The door to the office opened and Master Sergeant Fuller put his head in.
“Colonel, there’s another CIC guy out here, says he has to see this one right away.”
Rasberry waved a hand as a signal to bring him in.
Augie Ziegler came through the door.
“Colonel Rasberry, this is my executive officer, Mr. Ziegler.”
“How about a cup of coffee, Mr. Ziegler?”
“Thank you, but no, sir.”
“What’s up, Augie?” Cronley asked.
Ziegler’s face showed that he was reluctant to talk in front of Colonel Rasberry.
“He’s one of the good guys, Augie.”
“Ziegler sounds more German than Polish,” Rasberry observed.
“He’s a Pennsylvania Dutchman. Out with it, Augie.”
“Right after you left, an ASA team showed up. They’d been driving all night.”
“And?”
“They installed a SIGABA. I had to flash the DCI credentials to the manager, Major Levin, to get him to allow putting the antenna on the roof. I had no choice, Jim.”
“What’s a SIGABA?” Rasberry asked.
“Your dirty little secret was going to come out anyway, Augie. So what’s the rush with the SIGABA?”
“Which is a what?” Rasberry pursued.
“A fancy radio they give to us Super Spooks,” Cronley answered.
“As soon as it was up, Colonel Wallace was on it. He wants to talk to you immediately.”
“About what?”
“He didn’t say. What he said was find you and get you on the horn right goddamn now.”
“Colonel, duty calls,” Cronley said.
“That happens,” Rasberry said. “Two things, Super Spook. I’ll call Steve Anderson and tell him you’re coming and why. And I have just appointed you and your Pennsylvania Dutchman honorary members of the Blue Spade O Club. It’s next door. If you would like to buy me a drink, I am usually there every day from 1700 to 1800 and sometimes a little longer.”
“We’ll be there, Colonel. Thank you, sir.”
[THREE]
The Duchess Suite
Farber Palast
Stein, near Nuremberg
American Zone of Occupation, Germany