Can he give any information on how the V-2 programme is going?

Kurt did his best to answer the questions, though Prince had the impression there was some information he was holding back.

‘May I ask you a question?’ He’d lit a cigarette when he’d finished answering and was leaning back in his chair. ‘I don’t need to know who you work for – in fact I don’t want to know – but what will they do with this information I give you?’

Prince shrugged. ‘I’m little more than a messenger, but I imagine they’d want to stop the programmes.’

Bruno shifted nervously in his seat. ‘We have possibly been here long enough. I propose we leave in no more than five minutes. We haven’t even eaten yet!’

‘I have one last question for Kurt: are the V-1 and V-2 projects being developed in different places?’

Kurt looked at him suspiciously and spoke to Otto. ‘Tell me, where is he really from, this friend of yours?’

‘He’s Danish.’

‘I don’t believe that. I think he’s working for the British. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s understood every word I’ve said; I’ve seen the way his eyes follow the conversation.’

No one spoke. The silence was eventually broken by Prince, now speaking in German.

‘Let’s be honest, eh? If you were that concerned about what happens with the information you’re passing on, you wouldn’t have come here tonight in the first place and answered my questions. As far as the V-1 and the V-2 are concerned, we may have different reasons, but we both want them stopped. So maybe you can tell me the places they’re being developed?’

Kurt thought for a while, drumming the fingers of both hands on the table. He had a resigned look about him when he spoke.

‘Very well. Peenemünde – it’s a massive site on the Baltic coast, not too far from the Danish coast. I’m surprised you’ve not heard of it.’

‘And that’s the site for the V-1?’

‘Both the V-1 and the V-2: separately but on the same site, if you see what I mean. In fact—’

They were interrupted by an urgent rapping at the door. Bruno went over to open it. It was the woman in the beret with a single feather, the one from the hotel with the dark, darting eyes. She leaned into the room, speaking with an urgency that shocked them all.

‘You’d better leave now, all of you. Quickly. The Gestapo are on their way.’

Chapter 12

Berlin, December 1942