‘How did he come here from America, Herr Reichsminister. How was contact made?’

‘That, too, is a good question, Herr Jung. As I recall, the first I heard of him was a memorandum from the Auswärtiges Amt – your lot.’

‘The memorandum must have been signed, sir.’

‘Indeed, indeed . . .’

Jung watched him and waited. During the short walk to the south of the complex from Bormann’s residence, he had begun his own thinking process. One thing was abundantly clear: someone at the very heart of the regime was involved in this. How else would this American have managed to get to Berlin, gain access to Todt – and then disappear? He had to have had assistance at a high level. And common sense suggested that if it was in any way linked to Frau Somerfeld and the missing girl, then that assistance must have come from an enemy of Martin Bormann.

But who was Bormann’s enemy? That was a senseless question. The list was as long as the road back to Berlin. Everyone save Hitler detested and feared Bormann. It was the one thing the senior men had in common.

‘I would have to get my Berlin secretary to fish out the paper. As I recall it was per procurationem Ribbentrop, but he certainly didn’t sign it himself. Nor did he mention it to me in person. But as I saw it there was no security issue – the American was said to be a businessman with links to the German-American Bund. He wasn’t asking me for information – just wanted me to listen, which I did.’

‘I would be grateful if you could place a call to your office, sir. The sooner I have the name of the pp, the sooner I can interview him.’

Todt picked up the phone and barked an order to his secretary. A few moments later he was through to Berlin. He demanded details of the original of the memorandum, then put down the phone.

‘Well, Jung, they will look in the archives. It may take a little while. Where can I find you.’

‘I am to fly back west within the hour.’

‘Call me when you arrive. I should have the name for you by then. And check with your own people at the foreign ministry. Someone there must know who sent the memorandum – you can talk to them directly, get the provenance of this whole disturbing affair. When you find the American, inform me. I wish to know exactly what is behind this. Good day.’

He dismissed him with a wave of the hand.

Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14