
I always notice at Christmas. What, time to buy presents again?
Mr. Seeberger is next, please.
This way, please.
Do you know what this is about?
What do they want from us after so many years?
Who knows?
Have you established the Meta Peta connection?
Of course.
Good.
I finished yesterday evening.
- Just like you said, Mr... - I said "good", didn't I?
Here.
Why do you write letters to me, Mr. Ansbach?
Whatever made you do it?
I thought...
because we've had such good chats.
Who do you think you are?
You're just one employee of many.
And I'm your superior.
What?
What made you write private letters to me?
I thought you were an intelligent young man with ambition.
I...
I just thought, because...
I feel so happy in the company.
You feel happy?
Did you read your letters through before sending them?
What's wrong with you?
Mr. Ansbach, if you could follow me, please.
What was your relationship to Mr. Tischler?
Good, but distanced.
Normal. Mr. Tischler was very professional.
Were there people in the company who he liked...
or had a particular relationship with?
Was particularly close to?
Or the opposite, with whom he argued?
No. He treated everyone the same, actually.
He demanded a lot of us, but was always fair.
A good boss?
Yes.
- I'm sorry. It won't happen again. - I would assume not.
Otherwise you'll be fired just like that.
- Have you got the USB stick on you? - What?
The USB stick with the passwords. I asked you to bring it.
Sure.
- The tin protects it from cell phone... - Just give it to me.
The codes have been changed anyway. Sorry, but I can't trust someone like you.
Someone else will take on the chief of security role. Now go. I don't need you.
Mr. Ansbach?
No, we didn't have any contact outside work.
So you were just a small cog among many?
You had little impact on the bigger picture.
Yes.
I imagine that must be quite frustrating: sitting at a computer all day, typing.
Not really knowing what you're programing.
Yes, but there are lots of advantages.
You're not responsible for it all. I wouldn't want that.
What do you do when you're not working? Have you got a family?
Yes. A son.
His mother and I don't live together, but we manage alright.
I try to see him as often as possible.
And other than that? Any hobbies? Sports?
I like walking.
Mountains, woods?
No. I'm more of a city boy.
Right, that's all I need to ask.
I just need you to fill out this form.
Unfortunately, we still do a lot on paper here.
You wouldn't believe how many folders we have here.
Just fill it out.
It's just routine.
- That's it, then? - We just need you for a line-up.
Won't take long.
Fine.
- Send the next one in. - OK.
Mr. Lang, these are the last ones. Take a good look at each of them.
Is one of them the person who ordered the mask?
No.
Have a sip of water. It's hot in here.
Take your time. Think about it. Pan through them again.
I'm not thirsty. He's not there.
Have another look.
Take another look. Look. Look. Look.
What's wrong with you, Mr. Lang?
Why do you keep looking at the floor?
Think about it.
Is the man you saw one of these men?
No. I already said.
I come here. Sit around here for hours.
Look at all these faces.
But the man who came to me isn't there.
What do you want from me, goddamnit?
This wasn't my idea.
We must have overlooked someone.
Was that everyone from back then?
One's dead. The others don't remotely match the description. Or they're women.
- So, I want to go now. - Yes, sure.
Litkowski, could you? Thanks a lot. Thanks.
Ellie...
We'll have an identikit made for when we put the search out.
We've got the handwriting comparison. Ellie?
Boss, report from the forestry office. Could be of interest.
A burnt-out car in the wood.
Why is that of interest now?
Well, possible arson. They found metal parts. Possible explosion.
Maybe?
They're examining the parts now.
Let me know when you have concrete results.
OK.
What is going on?
That's it. Follow me.
This way, please.
DAD INCOMING CALL