The huge fridge also contained a separate glass compartment stuffed with clear plastic bags of cocaine, sourced in Peru. Two years before the end of the war, Morell had begun treating Hitler with a bizarre eye-drop mixture. The concoction created by the Führer’s personal physician contained a concentrated dose of diluted cocaine. By 1945, Hitler had moved on from applying the eye drops to snorting the powdered version directly into his nostrils. Bormann recognised the Führer was an addict and, in their new life, he knew the addiction would need continuous feeding.

El Blondi, like the Berghof, stood in its own grounds, five miles away from the nearest property. Hitler was clearly stunned by Bormann’s incredible achievement in creating his new residence and, for the first time in many months, appeared happy and relaxed.

Bormann took advantage of Hitler’s improved mood and joined him in the study to discuss a matter that was high on his list of priorities. He passed Hitler a solitary piece of typewritten paper across the desk. It contained five names.

“Führer, I know we discussed this on the crossing but, now we are here, we need to agree on a name. My three favourites are Johnson, Franklin and Wilson. We know that America is going to emerge from the war as the most powerful nation in the world and our plan for a future Reich means your new dynasty needs to be built there, so when Eva bears you a son he will be educated in English as his primary language, as well as Spanish and German. All these names belong to previous presidents and carry weight and credibility with the American people. Which would you prefer?”

Hitler relaxed back into his chair and surveyed his new study. “You have done extremely well, Martin. Your loyalty is beyond question and your planning has been impeccable. I loathe the idea of choosing any of them but I know it’s an essential part of our future plan, so I will leave the choice to you.”

Bormann allowed himself the rare luxury of smiling back at the Führer. “Führer, I’m going to choose FDR. He was the only president in US history to serve four terms. Welcome to your new home, Señor Franklin.”

Chapter Fourteen

11 January 2012

Buenos Aires

Vargas and Torres were driving to the address they’d sourced for Ricardo Gonzales. Behind them, riding in convoy, was a second police car containing four more officers. Torres was at the wheel, so when his mobile sparked into life he gestured to Vargas to take the call. It was from one of the other detectives working on the case, informing his boss that the body of a council carer, Maria Vidal, had been found on a rubbish dump a couple of miles from Raúl Gonzales’s house. Vargas placed the phone down in the cupholder between the two front seats.