After a discussion of the school’s curriculum and his son’s daily schedule, the general asked to see the physical training facilities, the shower and locker room, and the arsenal of weaponry used in preparing the student for the military, his only expression of judgment an occasional “I see.” The one possibly negative observation was his comment, “Not much time for science, math, literature, and languages, is there?”

“The Führer believes a fit, disciplined body is more important,” Louis said.

“That he does.”

Walking him and his aide to the door after the interview and tour, Louis itched to ask the general what he thought of the place and the program. Was he impressed? Did he approve? To whom had his son run to complain? Would the little weakling be in trouble with his father when he returned home? But the general betrayed nothing of his opinion at his departure, and Louis had the uneasy feeling that a technique used in an Abwehr interrogation chamber had been applied to him. A soft-spoken interrogator questions the victim quietly, with no overt intention to do him harm until he leaves and sends in the goon squad.

But Louis Mueller should have no fear of a backlash. He was following the Führer’s orders, and at the moment he must deal with another issue. Locking the door after the general, he hurried off to the personnel director’s office. Louis would never forgive Jules Garnier for turning down his chosen candidate for the job in favor of Claus Bauer. The position would have meant that his lover would move to Paris. The Lyon prostitute was a myth Louis had invented to cover his real sexual preference. Babette was really Aristide, the love of his life. Now that information was a secret he must make sure never came to light to the authorities.

Half an hour later he found a note that again raised his suspicions of a serpent in the grass, not in Claus Bauer’s personnel file, but in the recordings of Jules Garnier’s private datebook: Friday, October 2: CB in Paris. Safe landing. Saturday, October 3: Met with CB. Monday, October 5: CB in place.

In place? That sounded like spy terminology. Safe landing? That suggested a clandestine arrival in France. Why would Herr Garnier use those terms? Herr Bauer had crossed into France from Emmendingen, across the French-German border. Nothing covert about that. He had been vouched for by Harriet Straub, a well-known German doctor and author from the area.

Louis nibbled at a fleshy lip in thought. Did that note explain why Aristide, thoroughly qualified, was denied the job? There could be nothing to the personnel director’s choice of phrases, but the worm of doubt had been lured from its hole and would remain aboveground until Louis could prove one way or the other that Herr Bauer and Jules Garnier were not who they professed to be.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR