Chapter 9

Stasi HQ, Normannenstraße

Berlin, Hauptstadt der DDR

February 1982

‘We have a job for you, Jäger. A chance to redeem yourself, perhaps.’

Klaus Jäger surveyed the young Stasi colonel, Rainer Specht, with distaste – though he was careful not to let it show on his face. The man was leaning back in his chair in the wood-panelled room, rotating the thumbs of his clasped-together hands. The syrupy tone of voice spelled danger. Jäger had hoped to see out his days as head of the records department – where he’d been banished after his demotion following what had become known as the Arktika affair. The Stasi had almost allowed a Soviet nuclear submarine to be blown sky high by dissident Republikflüchtlinge some three years earlier, and Jäger – unfairly in his view – had shouldered the blame.

‘Yes, Comrade Oberst. I am of course ready to serve the Republic in any way that is required of me.’

‘We want you to go to Dresden. There’s a case there that could prove difficult. And you have contacts with some of those involved.’ Jäger’s heart sank, and this time he failed to disguise his feelings. He knew Specht had seen the look of disappointment. The younger man, who was obviously being fast-tracked up the ranks by the high-ups, gave a smirk. ‘Comrade Armeegeneral Mielke specifically asked that you should take charge.’

‘Well then that is an honour, Comrade Oberst.’

‘Yes. It’s an apparent murder case. Our team has already, shall we say, laid some of the ground work. You’ll find all you need to know in this file.’ He pushed a bulging grey-green folder across the desk. ‘Report to the Ministry for State Security regional headquarters in Bautzner Straße as soon as you arrive in Dresden. Your train tickets are in the folder. They’ll sort a pool car out for you there.’

Jäger flicked open the folder. ‘The tickets are for this afternoon. I need to pack, talk to my fam—’

‘There won’t be time for that, Jäger. You’d better get yourself down to the station. Don’t you keep a bag ready-packed here at headquarters? You should, you know. I always do. Anyway, no time for chit-chat. As I say, Armeegeneral Mielke himself has selected you for this assignment.’

‘And who is it there that I’ve worked with before?’

‘From our team? No one. Although we have a contact embedded with the Kripo. We’re not sure he’s entirely trustworthy, however. Your contact at Bautzner Straße, who’ll act as your deputy, is Major Rüdiger Bahlow. It’s the Kripo team where you know some of the people.’

‘Not—’

‘Yes, indeed, Jäger. A chance to get reacquainted. A chance to put things to rights.’