Rex Resolution 74: Brudermord (S5,E15)

I have been asked to specify series and episode number for each write-up. I'll retrospectively do that to earlier write-ups soon. Note, however, that I think the series structure for Australia may differ from elsewhere.

Nearing the end of Series 5, this is another favourite episode. Fraticide.

Hans Tomek is a whizz at the stock market which probably explains how he lives in a fabulous apartment, overlooking central Vienna. He is selling up to move to New York, which raises a what the? from me. New York or Vienna? Come on. Ah, but I digress.

Talking on the 'phone to his girlfriend, Hans announces that he is expecting an imminent visit from his twin brother, Paul. Paul has not been so lucky in life, having served a jail term for a hit and run offence, and is likely to be hitting on Hans for some money. However, on his way up to the flat, Paul is seen to drop a knife, so perhaps is intent is more serious?

The brothers greet. Paul grabs a drink and says he's come to say goodbye as Hans is leaving for New York. Hans gets straight to the point and says if he wants money, just say so, he hasn't got time to waste. This can't be about brotherly love, surely? Absolutely not. Paul is resentful. He gave up his studies so Hans could go to Harvard to study, he's envious of Hans' success and feels that should have been his success, although Hans is dismissive of his abilities. It emerges that Hans only has his career because of Paul, although it isn't explained why. Hans' response is to throw money at Paul and tell him to stop whining. Ah, but it's too late and, in a moment, Hans is dead. Paul burns the body in a cave and starts transforming himself into Hans.

When the body is found, it's hard for Dr. Graf to ascertain anything and the first thought is that the body belongs to a homeless man. However, Rex traces a scent of petrol to a spillage spot. With no canister, it's apparent it's no longer a question of suicide, something Dr. Graf later confirms when he discovers that the victim had been stabbed to death. Because of the state of the corpse, Dr. Graf has to rely on a computer to generate what the man may have looked like. it's enough for a publication to identify the body as Paul Tomek. Paul Tomek has not been seen for some time but his former employer is able to shed some light on his history, that he had been in prison and that some one had hurt him considerably. His flat is empty.

Meanwhile, alive and well, Paul is catching a taxi across town to see the real estate agent and finalise the sale of the apartment. Bad move for him as he is recognised by the taxi driver, a former prison mate. While he denies it vehemently, the taxi driver is convinced and keeps watch on him. He then sees the computer generated picture of the burnt corpse and can't make sense of it initially. Observing Paul's apartment, he takes some shots of him and notices a giveaway tattoo on his arm. Now he knows that he's right and he challenges Paul. Blackmail is the name of the game. It's not a game he's destined to win though - strangled to death in his cab later.

The team are making breakthroughs. They discover that Paul Tomek was imprisoned for a hit and run accident and, by tracing recently made calls by Paul, they find out that he has a twin brother, Hans. This means telling Paul that Paul is dead. Not surprisingly, he doesn't seem overly upset. Paul tells Brandtner he had a good relationship with his brother but that they didn't see each other often, mostly because he's based in New York and back only to sell the flat. When Brandtner asked about the Dow-Jones index, Paul reels off the closing figure. Impressive, only he's a day out, something that doesn't get past Brandtner. It doesn't take him long to suspect that maybe they're really dealing with Paul and not Hans.

A problem is occuring with the sale of the flat. The purchasers want to offer 2 million less and the agent is perplexed when Paul readily agrees. A further problem occurs when the taxi driver's body turns up and the team work out that he was a former cell mate with Paul.

Reviewing the hit and run case, Brandtner works out that Paul took the blame on behalf of the real guilty party, Hans. Suddenly, there's a motive and he's back questioning Paul and stating his hypothesis about the car accident. In the process, he sneakily gets Pau's fingerprints by handing him a photo of the lovely Dr. Graf.

Worse still for Paul, the girlfriend Judy turns up. Of course, Paul doesn't even know her name and has to rifle her bag to find out. When she gets frisky and he's not interested, she also spots the tattoo and becomes worried that things aren't right. After she confronts him, she seeks sanctuary in the bathroom, although it's only temporary. Paul gets in and knocks her out.

Then, the real estate agent turns up. He hears Judy moaning but doesn't pay much attention. Luckily for Judy, Brandtner and team arrive. While they bust their way in, he tries to escape over the roof top. Brandtner and Rex give chase. In the subway, when Paul misses the train, he runs down the track and hides in a storage area, stupidly using a match to light his way. When he drops it, the place ends up in flame. Before he can become a burnt corpse himself, Rex rushes in and leads him to safety.

Other players include Dieter Landuris, as Hans/Paul Tomek but not listed for this episode, Thomas Stolzetti, as real estate agent Drexler, Matthias Luehn, not listed with IMDB for this episode, Dorothee Reinoss, also not listed for this episode, Franziska Sztavjanik, also not listed, and Robert Hauer-Riedl, not listed.

No Recyclers this time.