‘We want this sorted out nice and neatly, Dr Southwick,’ says Specht. ‘That way you can go back to Britain, your wife never needs to see those photographs, and Gordon here will make sure you get a comfortable little history professorship at some backwater university.’

‘Or else what?’ The challenge sounds strident. But it’s not how I really feel. My legs feel weak. My heart is thumping at nineteen to the dozen. And I’ve got just about the worst headache I’ve ever had in my life. Not to mention that I’m struggling to stand on my bad leg.

‘Climb up on the stool, please, Dr Southwick,’ says Specht.

I don’t move.

‘Do it!’ he shouts, and I hear the safety catch of the gun being released.

Gingerly I comply, not realising at first what they’re planning.

Then I begin struggling as both of them try to hold me as Breitmann brings the material – which I realise is some sort of knotted bedsheet – over my head.

It’s a noose.

I stop struggling, terrified, feel the piss bursting out of me. I stand stock still.

‘Your last chance, Dr Southwick,’ says Specht. There’s an icy calmness in his tone. ‘Where are they?’

I won’t answer. Why should I? I know they’re just trying to scare me – they wouldn’t dare to actually kill me. Not in a police cell.

Then I hear Specht sigh.

And I realise he’s serious.

I start to form the words, to tell them where the papers are. But my brain doesn’t have enough time to order my mouth and voicebox to move.

Because Specht has just kicked the stool out from under me.

I’m hanging above the void, a terrible pressure on my windpipe.

I claw at my neck, trying to give myself space to breathe, at the same time kicking my legs frantically to find the stool or bed.

But no breaths will come.

Chapter 47

47

LOTTI

Dresden

Early February 1982

When did I realise I’d been double-crossed? It wasn’t until I heard someone hammering on my apartment door one evening.

I’d been having a bit of a snooze because I found that was one of the side effects of the cancer and the treatment they started to give me, honouring their side of the bargain. I just felt totally wiped out a lot of the time. Some days, I would feel so lethargic I’d struggle to even get out of bed. And as soon as I tried to do anything, I’d feel even more exhausted. That day, I’d come back from doing the weekly shopping, slumped down on the sofa, and fallen asleep without even putting everything away.

After a few moments, I managed to rouse myself, and opened the door.

Arnie was standing there, looking livid.