‘‘There is a chance they would, if we paid them enough,’’ Baker said.
‘‘How much is enough?’’
‘‘A great deal. I proposed an amount that shocked Captain Douglass.’’
‘‘What was that figure?’’ Donovan asked.
‘‘One hundred thousand dollars,’’ Baker said.
‘‘That’s an awful lot of money,’’ Donovan said. ‘‘Try offering him fifty.’’
‘‘You think this idea has merit, Colonel?’’ Douglass asked, genuinely surprised.
‘‘If it fails, they would believe that Grunier went to a smuggler. Not to the United States government,’’ Donovan said.
‘‘Or that he was involved with Sidi Hassan el Ferruch,’’ Baker said.
‘‘Yes,’’ Donovan said thoughtfully. He nodded at Baker. ‘‘Go ahead with this. Come with something definite.’’
‘‘I have more, sir,’’ Baker said.
‘‘Something to do with the assassination?’’
‘‘And the fact that we are now at war. The possibility exists that France will enter the war on the side of Germany. If that happens, we could just about forget Grunier. And for that matter whatever is so vital in the Congo.’’
Donovan realized, astonished, that he had forgotten that there was now a war on.
‘‘Fulmar could not participate in any operation to remove Grunier from Morocco without the permission of Sidi Hassan el Ferruch,’’ Baker said. ‘‘And then I think we have to consider the possibility the Germans are also likely to go looking for Grunier.’’
‘‘Why would they do that?’’ Douglass asked innocently.
‘‘To put him to work in the mines at Joachimsthal in Saxony,’’ Baker said.
‘‘Why would they want to do that?’’ Donovan asked.
‘‘Because that is the only other source of uraninite, the other being in Katanga in the Belgian Congo,’’ Baker said.
There was no response from either Donovan or Baker for a moment, and then Donovan chuckled.
‘‘Douglass has been worried about your unfettered imagination, Baker. I see he has cause. Why do you think we or the Germans are so interested in a . . . what did you say, uranium? . . . mining engineer?’’
‘‘I said ‘uraninite,’ which is the source of uranium. All I know is that it is radioactive—it actually glows in the dark. I don’t know yet why we want it, but I rather doubt we’re going to make a lot of luminescent watch faces.’’
‘‘OK,’’ Donovan said, ‘‘you really are dangerous, Baker. This whole thing has something to do with uranium.’’
‘‘That will help,’’ Baker said. ‘‘But to get back on the track. I believe that if we’re going to do anything about Grunier, we’re going to have to do it as soon as possible.’’
‘‘OK, go on.’’
‘‘I had the FBI do a check on Fulmar,’’ Baker said. ‘‘It seems his mother is the actress Monica Carlisle.’’
‘‘As it happens, I know about Fulmar’s mother, too. Are you suggesting she would be helpful?’’
‘‘No, I don’t think she would,’’ Baker said. If he was surprised that Donovan knew the name Fulmar, or that he was the son of Monica Carlisle, it did not register on his face.
‘‘The worst possible scenario,’’ Baker said, ‘‘is that I approach Fulmar after he has decided he is at bottom a German and he turns me over to the SS.’’
‘‘You think he’d do that?’’