‘Is that all you have?’

Steiner laughed and leaned back in his chair. ‘No! I have another two hundred and ten rolls. Each one has thirty-six exposures and each film covers at least three documents, so you can work out how much material I have. And I promise you it’s all valuable intelligence: look at what you already have – a list of scientists at Peenemünde, Nazi Party members with accounts at a Swiss bank… there’s much more just like that and even better. There are notebooks too, filled with information. I think it’s what you call a treasure trove, isn’t it?’

‘And where is this treasure trove, as you put it, Steiner?’

‘If you’re interested in it, then we can come to an arrangement.’

Major Barrow watched him carefully, clearly trying to work out whether to believe him. ‘You’re taking a hell of a risk, aren’t you?’

‘Of course I am, but it’s a calculated risk – I’m confident you’ll be interested enough in what I have to give you.’

‘From what you tell me, you were a very senior Nazi official.’

‘I was, and I don’t deny I was a member of the Nazi Party, but I can assure you I’m certainly not one of those war criminals you seem to be so interested in. I was a bureaucrat – a senior one certainly, but no more than that.’

‘And I’m to believe that you’re now prepared to turn against the people you worked for and were clearly so loyal to?’

‘The war’s over, Major: I think the saying is “every man for himself”, is it not?’

‘And what’s in it for you, Steiner?’

‘I want money, obviously, and I also want a guarantee of immunity from prosecution for anything in connection with my work for the Reich. I also want a guarantee of anonymity with regards to this material.’

The major was busy making notes.

‘There is something else. I have a son, Friedrich. He worked for the Gestapo and is wanted by the British: they’re hunting him across Europe. I’ll only hand over the rest of the material if I can have an assurance in writing from the British that he is no longer wanted by them. I have also been involved in an escape route called the Kestrel Line, which they are also investigating. I want them to stop doing that.’

Barrow carried on writing and said he was sure he could sort that out. They discussed arrangements for handing over the rest of the films and the notebooks and for Steiner to receive his assurances.

‘I just hope I can trust you, Steiner.’

‘I guessed you’d say that, Major. I can offer you a war criminal as proof. Go to Bar 1860 on Sendlinger Platz at four o’clock this afternoon and you’ll find a man called Gustav Wagner waiting there. Look him up: you’ll find he’s wanted for war crimes in Poland and Hungary.’

Chapter 24

Austria and Italy, December 1945

GENEVA, WEDNESDAY

PRINCE EYES ONLY

CONFIRM MYRTLE CARTER & HAROLD HAMILTON CROSSED CHANNEL MONDAY. TRAIN CALAIS TO GARE DU NORD, PARIS. MOVEMENTS OVERNIGHT UNCLEAR BUT SPOTTED GARE DE LYON TUESDAY. TRAIN TO GENEVA WHERE THEY REMAIN. WILL ADVISE RE ONWARD JOURNEY. STOP.

BARTHOLOMEW, GENEVA