‘What do you know of the villages of Grünegg and Almrosen?’

‘Well, I have been to both of them. They are very pretty Tyrolean resorts and high farming communities. Why?’

‘Did you ever meet a man named August Jaeger in Almrosen. He’s a mountain guide.’ For the first time, Wilde detected some hesitation in Hanna Reitsch, some doubt perhaps over what to say. ‘Well?’

She nodded slowly. ‘Yes, I have met August Jaeger. He is a fine man, well thought of by all who love the mountains.’

‘So he’s a friend?’

‘I don’t know him well enough to call him that.’

‘If anyone was going to find some sort of hideout or concealed fortress in the Alps, he’d be the man, right?’

‘If . . . if . . . if . . . this is all crazy conjecture, Professor. Why not speak to August? Ask him.’

‘We will, but I’m interested to hear that you’re his friend. When did you last meet him?’

‘I don’t know. Maybe two, three years ago. I like to ski in that part of the world. Have you heard of ski touring, when you move from mountain to mountain over long distances? I like that very much, and he is a good companion and guide.’

‘Sounds like a very close friend,’ Heck said, returning to the conversation. ‘Did you ever visit Wildspitze with him?’

‘The high mountain? No, I am certain we never went that far. Wildspitze must be a hundred and fifty kilometres from Almrosen. Easy for a man like August Jaeger, but not so easy for me. Why do you mention Wildspitze?’

Wilde ignored her question. ‘You know it, though?’

‘I have flown over it, yes. It is a beautiful mountain, second highest in Austria, I believe.’

Heck pushed back his chair and got to his feet. ‘Come on, Professor, this woman is going to give us nothing.’

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Wilde and Heck arrived in Berlin late at night at the OSS bureau in the Dahlem suburb and were welcomed by Richard Helms, who had been waiting up for them. Wilde knew him well from the last months of the war when he arrived to man the German desk at 70 Grosvenor Street – OSS headquarters in London.

They shook hands warmly and then Helms introduced himself to Heck. ‘I have to apologise,’ he said. ‘AWD has had to go to Wiesbaden, so you’re stuck with me. He asked me to ensure you were provided for and given every assistance. We have set aside quarters for you here.’

‘Any word from the Soviets?’ Wilde asked. ‘We want to speak to two of their prisoners – Otto Günsche and Heinz Linge.’