‘Then there’s motive. Last month the people of Nuremberg burnt down the city’s synagogue. But here in Berlin there are only ever a few broken windows and assaults at the very worst. Streicher would love to see the Jews in Berlin getting some of what they’ve had in Nuremberg.

‘What is more, Der Stürmer’s obsession with ritual murder leads me to make comparisons with the killer’s modus operandi. You add all that to Streicher’s reputation and it starts to look like something.’

Heydrich accelerated ahead of me, his arms stiff at his sides as if he were riding in the Vienna Riding School, and then turned to face me. He was smiling enthusiastically.

‘I know one person who would be delighted to see Streicher’s downfall. That stupid bastard has been making speeches all but accusing the prime minister of being impotent. Goering is furious about it. But you don’t really have enough yet, do you?’

‘No, sir. For a start my witness is Jewish.’ Heydrich groaned. ‘And of course the rest is largely theoretical.’

‘Nevertheless, I like your theory, Gunther. I like it very much.’

‘I’d like to remind the general that it took me six months to catch Gormann the Strangler. I haven’t yet spent a month on this case.’

‘We don’t have six months, I’m afraid. Look here, get me a shred of evidence and I can keep Goebbels off my back. But I need something soon, Gunther. You’ve got another month, six weeks at the outside. Do I make myself clear?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Well, what do you need from me?’

‘Round the clock Gestapo surveillance of Julius Streicher,’ I said. ‘A full undercover investigation of all his business activities and known associates.’

Heydrich folded his arms and took his long chin in his hand. ‘I’ll have to speak to Himmler about that. But it should be all right. The Reichsfuhrer hates corruption even more than he loathes the Jews.’

‘Well, that’s certainly comforting, sir.’

We walked on towards the Prinz Albrecht Palais.

‘Incidentally,’ he said, as we neared his own headquarters, ‘I’ve just had some important news that affects us all. The British and French have signed an agreement at Munich. The Führer has got the Sudeten.’ He shook his head in wonder. ‘A miracle, isn’t it?’

‘Yes indeed,’ I muttered.

‘Well, don’t you understand? There isn’t going to be a war. At least, not for the present time.’

I smiled awkwardly. ‘Yes, it’s really good news.’

I understood perfectly. There wasn’t going to be a war. There wasn’t going to be any signal from the British. And without that, there wasn’t going to be any army putsch either.

PART TWO

PART TWO

15

Monday, 17 October