“It was necessary to tell him that Oberst Grüner is dead.”
“And in what detail?”
“Von Wachtstein told him that it was in connection with the Graf Spee officers.”
“Hold on,” von und zu Waching said.
A long moment later, Admiral Canaris’s voice came over the telephone: “Before I see you tomorrow,” he began without any introduction, “I want you to think about von Wachtstein’s reaction to Grüner.”
“Jawohl, Herr Admiral.”
“What are they doing now?”
“Drinking. They’re old friends. Von Wachtstein saved Grüner’s life—”
“Stay with them,” Canaris interrupted. “In vino veritas.”
“Jawohl, Herr—”
“I have just been informed von Wachtstein’s father will be on the first flight tomorrow,” Canaris interrupte
d again. “Von und zu Waching will telephone von Wachtstein there in a few minutes to tell him.”
“Yes, Sir.”
The telephone went dead.
“I will require two rooms,” Karl said to the desk clerk.
“I’m very, very sorry, Herr Korvettenkapitän, but there are simply no rooms.”
Karl took his credentials from his coat and showed them to the clerk.
“This is official Abwehr business,” he said. “If you can’t provide the rooms, get the manager.”
The desk clerk turned from Karl and made some sort of signal with his hand, which confused Karl until a man in his middle thirties, wearing a well-cut suit, got out of an armchair and walked to the reception desk.
“Papers, please,” he said to Karl.
“Who are you?”
The man said nothing, but produced a Gestapo identity disk. This was a serially numbered, elliptical piece of cast aluminum embossed with the Seal of State. It gave the bearer immunity from arrest, authority to arrest anyone without specifying the charge, and superior police powers over all other law-enforcement agencies. Illegal possession of a Gestapo identity disk was punishable by death, and loss of his disk by a member of the Gestapo was punishable by immediate dismissal.
Karl showed him his Abwehr credentials.
“The gentleman,” the desk clerk said helpfully, “has requested two rooms for official business.”
“It had better be official business,” the Gestapo agent said.
“I beg your pardon?” Karl said.
“I saw you with those two Luftwaffe officers in the bar. This is official business?”
“As I understand the arrangement, Abwehr officers don’t question the Gestapo, and the Gestapo doesn’t question us,” Karl said coldly. “I presume the rooms are equipped for surveillance?”
“Of course,” the Gestapo agent said.
“Good,” Karl said. “Please have the still photography film processed immediately, two copies. One should be sent to Obersturmbannführer Karl Cranz—”