The man gestured for her to sit on the sofa, while he turned the desk chair around to face her, then stretched out his hand.

‘Sorry, I didn’t properly introduce myself. My name is Brian Jones.’ He drew his hand back when it became obvious Müller was in no mood to shake it. ‘I’m an English businessman – computers and electronics mainly – regularly doing deals with the Republic. Particularly with your VEB Robotron.’ Robotron was the Republic’s biggest electronics manufacturer – as deeply embroiled in Dresden as the optical firm Carl Zeiss was in Jena. Müller hadn’t had any dealings with any of the Robotron factories during her stint in Dresden – but she knew how important the organisation was to the city. ‘Now I said I had some information for you. I’m afraid that was a bit of a white lie. Really, I just wanted a chat.’

‘And why did you need to drag me all the way here for that, Mr Jones? Why not just call in at People’s Police headquarters, as presumably you had to do to deliver your note?’

Jones dismissed the notion airily. ‘Oh, that. No, that wasn’t me. I got a motorbike courier to deliver that. It can go on expenses. Wonderful thing, expenses. Very elastic, as long as you don’t stretch things too far.’

Müller sighed. ‘Why am I here, Mr Jones?’

The man failed to answer for a moment, then moved to the minibar and opened it. ‘Can I get you anything to drink. Beer? Wine? A soft drink?’

Müller rolled her eyes and shook her head.

The man selected a sparkling mineral water for himself, poured it into a glass, and then sat down again. ‘I always hate these sorts of conversations – after all, we don’t really know each other. Why should you listen to anything I have to say?’

Müller tapped her foot on the floor.

‘The reason you should listen,’ he continued, ‘is that it might be in your interests to do so. You see, rather by accident you’ve stumbled on something that could be embarrassing both to foreign powers and to East Germany itself.’

Müller stared at him levelly. ‘And why would you – a businessman specialising in computers and electronics – know anything about what my team has or hasn’t “stumbled upon”, as you put it? Why do you have any interest at all in my investigation?’

The man gave a weak smile. ‘A fair question, of course. Let’s just say I do some freelance work on the side. Freelance government work.’

‘For the East German government?’

‘No. For a foreign power. But our interests on this are aligned with East Germany.’