‘Aha,’ said Tilsner. Almost as though to wind up Müller, at the mention of lung cancer he reached into his pocket and brought out his cigarettes, offering one to Frank, who took it. Tilsner made a play of offering one to Müller too and got a sarcastic smile and long sigh in return. Then he lit both his and Frank’s with his lighter.

‘But she was a smoker,’ said Frank, ‘so her claims were without foundation.’

‘Her claims?’ asked Müller.

‘That she and several other employees had developed lung cancer and other diseases as a result of conditions at the mine. That was something we could not tolerate. After all, who is to say she didn’t develop her cancer through her smoking?’ With that, he blew a cloud of smoke towards Müller, much to her annoyance and Tilsner’s evident amusement.

‘And how serious was this cancer?’ asked Tilsner, once he’d choked back his laugh.

‘That I can’t tell you. You’d have to ask her, or her doctors.’ He sat there, with a smug grin on his face. Müller was determined to wipe it off.

‘Do you have a problem with cancers or other diseases amongst the miners or ancillary workers?’ she asked.

The grin stayed in place. ‘SDAG Wismut Königstein has an excellent record and strives to make sure its working environment benefits all its workers and allows them to meet their targets in a healthy, comradely way. Does that answer your question?’

It didn’t, and Frank knew full well it didn’t. He’d simply quoted a nonsense platitude from the corporation handbook.

There was a moment’s silence.

‘Is that all, gentlemen? Apologies . . . lady and gentleman.’

Müller wanted to punch the man. She wasn’t entirely sure Tilsner wouldn’t actually raise his fists. But she wasn’t done with him yet.

‘We’ll need to interview her closest work colleagues, please,’ said Müller, eyeballing the man levelly. ‘I’d like a list drawn up and for any of them who are on shift to be brought here immediately.’

‘Well, I’m not sure that will be possible. We can’t jeopardise our targets.’

Tilsner lifted the phone handset on the desk.

‘What the blazes do you think you’re doing?’ asked Frank.

‘Ringing Major Bahlow, of course.’

The man put his hand over Tilsner’s and pressed the handset back on to the telephone. ‘There’s no need for that. I’ll get your list typed up, and round up anyone who’s on shift.’

*

Once Frank had left the room and was out of earshot, Müller turned to Tilsner.

‘I think we need to have another meeting with our Major Bahlow to find out exactly what’s going on.’

‘I’m sure he knows,’ said Tilsner. ‘But I’m not sure he’ll tell us.’

‘Well I’m sick to the back teeth of being taken for a fool.’