‘But we needed the bastard alive, Lieutenant Heck! We needed to question him.’

‘He wouldn’t have talked.’

‘We’ll never know, will we? And you’re going to be up on a murder charge!’

Heck was incredulous. ‘A German killed in Berlin in 1945? Who’s going to be interested? More importantly, did you see the other man, the little accomplice?’

Yes, he had seen him. Both in the hall and outside. Minsky’s shadow. ‘He looked a little like Goebbels.’

‘He moves quicker than fucking Goebbels.’

‘Shit,’ Wilde said. Who had been trying to kill him? Why would a man following Minsky want him dead?

‘But we know one thing at least,’ Heck continued. ‘Our corpse was a German, not Russian. I thought that might interest you, Professor, seeing the company you keep.’

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

They made their own separate ways back to the OSS base at Foehrenweg. Wilde arrived first and waited in the communal anteroom for Heck to appear. He knew he would have been dead but for the Dutchman’s intervention and yet he was furious, too. What was Heck doing there at the Kabaret Lola? He had a lot of explaining to do.

Wilde glared at him as he strode through the door. ‘Well?’ he demanded.

‘Well what?’

‘Why were you there? Were you following me?’

‘Yes, I was, fortunately for you. You were keeping things from me and I didn’t like it.’

‘If I want your assistance, I’ll tell you.’

‘Are you serious, Professor?’

‘You seem to be forgetting who’s in command.’

‘Yes, sir, master professor. Please, let me lick your boots.’

Wilde stared at him hard, then suddenly his mouth creased in a laugh. This was absurd. ‘I’m sorry, Lieutenant, I know you saved my life.’

‘I’m glad you understand that.’

‘It’s just been a rather fraught night. There are matters I would happily discuss with you, but I am under an obligation to maintain silence. I’m sorry.’

‘Clearly something to do with the Russians. I take it that was Comrade Minsky with you in the cabaret.’

‘You saw us?’

‘Yes, and I saw the little man watching you. Yesterday he was following me.’

Wilde felt the sting of humiliation. Was he losing his touch? He hadn’t even seen Heck in the hall and he was under the false impression that the slim, slick-haired watcher was observing Minsky, not him. He nodded. ‘I should have been more aware.’

‘Well, you’re alive, so that’s OK.’

‘But I really do wish you hadn’t killed the bloody sniper. We need information. Badly. If someone is trying to kill one of us, it is likely they are trying to protect Hitler.’

‘Maybe the Ivans want to kill you, too. Have you upset Minsky?’

No, he hadn’t. But he had colluded with him.

‘Don’t worry, chief. The sniper was German. He was wearing field grey and he spoke German with a German accent.’