Endabrechnung (2016)

After suffering a burnout, Commissario Peter Höllbacher is thoroughly fed up with life. The vain prosecutor Nicoletti had put him under enormous pressure and left him exposed. Höllbacher had falsely accused Father Schober of abuse on camera after Nicoletti encouraged him to do so. Schober dies by hanging himself. Höllbacher blames himself for Schober’s death and, frustrated, retreats to a quiet post in his hometown of Merano, where he lives in his late mother’s old tailoring workshop and meets up with his old school friend Verginer. Among other things, Verginer tells Höllbacher that his family had to close their castle hotel. After bank director Karl Überweger is shot dead in the street in Merano, precinct chief Thaler asks Höllbacher for help, wanting him to assist with the investigation using his experience. Höllbacher initially refuses, but his interest is aroused when he learns that his archenemy, prosecutor Nicoletti, has taken charge of the case. The bank had received threatening emails demanding that it stop doing business with Iraq, including business related to financing arms shipments. Nicoletti therefore suspects a terrorist motive. From Lediana, a hotel maid, Höllbacher learns that Überweger regularly met at the hotel with the bank’s chairwoman, Eva Greiner, with whom he was having an affair. Soon afterward, Greiner is murdered too. With the help of his assistant Lois Gostner, Höllbacher discovers a third murder case in the files, in which Baron Hubert von Greiffenstein was also shot in the face. The case, however, was closed as a hunting accident. Höllbacher suspects a serial killer and fears there will be more victims. Greiffenstein was Verginer’s neighbor. Verginer wanted to build a new hotel and needed a plot of land from Greiffenstein. Greiffenstein initially agreed, but at the last moment changed his mind so he could buy the castle hotel and build it himself. Lediana tells Höllbacher that Verginer gave her money for her room key card so he could get into Greiner’s room. Höllbacher now suspects Verginer of all three murders, but Thaler refuses to believe him. Nicoletti had previously suspended Höllbacher after Höllbacher exposed and insulted him at a press conference. Nicoletti forbids Höllbacher from pursuing the investigation any further and believes he has already found the culprit. The Commissario fears that Silvia von Spiegelberg, who was in a relationship with Verginer, could be the next victim. Soon afterward, Nicoletti is shot dead. Höllbacher eventually finds the decomposing bodies of Verginer’s parents in Verginer’s apartment, along with a folder labeled “Final Accounting.” It contains portraits of Verginer’s victims. Verginer evades arrest by taking his own life.