‘Oh, I know. It’s not that I think it excuses anything, just that it’s hard not to be touched by someone who’s in that much pain. Even if you think almost everything else about them is repellent.’

‘So, did you manage to get him to talk about business?’

Carol wiped sweat from her face. ‘No. And I didn’t push it. He kept saying he wanted to get to know me better before he would consider any professional liaison. That’s obviously why he chose such a public place. Nobody in their right mind would try to have a private conversation there. Besides, if he’s been briefed that I’m the sort who takes care, he must have known I wouldn’t broach anything as sensitive as business arrangements where we could be overheard.’

‘You gave him your cover story?’

‘I made him work for it. But yes, I made sure he has enough information to check me out. Morgan’s people set up a load of false records and planted stuff where it can be found without too much difficulty. If he follows up what I gave him today, Caroline Jackson will check out all over town.’

‘Did you arrange to meet him again?’

‘He found out that I like messing around on boats. So tomorrow he’s taking me out on the Spree. He has a little launch, he says. That probably means a forty-foot gin palace.’

‘No, I know his boat. It’s quite a fast little motor boat with a small cabin. He’ll probably take you round the city ring of the river and canals. We should be able to keep an eye on you from land, because there’s a speed limit and a few locks to slow you down.’ Petra groaned. ‘I bet I have to spend the afternoon on a bike.’

Carol pushed herself off the bench. ‘Exercise is good for you. I’ve got to shower,’ she added. ‘I’m dying here. Are you coming?’

Petra followed her out of the sauna into the cold showers on the wall opposite. Both women gasped as the stream of freezing water needled their skin, snapping the open pores shut in shock. Carol chickened out first, jumping clear and running back into the sauna, and Petra joined her moments later. ‘Bloody hell, that was cold,’ Carol said, more in admiration than complaint.

‘It’s good for the heart.’

‘Kill or cure. There’s one thing about being on a boat with Tadeusz,’ she said, getting straight back to business. ‘We’ll be private. He’ll feel able to talk.’

‘It’s a pity we can’t wire you up,’ Petra said.

Carol gave her an odd look. Had she finally found a chink in the German detective’s briefing? ‘I don’t need to be wired.’

‘Oh, I know, it’s a risk we can’t afford to take.’