It was a crisp spring morning and Hembury and Vargas relaxed in the back of the black unmarked Chevrolet Tahoe as it smoothly navigated its way through the traffic on Pennsylvania Avenue. The SUV was driven by Danny Sullivan, a special agent who formed part of the president’s Secret Service unit. He was tasked with delivering the detectives to a confidential meeting in the Oval Office. Vargas had flown in the night before from Buenos Aires, joining Hembury at the eminent Jefferson Hotel, a convenient five-minute drive from the White House. Hembury leaned forward to speak to the driver.

“Agent Sullivan, what can you tell us about the meet? Is it just us and the main man?”

“Lieutenant Hembury, I’m just your driver, but I am at liberty to tell you that you’ll be meeting with the president and the director of the FBI. My job is simply to get you there safely and on time.”

Fifteen minutes later, at precisely 11 a.m., Sullivan escorted the two men into the Oval Office, swiftly made the formal introductions and then departed. President Edward Powell greeted the two detectives with warm handshakes, as did FBI Director Gideon Mueller. Powell gestured for them to sit on a large black leather sofa while he and Mueller took their places in single armchairs, facing them. The president eased forward in his chair and picked up a blue folder from the glass coffee table positioned between them. He waved it in the air before speaking.

“Gentlemen, this folder contains the confidential reports you presented to your respective police chiefs and tells a remarkable story. To be honest, I found much of it a very difficult read. I think it’s fair to say the American people are still in shock from the fallout of the Franklin revelations but they would be absolutely horrified if they knew what else was in this file. Richard Franklin was evidently a calculating sociopath who sanctioned countless murders. It’s a miracle you survived his machinations. He and his so-called Uncle Ronald were clearly evil pieces of work but, equally, very smart. In fact, and I’m sure you know this, Bormann was one of the highest-ranking Nazis to escape justice after the war, despite all Mossad’s best efforts to track him down. Last month, we exhumed Ronald Franklin’s body from Forest Lawn and DNA taken from one of Bormann’s surviving relatives in Germany confirmed his true identity.”

The president switched his eyeline towards Vargas. “Chief Inspector Vargas, I owe you a huge debt of gratitude. Your bravery and perseverance were truly remarkable, and of course I share your sadness regarding the deaths of your two officers.”