He went to Appache’s office and found the colonel lounging at his desk. He offered Wilde coffee and seemed almost light-hearted. ‘You know, Professor, sometimes I love my job and sometimes I hate it. Today, I am in a good mood because I had a difficult meeting with Patton at Bad Tölz and it occurred to me that however bad things seem, at least I’m not General George S. Patton. Great war leader, but the war’s over and there’s nothing left for the sad son of a bitch, so he just wants to make things tough for his subordinates. As for me, I’ve got a life to go back to one day soon.’

‘Glad to hear it.’

‘Enough about me. How’s it going with you?’

Wilde told him about Andreas Stock and the murder of Ingrid Zinke.

‘And this is all something to do with Julius Boden?’

‘Clearly.’

‘Well if you’re getting close, that’s good. But not good enough. You’ve got to find the man. Boden might possibly be a conduit, but he’s not the endgame. We need Adolf Hitler himself, so don’t close your mind.’

Wilde sighed. He didn’t bother to reply.

‘Where’s Lieutenant Heck?’

‘He’s out pursuing another lead.’

‘What does that mean?’

Wilde found himself not wanting to tell Appache that Heck was observing Boden’s home from a mountainside eyrie. He was beginning to understand why Collingham and Harper had kept information close to their chests.

He was saved from answering by a knock at the door. The colonel’s secretary walked in. ‘Excuse me, sir. I have a call for Mr Wilde.’

‘Who is it?’

‘It wasn’t a good line, but it sounded a bit urgent.’

Wilde nodded an apology to Colonel Appache and went out of the room to the secretary’s deskphone. ‘Hello, Wilde here. Who’s calling, please?’

‘I heard you wanted to speak to me.’

‘Who’s this?’

‘Jaeger. August Jaeger. You have something of mine.’

It was the missing mountain guide, cousin to Himmler’s deputy Walter Schellenberg, friend of Julius Boden. The man Schellenberg had suggested as the ideal architect of an Alpine retreat or fortress. He was speaking in English, but heavily accented.

‘Thanks for calling, Herr Jaeger. Yes, I certainly did want to speak to you.’

‘You have my map – my life’s work. You have stolen it.’

‘Borrowed. Come here to Garmisch and talk to me and I will be happy to return it to you.’

‘No, you must come to me. Come to my house in Almrosen, just before dawn tomorrow. I’ll be there then. Please, don’t breathe a word about this call. Not to anyone.’

Wilde heard fear in Jaeger’s voice. ‘Let’s talk now.’

‘It’s not safe. The death of your friends should tell you that. You come here – come alone and don’t be seen.’

He felt a chill. ‘My friends?’