Quiet Twin

Vienna, 1939. Professor Speckstein's dog has been brutallykilled, and he wants to know why. But these are uncharitable times, and one mustbe careful where one probes.When an unexpected house call leads Dr. Beer toSpeckstein's apartment, he finds himself in the bedroom of Zuzka, theprofessor's niece. Wide-eyed, flirtatious, and not detectably ill, Zuzka leadsthe young doctor to her window and opens up a view of their apartment blockthat Beer has never known. Across the shared courtyard there is nine-year-oldAnneliese, the lonely daughter of an alcoholic. Five windows to the left livesa secretive mime who comes home late at night and keeps something-or someone-precioushidden from view. From the garret drifts the mournful sound of an Oriental's trumpet,and a basement door swings closed behind the building's inscrutable janitor. Doesone of these enigmatic neighbors have blood on their hands?Dr. Beer, who has his own reasons for keeping hisprivate life hidden from public scrutiny, reluctantly becomes embroiled in anenquiry that forces him to face the dark realities of Nazi rule.