much time behind this desk. Far too much time.â
Frick, who secretly agreed, only shrugged. âSomebody must make the sacrifice.â
âIndeed,â Hagen said. He thought for a moment, then blinked. âIn any case,â he said, âI have an opportunity for you, if you are interested. It would enable you to avoid a return to such drudgery. And it would take advantage of your connections with the Gestapo. You are uniquely qualified, I would venture, for this operation ⦠if you are interested.â
Frick leaned forward. âGo on,â he said.
âThere is a manâan Engländerâwho was used by this office as an asset. A traitor who had experience with MI6. You may remember him. William Hobbs.â
Frick shrugged again. Most of his memories from before his time in Poland were washed-out, sepia-toned. âPerhaps,â he said.
âHe came to Germany nearly five months ago. When the debriefing was finished, he was informed that he must stay in Berlin for the foreseeable future. This seems not to have agreed with him.â Hagen paused. âI received word this morning,â he said carefully, âthat Hobbs has murdered his case officerâan unfortunate fellow named Borgâand vanished. Borgâs corpse was found in the apartment they shared on Leipziger Strasse. His throat had been slit.â
Frick nodded, blank-faced.
âHobbs cannot have gotten far, of course. No doubt heâs still in Berlin, in hiding somewhere. Yet until now we have not been able to track him down. It makes me suspect that perhaps he was not truly a traitor, Herr Inspektor. It makes me suspect that he had planned for this eventuality.â
âI see.â
âPerhaps MI6 arranged all this in advanceâhis treachery, the kidnappingâon the assumption that we would not allow him to leave. If that is the case, Iâm afraid we have been outmaneuvered. He has been successfully planted in Germany.â
Frick thinned his lips. He would not have put it past the shrewd, conniving British. They had been practicing the game of espionage for centuries upon centuries, and had become masters at it.
âI want this man back in my custody,â Hagen said. âHe must have a contact here in Berlinâsomeone who is sheltering him.â
âOf course.â
âI would very much like you to find him for me.â
âOf course,â Frick said again.
Hagen reached into the drawer of his desk and withdrew a file. He passed it over. âWilliam Hobbs,â he repeated. âDo not hesitate to come to me with any questions you may have. And move quickly. I would prefer to have him aliveâbut I would settle for having him.â
âI understand, Herr Hagen.â
Hagen looked at him for another moment. Something in his face softened. âTell me,â he said then. âI have heard reports about the conduct of the Einsatzgruppen. They have taken matters into their own hands, I have been told, on the Polish front. It makes the Christians very nervous.â
Frick smiled.
âIt is a new age, Herr Hagen. New methods are required to produce results.â
âHow I envy you,â Hagen said wistfully.
âPerhaps next time you can join me. When we move West.â
âPerhaps,â Hagen said. âPerhaps.â His eyes turned momentarily inward, then sharpened again. He stood. âHave a look at the file,â he said. âKeep me informed.â
Frick stood opposite him. âI will have results shortly.â
âI trust you will.â
âHeil Hitler,â Frick said.
âHeil Hitler,â Hagen answered. âAnd Herr Inspektor âwelcome home.â
3
CHARLOTTENBURG, BERLIN
The More You Work The Better Sleep You Need, Eva Bernhardt read. Make a nightcup of Bourn-Vita a regular habit â it will soothe you, help digestion and calm your whole body.
Eva, slumped over her desk with her chin propped